Hooded Grebe Foundation

Trajectory

1974

Discovery of the Hooded Grebe

Argentine naturalist Mauricio Rumboll, together with Eduardo Shaw, discovers the Hooded Grebe (Podiceps gallardoi).

1974

1976

Hooded Grebe Project (original)

The Argentine Wildlife Foundation starts the Hooded Grebe Project.

1976

1994

Discovering wintering grounds

Alejandro Serret and Andrés Johnson discover the wintering areas in the estuaries of Santa Cruz.

1994

2001

Provincial Natural Monument

The Hooded Grebe was declared a Provincial Natural Monument in Santa Cruz by Law No. 2582.

2001

2010

Hooded Grebe Project (modern)

The project is formalized and conservation actions for the Hooded Grebe begin, led by Aves Argentinas, Ambiente Sur and CONICET.

2010

2011

Colony Guardians

The first camp for Hooded Grebe colony guardians is set up.

2011

2012

American Mink Control Plan and first volunteer program

The control of this invasive species begins, and was later replicated throughout Patagonia. The first three international volunteers arrive from Catalonia and the United States.

2012

2013

Species conservation program

We began to expand our targets to other threatened species, such as sheldgeese in Tierra del Fuego and Santa Cruz.

2013

2014

Hooded Greebe Breeding Project and first biological station

The Hooded Grebe Breeding Project begins, a plan that would take a decade to achieve its initial goal. The “Juan Mazar Barnett” Biological Station is established at the 9 de Julio Ranch.

2014

2015

Patagonia National Park creation

The National Park is created, with the Hooded Grebe as its emblematic species.

2015

2016

Northern Patagonia

We began actively working on the conservation of species in Northern Patagonia.

2016

2017

We begin with studies of human-animal conflicts

The project to study the populations of guanacos and other large herbivores on the Buenos Aires Lake plateau begins.

2017

2018

Conservation Hero Award and Dogs Program

We won the Conservation Hero Award from the Zoological Society of London's EDGE program. The Dogs in Conservation program began when Hobbes started working with us.

2018

2019

Río de las Vueltas Restoration Program is born

Together with National Parks and the Santa Cruz Provincial Agrarian Council, we began the American Mink Control Plan.

2019

2020

Installation of the Toro River Base and “La Casicha” Base in Chaltén

Installation of the Río Toro Refuge in agreement with the Barale Family (Río Toro) to guarantee a permanent presence in the Río de las Vueltas valley. Agreement with the Santa Cruz Secretariat of the Environment for the installation of the operations base on the CAP property in El Chaltén.

2020

2021

Nesting platforms and Green Oscar

We introduced floating platforms to encourage nesting and protect the colonies. We were recognized with the Whitley Award, also known as the "green Oscar."

2021

2021

Mauricio Rumboll Base and Comprehensive Conservation Course

Through an agreement with Torcuato Sozio (Ea. Cerro Bayo), we strengthened the restoration efforts in lagoons affected by salmonid removal on the Strobel Lake plateau by establishing the Mauricio Rumboll Refuge at El Islote Lagoon. The first edition of the Comprehensive Conservation Course was held at the Juan Mazar Barnett Biological Station.

2021

2022

Declaration of Interest

The Honorable Senate of the Nation, the Chamber of Deputies of the Nation and the Chamber of Deputies of the Province of Buenos Aires decided to declare the Patagonia Program of Aves Argentinas, which strives to save the Hooded Grebe from extinction among many other species, to be of interest.

2022

2022

Sheldgeese Breeding and the Magellanic Plover Project

We carried out the first captive breeding and release of upland geese chicks in Santa Cruz. We began working with the Magellanic Plover, developing the first successful nest closures and achieving a high breeding success rate.

2022