Spatial distribution of observations of Balearic Shearwaters. a) pre-breeding migration; b) post-breeding migration; Orange: breeding range, blue: non-breeding distribution

Beatriz Martín (Fundacio´n Migres, CIMA, Tarifa, Spain) and colleagues have published open access in the online journal PLoS ONE on studying migrating Critically Endangered Balearic Shearwaters Puffinus mauretanicus from data gathered by citizen science projects.

The paper’s abstract follows:

“Pelagic seabirds are elusive species which are difficult to observe, thus determining their spatial distribution during the migration period is a difficult task.  Here we undertook the first long-term study on the distribution of migrating shearwaters from data gathered within the framework of citizen science projects.  Specifically, we collected daily abundance (only abundance given presence) of Balearic shearwaters from 2005 to 2017 from the online databases Trektellen and eBird.  We applied machine-learning techniques, specifically Random Forest regression models, to predict shearwater abundance during migration using 15 environmental predictors.  We built separated models for pre-breeding and post-breeding migration.  When evaluated for the total data sample, the models explained more than 52% of the variation in shearwater abundance.  The models also showed good ability to predict shearwater distributions for both migration periods (correlation between observed and predicted abundance was about 70%).  However, relative variable importance and variation among the models built with different training data subsamples differed between migration periods.  Our results showed that data gathered in citizen science initiatives together with recently available high-resolution satellite imagery, can be successfully applied to describe the migratory spatio-temporal patterns of seabird species accurately.  We show that a predictive modelling approach may offer a powerful and cost-effective tool for the long-term monitoring of the migratory patterns in sensitive marine species, as well as to identify at sea areas relevant for their protection.  Modelling approaches can also be essential tools to detect the impacts of climate and other global changes in this and other species within the range of the training data.”

Balearic Shearwater at sea

Reference:

Martín, B., Onrubia, A., González-Arias, J. & Vicente-Vírseda, J.A. 2020.  Citizen science for predicting spatio-temporal patterns in seabird abundance during migration.  PLoS ONE  15(8).  doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0236631.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 02 September 2020

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are extending into 2021 - the Pacific Seabird Group (PSG) will be holding its 48th Annual Meeting next year ‘virtually’ online over 23-27 February for the first time after 47 meetings stretching back to 1974.

“Scientific Program Chair Roberta Swift [Wildlife Biologist, Seabirds, US Fish & Wildlife Service] is working up another stellar scientific program, with worldwide representation of seabird research innovations, failures, surprises, and challenges across more than 20 countries.  Take flight with over 300 colleagues as we share our diverse voices and experiences in the study and conservation of Pacific seabirds.  The virtual format provides an exciting opportunity to welcome colleagues who may have been restricted by time and travel costs associated with in-person meetings.  We hope you will extend a wing around new colleagues and friends in the PSG flock.”

The PSG is a society of professional seabird researchers and managers dedicated to the study and conservation of seabirds.  It was formed in 1972 out of a need for increased communication among academic and government seabird researchers.  The group is now accepting proposals for Symposia, Special Paper Sessions, Workshops and Plenary Speakers centred on the theme “Apart Together for Seabirds”.

For more information or to submit a proposal by 18 September click here.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 31 August 2020

Bride and groom cut the cake

Earlier this month Alastair Wilson and Ros Green were married on a farm in North Shropshire, UK.  The COVID-19 pandemic meant that only 20 immediate family members could attend; however, the ceremony was live streamed on Facebook for friends and family to watch.  Ros is a Research Ecologist with the Wetland and Marine Research Team at the British Trust for Ornithology and Alastair is an Environment Officer with Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru / Natural Resources Wales.

Previously Alastair spent two tours as a Zoological Field Assistant for the British Antarctic Survey at King Edward Point and on Bird Island in the South Atlantic where he worked with seals, penguins and petrels (and helped monitor albatrosses).  The couple met on Skomer Island off the coast of Wales in 2014 when they were both contract researchers monitoring the island’s Manx Shearwaters, European Storm Petrels and other seabirds.

