Tristan Albatrosses on Gough Island get counted, one year before mouse eradication

The Tristan Albatross Diomedea dabbenena is a globally Critical Endangered species that is at risk of extinction due to the combined effects of longline mortality and chick mortality leading to low breeding success on Gough Island, its main breeding site, caused by introduced House Mice Mus musculus. As a consequence a poison-bait drop on the island by helicopter is planned for next year to attempt to eradicate the mice.

Mice attack a Tristan Albatross chick at night on Gough Island, photograph by Ross Wanless

Researchers currently on the island have recently completed the annual whole-island count during the incubation stage of Tristan Albatross nests.  A total of 1446 occupied nests was counted in five days of surveying (click here).

A round-island count of post-downy chicks will be undertaken in September, so that annual production and breeding success for the biennially-breeding species may be estimated.

Read more about the planned mouse eradication project here.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 20 February 2018