Olrog’s gull

(Larus atlanticus)

Olrog’s gull

Olrog’s gull 1920 1280 AMP Argentina

© Pablo Petracci

Olrog’s gull (Larus atlanticus) is an endemic species of the Southwestern Atlantic, breeding exclusively along coastal sites in Argentina. The largest reproductive colonies are found in Bahía San Blas, in the Province of Buenos Aires, with smaller colonies located to the north of Golfo San Jorge, in the Province of Chubut. The species is classified as “Vulnerable” in Argentina (MAyDS and AA, 2017) and as “Near Threatened” globally (BirdLife International, 2018). The main threats to the species include habitat loss due to coastal development, interactions with unregulated human activities, and the presence of invasive species.

Species status tables, by year.

Select the year to display the status tables.

  • CITATION
    CONSERVATION STATUS (IUCN criteria)
    Global Near Threatened, 2018 1
    Regional – Patagonian Sea Near Threatened, 2016 9
    Argentina Near Threatened, 2015 2
    POPULATION SIZE (Breeding pairs)
    Global 5,900-7,800 1
    Argentina (without Islas Malvinas) 5,807 3 to 7
    Isla Malvinas There are no breeding colonies
    South Atlantic Islands (South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands) There are no breeding colonies
    POPULATION TREND
    Global Stable 1
    Argentina (without Islas Malvinas) Stable 3 to 7
    Isla Malvinas There are no breeding colonies
    South Atlantic Islands (South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands) There are no breeding colonies
    CURRENT SITUATION IN ARGENTINA
    Number of Registered Colonies in Argentina 24 3 to 7
    Number of Protected Colonies in Argentina 23 3 to 8
    Number of Colonies with Increasing Population Trends 1 3 to 7
    Number of Colonies with Decreasing Population Trends 0 3 to 7
    Number of Colonies with Stable Population Trends 7 3 to 7
    Number of Colonies with Unknown Population Trends 16 3 to 7

Marine Protected Areas with the presence of the species

  • Islote de la Gaviota Cangrejera Natural Reserve with Mixed Faunal and Educational Purposes
  • Bahía Blanca, Bahía Falsa y Bahía Verde Provincial Multiple Use Nature Reserve
  • San Blas Wildlife Refuge and Multiple Use Nature Reserve
  • Patagonia Austral Interjurisdictional Coastal Marine Park

Marine areas of intensive use by the species

  • Coasts of Buenos Aires, Uruguay, and southern Brazil.

Marine Protected Areas within areas of intensive use by the species

  • Islote de la Gaviota Cangrejera Natural Reserve with Mixed Faunal and Educational Purposes
  • Bahía Blanca, Bahía Falsa y Bahía Verde Provincial Multiple Use Nature Reserve
  • San Blas Wildlife Refuge and Multiple Use Nature Reserve
  • Patagonia Austral Interjurisdictional Coastal Marine Park
  1. BirdLife International. 2018. Larus atlanticus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T22694286A132538305.  https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22694286/132538305
  2. Ministerio de Ambiente y Desarrollo Sustentable y Aves Argentina. (2017). Categorización de las Aves de la Argentina (2015). Informe del Ministerio de Ambiente y Desarrollo Sustentable de la Nación y de Aves Argentinas, edición electrónica. Buenos Aires, Argentina. 
  3. Yorio, P., Petracci, P., Borboroglu, P.G. (2013). Current status of the threatened Olrog’s Gull Larus atlanticus: global population, breeding distribution and threatsBird Conservation International 23, 477–486.  
  4. Yorio, P., Frere, E., Gandini, P., Harris, G. (1998). Atlas de la distribución reproductiva de aves marinas en el litoral patagónico argentino. Fundación Patagonia Natural y Wildlife Conservation Society, Buenos Aires, Argentina. 
  5. Suarez, N.M., Marinao, C.J., Kasinsky Aguilera, L.T., Yorio, P.M. (2014). Distribución reproductiva y abundancia de gaviotas y gaviotines en el área natural protegida Bahía San Blas, Buenos Aires. Hornero 29, 29–36. 
  6. Copello, S., Suarez, N., Yorio, P., Ravasi, M.T., PAZ, J., Borboroglu, P., Grilli, M., Favero, M., Seco Pon, J.P. (2020). Distribution of Olrog’s Gull Larus atlanticus from Bahía San Blas during the non-breeding period: signals of partial migration. Bird Conservation International 1–10.  
  7. Yorio, P., Bertellotti, M., Borboroglu, P. (2005). Estado poblacional y de conservación de gaviotas que se reproducen en el litoral marítimo argentino. Hornero 20, 53–74. 
  8. WCS Argentina Database – Marine Program 
  9. Falabella V., Tamini L., García Borboroglu P., Frere E., Seco Pon J.P., Simeone Cabrera A., Stanworth A., Suazo C., Campagna C. 2019. Report of the IUCN Regional Red List First Workshop for Species of the Patagonian Sea: Sea Birds. Forum for the Conservation of the Patagonian Sea. http://marpatagonico.org/publicaciones/ 

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