“Albatross chick reaction when facing a Southern Giant Petrel (left) and a cat (right)”, from the publication

Anais Cotton (Centre de Recherche sur la Biodiversité et l’Environnement, Université de Toulouse, France) and colleagues have published open access in the Journal of Comparative Physiology A on the responses of Wandering Albatross Diomedea exulans chicks to feral cats on France’s Kerguelen Island.

The paper’s abstract follows:

“In long-standing predator-prey systems, prey typically evolve costly responses to predation risk. How prey respond to novel predators is less investigated. We explored physiological (corticosterone, triglyceride), morphological (body condition) and behavioural (defensive posture) responses of wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans) chicks to a novel predator, the feral cat (Felis catus) in Kerguelen archipelago. We implemented a semi-experimental design to increase the variance in cat abundance by regulating cat populations in certain zones of the study colony. The aforementioned chick traits were then monitored and analysed at the zone scale, by comparing nests located within regulated and non-regulated zones, and at the nest scale, by recording cat abundance through intensive camera traps monitoring. This fine-scale approach further enabled us to investigate how chicks responded to southern giant petrels (Macronectes giganteus), an opportunistic predator-scavenger that has co-evolved with albatrosses. Cat abundances had no effect on chick traits. In contrast, higher abundances of giant petrel were associated with an elevated rate of corticosterone increase and lower triglyceride levels. In accordance with these results suggesting a more accurate perception of predation risk mediated by giant petrels than by cats, chicks were more prone to display a defensive posture when facing a giant petrel than a cat. We discuss these results in the light of contrasting evolutionary histories and predation patterns between albatrosses and their predators, and we emphasise that studies of predator impacts on prey populations must consider both the direct and indirect effects of all predators, as well as their interactions.”

Reaf more about feral cats on Kerguelen here.

Reference:

Cotton, A., Barbraud, C., Leclaire, S., Delord, K., Bodin, A., Stier, A., Ribout, C., Parenteau, C.,  Ferdy, J.-B., Bourgoin, C., White, J., Angelier, F. & Blanchard, P.2026.   Physiological and behavioural responses of wandering albatross chicks (Diomedea exulans) to novel and non-novel predators.  Journal of Comparative Physiology A doi.org/10.1007/s00359-026-01793-6.

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 09 April 2026

Succulent vegetation flowering on Deen Maar Island, photograph from the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action

Deen Maar, also known as Lady Julia Percy Island, is located approximately 20 km south-west of Port Fairy, Victoria in Australia’s Bass Strait. European Rabbits were first introduced in 1868 to the 133-h island to provide a food source for potential shipwreck survivors.  Two years after an eradication exercise, the island, a State Faunal Reserve, has been officially declared rabbit free.  Burrowing seabirds, including Short-tailed Shearwaters Ardenna tenuirostris (90 000 pairs estimated in 1964, but only 15 000 pairs reported in 1976), Fairy Prions Pachyptila turtur, Common Diving Petrels Pelecanoides urinatrix and Little Penguins Eudyptula minor, are now reported reclaiming sites previously overrun with rabbit warrens and using the empty holes as nest sites.

“The project was delivered in phases, including the use of calicivirus, aerial baiting, and monitoring and eradication trips. After the last rabbit was controlled in late October 2023, the project team undertook two years of monitoring, helping to protect the site’s cultural heritage and native ecosystem.” (click here).  Calcivirus was administered in chopped carrots and helicopters dispersed cereal bait pellets.

News of success comes in the year ACAP has chosen “Habitat Restoration” at its theme for World Albatross Day on 19 June 2026.

The Deen Maar Island Rabbit Eradication Project was led by the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action in partnership with Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation, Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owner Aboriginal Corporation and Parks Victoria.

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 08 April 2026

The Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary extends out to 200 nautical miles

Following a Presidential Executive Order issued in April 2025, the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council took action last month to allow fishing within the Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary that surrounds the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.  The sanctuary is one of the world's largest marine conservation areas, declared in 2025.  It is also a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Black-footed and Laysan Albatrosses on Kure Atoll, photograph from the Kure Atoll Conservancy

The atolls that form a chain within the marine sanctuary are breeding sites for the bulk of the global populations of Black-footed Phoebastria nigripes and Laysan P. immutabilis Albatrosses, as well as many other seabirds.  Both albatross species are categorised as Near Threatened.

“The recommended fishing areas to open are 3 to 200 nm [nautical miles] in Papahānaumokuākea for bottomfish and pelagic fisheries only.  In Papahānaumokuākea, the 0 to 3 nm closure for all commercial fisheries and longline fishing shoreward of 50 nm would remain prohibited.  Lifting commercial fishing prohibitions would allow fisheries to operate under existing permit, reporting, gear restriction, area closure, catch limit and protected species requirements.”

The Council’s decision will now be transmitted to the National Marine Fisheries Service for further consideration through the federal process in response to Executive Order 14276, “Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness”.

Read about the establishment of the marine sanctuary here.

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 07 April 2026

A Waved Albatross pair, artwork by Birgit Bührlé of Artists & Biologists Unite for Nature (ABUN) for the inaugural World Albatross Day on 19 June 2020, after a photograph by Laurie Smaglick Johnson

Jonathan Handley (BirdLife International, Cambridge, UK) and colleagues have reviewed open access in the journal Biological Conservation the intentional take of migratory seabirds for human consumption, finding records for 105 species.  For the tubenose order, Procellariiformes, it was found that 22 of 92 reviewed species were subject to take.  Three ACAP-listed species, Critically Endangered Waved Albatross Phoebastria irrorata, Vulnerable Pink-footed Shearwater Ardenna creatopus and Endangered Westland Petrel Pterodroma westlandica are recorded as subject to intentional take.

The review states that “The ACAP Working Group on Population and Conservation Status could be the most appropriate group for considering seabird take recommendations for the three ACAP-listed species with records of take.”

The paper’s abstract follows:

“Addressing the threat posed by the exploitation of migratory species is challenging because many move across national boundaries. To inform directions to tackle this threat for migratory species in the most threatened group of birds, seabirds, we conducted a global literature review to evaluate the scale and drivers of intentional take of migratory seabirds (318 of 365 species). The review follows the recent recognition that “hunting and trapping” is the fourth biggest threat to seabirds, and that the nature and severity of seabird take are poorly understood. We investigated reported population impacts, any reporting, management or enforcement measures in place, and any health risks associated with consuming seabirds. Across at least 56 countries/territories, 105 migratory species are subject to take, with adults and eggs taken most. The majority of documented take is legal or of unknown legal status and is conducted by Indigenous Peoples and local communities (IPLC) for subsistence. Illegal take was primarily associated with poachers and fishers. A minority of records included data on the number of birds taken or the presence of management or enforcement mechanisms. While seldom documented, some seabird populations subject to take are in decline or have been extirpated. Human health risks were typically associated with IPLCs consuming seabirds with heavy metals. Similar

ly for other migratory species, key knowledge and governance gaps to understand and manage seabird take include review of species action plans, listing of species on appendices of international agreements, co-management of harvest sites, and improving monitoring to facilitate evidence-based conservation action.”

Reference:

Handley, J.M., Morten, J., Baker, G.B., Küehl-Stenzel, A., Djondo, M.K., Taylor, G.A., Ramirez, I., Frisch-Nwakanma, H., Kümpel, N. F. & Davies, T.E. 2026.  Intentional take of seabirds for human consumption: a global review to inform conservation and policy needs for migratory species.  Biological Conservation 316, doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2026.111740.

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 06 April 2026