Releasing a rehabilitated Newell’s Shearwater in 2018, photograph by Andre Raine

Craig Harrison (Santa Rosa, California, USA) has published in the open-access journal Marine Ornithology on work conducted by the Pacific Seabird Group over four decades to improve the conservation status of seabirds, including Critically Endangered Newell's Shearwater Puffinus newelli, and by eradicating introduced mammalian predators on seabird islands in the Pacific Ocean.

The paper’s abstract follows:

“The Pacific Seabird Group (PSG), founded in 1972, is “dedicated to the study and conservation of Pacific seabirds and their environment.” During its first 40 years, PSG undertook scores of conservation actions, although as an all-volunteer organization, PSG lacked the capacity to implement many programs or projects. It achieved its conservation goals through leadership, raising issues, bringing the best science to decision makers, and serving as a catalyst for others to act. PSG has been especially influential in six areas: (1) eradicating invasive alien animals from seabird colonies; (2) conserving Marbled Murrelets Brachyramphus marmoratus; (3) protecting seabird colonies in western Mexico; (4) promoting the wise use of oil spill recovery funds; (5) conserving Newell's Shearwaters Puffinus newelli; and (6) protecting many terrestrial and marine environments important to seabirds.”

Reference:

Harrison, C.S. 2026.  Conserving seabirds: actions of the Pacific Seabird Group during its first 40 years.  Marine Ornithology 54: 189-214.

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

MFM Project ambassador Chris Jones powers through a 5-km parkrun in the Harold Porter National Botanical Garden, photograph from the Betty’s Bay Parkrun Facebook page

The Saving Marion Island’s Seabirds: the Mouse-Free Marion (MFM) Project marked World Albatross Day (WAD2026) and its theme of “Habitat Restoration” in South Africa on 19 June with a suite of activities in Betty’s Bay.  Three members of the Mouse-Free Marion Runners group drove the 100 km from Cape Town to the coastal village along False Bay’s spectacular Clarence Drive to meet up with long-time MFM Project ambassadors and local residents Chris Jones and Michelle Risi on the afternoon of World Albatross Day.  Chris and Michelle have recently registered at the University of Cape Town for PhDs, with Chris studying climate-change impacts on albatrosses breeding on Marion Island and Michelle studying the demography of giant petrels Macronectes spp. on several sub-Antarctic islands, including Marion where they are threatened by introduced House Mice.  Back in 2019, Michelle first proposed to the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP) that it hold a World Albatross Day, now in its seventh year.

Defying the wind.  From left: Chris Jones, Michelle Risi and John Cooper, MFM News Correspondent, at the Stony Point penguin colony – in our MFM activity shirts

The whole African Continent (and its coastal islands) supports no breeding albatrosses, so the first stop to mark “WAD2026” was a visit to the Stony Point Nature Reserve where Critically Endangered African Penguins Spheniscus demersus breed on the mainland.  Honorary albatrosses, if you will!  The friendly Cape Nature ranger on site took the required photo with a MFM Project pop-up banner on display.  Following this outing we got out of the wind to sample what is becoming a global phenomenon marking World Albatross Day – an “albicake”!

Michelle Risi decorated her home-baked “albicake” from her own photo of an Endangered Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross Thalassarche chlororhynchos on Gough Island, photograph by John Cooper

We were joined for tea ‘n cake by MFM Runners (and MFM fund raisers), Jeremy George and Erica Leppan.  A most pleasant way to celebrate the seventh World Albatross Day, first held in 2020.

Michelle, along with husband Chris, cuts her cake for afternoon tea; there were also “albicupcakes”, photograph by John Cooper

Befitting a running group, the next morning we participated in the 348th holding of Betty’s Bay Parkrun.  Held in the Harold Porter National Botanical Garden, the 5-km fun run must be one of the most spectacular in the country with its up and down sections among indigenous vegetation, including flowering proteas.

“All shout Albatross!” Moments before the parkrun got underway, photograph by Jeremy George

With MFM Project’s pop-up banners on display and after a few introductory words to the 223 assembled runners about the MFM Project (and the obligatory shout of “Albatross!”) the parkrun got underway.

Erica Leppan and John Cooper attempt to fly like an albatross in their MFM active shirts on one of the parkrun’s gradual climbs, photograph by Andrea Angel

Some of the MFM Runners celebrate after the parkrun.  From left: Michelle Risi, John Cooper, Emeritus Professor Peter Ryan (who chairs the 50-member MFM Scientific and Technical Advisory Group (behind), Andrea Angel, Manager of BirdLife South Africa’s Albatross Task Force and Chris Jones, photograph by Jeremy George

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

World Seabird Day commemorates the extinction of the Great Auk, logo design by the World Seabird Union

ACAP has released the final report of the 15th Meeting of its Advisory Committee in time for World Seabird Day, held annually on 03 July.  The Meeting was held in Swakopmund, Namibia, from 1 to 5 June 2026 under the Chair of Michael Double (Australia), supported by Tatiana Neves (Brazil) as Vice-Chair.  Eleven of the 13 Parties to the Agreement attended, along with observers that included Namibia.  The Advisory Committee meeting considered reports from its three working groups.

Following on soon after the holding of World Albatross Day on 19 June, World Seabird Day covers all the world’s seabirds.  It commemorates the last recorded sighting of the extinct Great Auk Pinguinus impennis in 1844.  “The day raises awareness for the conservation of the world’s 350+ seabird species, roughly half of which are experiencing population declines due to overfishing, climate change, and habitat loss”.  The day was inaugurated by the World Seabird Union in 2017.

Versions of the 83-page AC15 report will be available in the ACAP official languages of French and Spanish on this website by 31 July 2026.

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 03 July 2026

 

Two funding opportunities have been announced by the British Ornithologists’ Union.

Small Ornithological Research Grants

“The BOU Small Ornithological Research Grants scheme offers awards of up to £2,000 to support small projects on any aspect of ornithology.  The scheme is open to BOU members only.  An exception is made for those from and still residing and working in a low- or middle-income country, who can apply without being a member.”

Deadline for applications: 30 October 2026

Click here for Guidelines and Application Form.

Career Development Bursaries

The BOU Career Development Bursaries aim to support short-term research positions for early-career ornithologists.  Successful proposals combine the development of skills useful for a future career in ornithology with a sound scientific research proposal.  Up to £4,000 will be provided to cover a period of career development lasting 4-12 weeks, during which a scientific research project will be conducted.  Up to a further £2,500 is available for visa and travel costs for applicants from low- or middle-income countries who are currently based at an institute in a low- or middle-income country (see list).

The BOU bursary scheme is open to BOU Early Career Researcher (ECR) members only.  An exception is made for those from and still residing and working in a low- or middle-income country, who can apply without being a member.”

Deadline for applications: 30 October 2026

Click here for Guidelines and Application Form.

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 02 July 2026