Atitlán Grebes aka Giant Grebes, Giant Pied-billed Grebes or Poc
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The Atitlán Grebe (Podilymbus gigas) also known as Giant Grebe, Giant Pied-billed Grebe, or Poc is an extinct relative of the Pied-billed Grebe. It was endemic at the Lago de Atitlán in Guatemala in an altitude of 1700 m asl. Thanks to the field work of American biologist Anne LaBastille there is a comprehensive knowledge about its decline. LaBastille has observed this species for a period of over 25 years. She has also written a book about this bird called "Mama Poc".
The Atitlán Grebe reached a length of about 46 - 50 cm. The call and the look were similar to the Pied-billed Grebe. The plumage was mainly dark brown with white flecked flanks. The underparts were dark grey flecked with white. The head was almost black and the neck was flecked with dark brown in the spring and white in the winter. The legs were slaty grey. The bold bill had a black vertical band in the middle. The color of the bill varied from white in the spring to brown in other seasons. The iris were brown. It had small wings and was flightless.
The nest consisted of 4 to 5 white eggs. Both parents have shared the rearing of the hatchlings.
Extinction
The decline of the Atitlan Grebe began in 1958 and again in 1960 after Smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) and Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) were introduced into the Lake Atitlan. These invasive species have reduced the crabs and fish where the grebes were depended on and even killed the breed of the grebe. The population of the Atitlan Grebe declined from 200 individuals in 1960 to 80 in 1965. Thanks to the conservation efforts of Anne LaBastille in 1966 a refuge was established where this species was able to survive. The population recovered to 210 in 1973. Unfortunately after the earthquake in Guatemala in 1976 the lake bed became fractured. An undersea drain lead to the falling of the water level and to a further severely decreasing of the grebes. In 1983 only 32 individuals were left of which the largest part were hybrids. The last two birds were seen in 1989 and after they have disappeared the Atitlan Grebe was declared officially extinct.
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