© Dario Podesta
The red-legged cormorant (Poikilocarbo gaimardi) is found along the Pacific coasts from Chile to Peru. In the Atlantic, it is only present in Argentina, along the coasts of Santa Cruz, where it holds significant importance for tourism. The species primarily feeds on fish and nests on cliffs near its main feeding areas. It can be found in the Makenke, Monte León, and Isla Pingüino National Parks. The red-legged cormorant is classified as “Threatened” in Argentina (MAyDS and AA, 2017) and as “Near Threatened” globally (BirdLife International, 2018). It is exposed to coastal threats such as habitat loss due to development and interactions with irresponsible recreational activities.
Species status tables, by year.
Select the year to display the status tables.
2021
CITATION CONSERVATION STATUS (IUCN criteria) Global Near Threatened, 2018 1 Regional – Patagonian Sea Least Concern, 2016 9 Argentina Endangered, 2015 2 POPULATION SIZE (Breeding pairs) Global 9,700-10,150 1 Argentina (without Islas Malvinas) 831 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 Decreasing 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 14 3 to 7 Number of Protected Colonies in Argentina 11 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 12 3 to 7 Number of Colonies with Unknown Population Trends 1 3 to 7
Marine Protected Areas with the presence of the species
- Monte Loayza Provincial Natural Park
- Cabo Blanco Intangible Nature Reserve
- Ría Deseado Provincial Nature Reserve
- Isla Pingüino Interjurisdictional Marine Park
- Monte León National Park
Marine areas of intensive use by the species
- Areas around the colonies, with an average distance of 3 km.
Marine Protected Areas within areas of intensive use by the species
- Monte Loayza Provincial Natural Park
- Bahía San Julián Limited Use Area Under Special Protection
- Ría Deseado Provincial Nature Reserve
- Isla Pingüino Interjurisdictional Marine Park
- Makenke Interjurisdictional Marine Park
REFERENCES:
- BirdLife International. 2018. Poikilocarbo gaimardi. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T22696898A133572856. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22696898/133572856
- 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.
- Frere, E., Quintana, F., Gandini, P. (2005). Cormoranes de la costa patagónica: Estado poblacional, ecología y conservación. Hornero 20, 35–52.
- Gandini, P., Frere, E. (1995). Distribución, abundancia y ciclo reproductivo del Cormorán Gris (Phalacrocorax gaimardi) en la costa patagónica, Argentina. Hornero 14, 57–60.
- Millones, A., Gandini, P., Frere, E. (2015). Long-term population trends of the Red-legged Cormorant Phalacrocorax gaimardi on the Argentine coast. Bird Conservation International 25, 234–241.
- Gandini, P., Frere, E., Quintana, F. (2005). Feeding Performance and Foraging Area of the Red-Legged Cormorant. Waterbirds 28, 41–45.
- Albrieu, C., Navarro, J. (1997). Location and population size of cormorant colonies in the Deseado estuary (Santa Cruz, Argentina). Hornero 14, 243–246.
- WCS Argentina Database – Marine Program
- 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/