The steep slopes of Inaccessible Island, photograph by John Cooper

Peter Ryan (FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, South Africa) has published in Ostrich Journal of African Ornithology on the petrel populations of rarely visited Inaccessible Island, part of the Tristan da Cunha group in the South Atlantic.

The paper’s abstract follows:

“Petrels that breed in burrows and return to their colonies after dark are among the mostj poorly studied seabirds. Brown Skuas Stercorarius antarcticus (family Stercorariidae) are major predators of burrowing petrels at many seabird breeding islands in the Southern Ocean, so monitoring the diet of skuas can provide insights into petrel population trends. Regurgitated pellets and other prey remains indicate that petrels comprise 94% (monthly range 91–97%) of all prey items in the pellets and other prey remains on Inaccessible Island, Tristan da Cunha. Other seabirds (0.7%), land birds (1.0%), subantarctic fur seals Arctocephalus tropicalis (0.5%) and marine animals (3.5%) make up the remainder of the Brown Skua diet. At least 12 species of petrels are eaten, including two species that are not known to breed on Inaccessible Island, but five taxa comprised over 98% of all petrels eaten: Fregetta storm petrels (44%), White-faced Storm Petrels Pelagodroma marina (23%), Broad-billed Prions Pachyptila vittata (21%), Great Shearwaters Ardenna gravis (6%) and Common Diving Petrels Pelecanoides urinatrix (5%). Pellets containing 2 or 3 avian prey items (15% of pellets) were more likely to contain conspecifics than heterospecifics, indicating either local differences in prey distribution or individual dietary specialisation. The prey composition changed seasonally linked to the phenology of the prey species, with White-faced Storm Petrels more common in the skua diet in spring, and Fregetta storm petrels in summer. Fur seals and Great Shearwaters have become more important in the skua diet, reflecting known or suspected increases in the populations of these species on the island, whereas the populations of Common Diving Petrels and Subantarctic Shearwaters Puffinus elegans may have decreased. Modal tarsal length of Fregetta storm petrels changed from 37 mm in 1987/89 to 39 mm in 2009, suggesting a possible increase of F. tropica relative to F. grallaria in the skua diet. However, overall there has been little change in the diet of Brown Skuas on this island over the last four decades.”

Reference:

Ryan, P.G. 2024.  Long-term changes in petrel populations on Inaccessible Island, Tristan da Cunha, inferred from the diet of Brown Skuas Stercorarius antarcticus.  Ostrich Journal of African Ornithology 95: 163-171.

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 07 October 2025

 Applications for Travel Awards to attend the Fourth World Seabird Conference in Hobart, Tasmania in September 2026 are now open.  Awards will be available for eligible participants, including early-career researchers and those from underrepresented regions.  Applications must be submitted by 15 January 2026.  Notification of Travel Awards will be on 15 March 2026.

“The WSC 4 Travel Awards offer financial assistance to support students, early-career researchers, and seabird conservation practitioners in attending the 4th World Seabird Conference.  These awards are designed to help offset travel, accommodation, and registration costs, making it easier for emerging and underrepresented voices to participate in this global event.”

Travel Awards are open to:

• Undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD students
• Early- and post-career scientists
• Seabird researchers and conservation practitioners from developing countries

“We particularly encourage applications from researchers based in Asia, Oceania, and Latin America.”

Most awards will not exceed US$2200.

Final amounts are based on:

• Estimated travel expenses
• Availability of other funding sources
• Quality of the submitted abstract

Applications to be made online from here.

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 06 October 2025

The British Ornithologists’ Union (BOU) Summer Placement Scheme provides financial support for undergraduate students, studying at any UK higher education institute, to carry out small summer ornithological research projects which might otherwise be unaffordable.

As part of the scheme, the BOU offers a weekly stipend of up to UK£250 for up to eight weeks, plus up to £400 for research expenses.  Three funded placements, each to a maximum of £2400, are available in 2026.  Applicants are expected to work full time on the project for the duration of the placement.

The student must submit the application and must be supported by a host organisation who will provide all supervision and access to lab space, field sites, consumables and equipment as necessary for the proposed project.  The BOU does not offer direct supervision, mentorship or facilities as part of this scheme.

BOU membership is not a requirement to apply and successful applicants, if not already BOU members, will be gifted a one-year BOU membership.  The scheme is particularly seeking applications from individuals belonging to groups that are currently under-represented within ornithology.  The application deadline is 30 January 2026.

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 03 October 2025

 Kaewa on 10 September, seven days before fledging, Royal Cam photograph

The Endangered Northern Royal Albatross Diomedea sanfordi chick of the 2024/25 breeding season that has been the subject of the 24-hour live-streaming “Royal Cam” at New Zealand’s mainland Taiaroa Head/Pukekura colony has fledged.  Named Kaewa, which means to adventure/travel or roam in Te Reo Māori, she has been fitted with a GPS satellite tracking device, along with a plastic band Yellow E55 and a metal band R-65278 with a cable-tied Geolocation Sensor (GLS) on the opposite leg on 01 August.  Kaewa fledged on 17 September at 232 days of age (and a mass of 7.7 kg, up from 286 g at hatching).

“She’s on her massive round-the-world journey to the coast of South America, where she will live for a few years, before returning home to Pukekura/Taiaroa Head, via the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, to breed.  She's 500 km into her travels already, heading in a northeasterly direction toward Rēkohu/Chatham Islands”.  Follow her at-sea movements here.

A 2024/25 chick fledges on camera following extended hovering in a strong wind on 25 September

A total of 18 GPS trackers, nine on females and nine on males, has been attached to the back feathers of 2024/25 chicks.  On 30 September there were still eight chicks to take flight and fledge from the colony.

The Royal Cam live stream will be moved to a new location in November after the 2025/26 season's eggs have been laid by birds that are now returning to the colony.

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 02 October 2025