Hooded Grebes (Podiceps gallardoi) - Estancia Lago Strobel, AR
These photos were taken on the grounds of Estancia Lago Strobel in Patagonia. It is a 5 hour drive on a very, very, very rough 4 WD Rd. There are only 700 Hooded Grebes left in the world and they are only found in Argentina and are in danger of extinction. Last breeding season only one chick was successfully raised and fledged out of 700 birds. They are the most beautiful grebe species I have ever seen. It may be a grim future ahead for this species but gratefully people I met there from Birds Argentina are working hard to protect them. I watched them putting in artificial nesting platforms and got to hear all about the work they are doing to exterminate mink that prey on the chicks and adults, deterring kelp gulls and how they are trying to eliminate competing trout and about the climate change effects on the lakes. Sadly many lakes on the plateau have dried up and others didn't produce milfoil, creating less suitable habitat for the grebes to breed on. I was lucky to see two of them dance and some do courtship displays presenting milfoil. These birds have declined by more than 80% in the last 20 years. I saw 9 Hooded Grebes in total this day and saw many great birds on the road to and from the site. If you want to learn more about the critically endangered Hooded Grebe and how you can help save them please click here icfcanada.org/our-projects/projects/hooded_grebe
Hooded Grebes (Podiceps gallardoi) - Estancia Lago Strobel, AR
These photos were taken on the grounds of Estancia Lago Strobel in Patagonia. It is a 5 hour drive on a very, very, very rough 4 WD Rd. There are only 700 Hooded Grebes left in the world and they are only found in Argentina and are in danger of extinction. Last breeding season only one chick was successfully raised and fledged out of 700 birds. They are the most beautiful grebe species I have ever seen. It may be a grim future ahead for this species but gratefully people I met there from Birds Argentina are working hard to protect them. I watched them putting in artificial nesting platforms and got to hear all about the work they are doing to exterminate mink that prey on the chicks and adults, deterring kelp gulls and how they are trying to eliminate competing trout and about the climate change effects on the lakes. Sadly many lakes on the plateau have dried up and others didn't produce milfoil, creating less suitable habitat for the grebes to breed on. I was lucky to see two of them dance and some do courtship displays presenting milfoil. These birds have declined by more than 80% in the last 20 years. I saw 9 Hooded Grebes in total this day and saw many great birds on the road to and from the site. If you want to learn more about the critically endangered Hooded Grebe and how you can help save them please click here icfcanada.org/our-projects/projects/hooded_grebe