Not really surprising then that their wedding cake features a pair of Wandering Albatrosses (that breed on Bird Island) displaying on Skomer.  Careful observers will spot the correctly coloured leg bands and the female’s veil!  The cake is also adorned with Black-legged Kittiwakes and a Razorbill, both Skomer breeders.  It was made by Alastair’s sister, Beverley Hopkins, who is a veterinary pathologist.  She tells ACAP Latest News that cake baking is only a hobby.

A close up of the wedding cake

Alastair is the great great nephew of ornithologist Dr Edward A. Wilson, who went to the Antarctic on the Discovery and Terra Nova expeditions with Captain Scott at the beginning of the last century.  To mark this connection his wedding waistcoat and tie featured the Antarctic tartan (as did the bridesmaids’ bows).  Alastair’s father and an uncle were both ornithologists, and another uncle is an Antarctic historian: “It’s in the blood as they say!”  ACAP wishes the married couple all the very best for their future life together.

See more ‘albicakes’ baked to mark the inaugural World Albatross Day here.

With thanks to Ros Green, Beverley Hopkins and Alastair Wilson.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 28 August 2020

Kim Stevens, Vonica Perold and Roelf Daling (suitably masked) after completing an IRATA Level 1 rope access course, required for safety purposes on mountainous Gough

Next month, South Africa will undertake the annual relief of its weather station on the United Kingdom’s Gough Island in the South Atlantic.  The relief is set to take place despite concerns emanating from the COVID-19 pandemic that hampered the annual relief earlier this year of South Africa’s other sub-Antarctic base, on Marion Island in the southern Indian Ocean (click here).

As will be well known to regular readers of ACAP Latest News, Gough Island is both the home of large seabird populations – including of five ACAP-listed species – and of introduced House Mice that have taken to attacking and killing birds, most notably chicks of the Critically Endangered Tristan Albatross Diomedea dabbenena.  Difficulties with international travel due to the pandemic caused the Gough Island Restoration Programme (GIRP) to cancel the intended mouse eradication exercise this austral winter, now intended to be undertaken next year (click here).

A three-person GIRP team (Chris Jones, Alexis Osborne and Michelle Risi) has been on Gough Island for two years, following colour-banded birds in long-term study colonies of Tristan Albatrosses, Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatrosses Thalassarche chlororhynchos and Southern Giant Petrels Macronectes giganteus and recording the continued depredations by the ‘killer’ mice.  They will be replaced next month by a new team consisting of South Africans Roelf Daling, Vonica Perold (who has previously visited Gough) and Kim Stevens.  Both Kim and Vonica are PhD students at the University of Cape Town’s FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology and are experienced field researchers, having spent time studying seabirds on Marion Island.  Kim’s thesis research has been on the foraging ecology and breeding success of the Grey-Headed Albatross Thalassarche chrysostoma on Marion Island.  Vonica is working on temporal and spatial heterogeneity in marine plastic pollution, using seabirds, neuston nets and beach litter for her degree.  They both intend to submit their theses in 2022.

Kim Stevens rests above a Grey-headed Albatross colony on Marion Island

Vonica Perold among Gough’s lowland vegetation during the 2019 relief

Roelf Daling aboard the S.A. Agulhas II on an oceanographic cruise in 2017

The expected sailing date is 17 September on South Africa’s Antarctic research/supply ship, the S.A. Agulhas II.  The field team, along with their fellow G66 expedition members, will be quarantined for two weeks in a government-approved facility in Cape Town before sailing, to reduce the risk of taking the COVID-19 virus to the island.  Kim writes of the quarantine period: “We will be continuing with computer-based training … so we should have enough to keep us busy, but I still have a few projects on the go just in case things are quiet”.  Such as a couple of thesis chapters?

With thanks to Vonica Perold and to Kim Stevens - who can also bake and decorate a mean albicake!

Kim's “Flying Tristan Cake”: a four-layered chocolate cake with coffee buttercream icing in the shape of the world, with a female Tristan Albatross flying over it

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 27 August 2020