Red List 09

The Hooded Grebe was uplisted from Near Threatened to Endangered in 2009. This species mainly breeds on a few basaltic lakes in the extreme southwest of Argentina; the only known wintering grounds are two estuaries on the Atlantic coast of Santa Cruz, Argentina. In 1997, the total population was estimated at 3,000-5,000; the global population is now suspected to number well below 2,500 mature individuals and is continuing to decline. The two main threats to the Hooded Grebe appear to be climate change and the introduction of salmon and trout to private lakes. In 2006, a number of lakes completely dried and water levels at known breeding sites were 2-3 m lower than in previous years. Also, excessive grazing by sheep causes erosion at lakeshores and limits vegetation growth.

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