White-phase Southern Giant Petrel in Antarctica, photograph by Michael Dunn

Denyelle Corá (Universidade Comunitária da Região de Chapecó, Curso de Ciências Biológicas, Brazil) and colleagues have published in the journal Polar Biology on coprophagy by breeding Antarctic Southern Giant Petrels Macronectes giganteus.

The paper’s abstract follows:

“Southern giant petrels (Macronectes giganteus) are opportunistic generalists whose feeding strategies include hunting, scavenging and fishing.  While seals are important for southern giant petrels as a source of carrion, we documented that live seals also provide feeding opportunities for southern giant petrels.  We tracked breeding southern giant petrels from Harmony Point, Antarctica, during incubation and chick rearing with solar-powered GPS-UHF devices.  Tracking results showed that animals often visited confirmed haul-out sites of seals, mainly Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii).  Feeding on seal faeces was confirmed by direct observation. Southern giant petrels were more likely to visit haul-out sites during incubation than during chick-rearing.  This behaviour suggests that the birds fed on seal faeces mainly when fasting, which could last as long as 15 days.  Seal faeces could be a resource consumed to quickly recover from the fast before leaving for a longer trip.”

Reference:

Corá, D.H., Finger, J.V.G. & Krüger, L. 2020.  Coprophagic behaviour of southern giant petrels (Macronectes giganteus) during breeding period. Polar Biology 43: 2111–2116.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 09 December 2020

Floof!  Wandering Albatross chick in the South Atlantic, photograph by Kirk Zufelt

David Stone (Scottish Centre for Ecology and the Natural Environment, University of Glasgow, UK) and colleagues have published in the Journal of Thermal Biology on aspects of homeothermy in Wandering Albatross Diomedea exulans chicks.

The paper’s abstract follows:

“Young birds in cold environments face a range of age-specific thermal challenges. Studying the thermal biology of young birds throughout ontogeny may further our understanding of how such challenges are met. We investigated how age and environmental parameters influenced surface temperature gradients across various body regions of wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans) chicks on Bird Island, South Georgia. This study was carried out over a 200 d period during the austral winter, from the end of the brood-guard period until fledging, bridging a gap in knowledge of surface temperature variation and heat loss in developing birds with a long nestling stage in severe climatic conditions. We found that variation in surface temperature gradients (i.e., the difference between surface and environmental temperature) was strongly influenced by chick age effects for insulated body regions (trunk), with an increase in the surface temperature gradient that followed the progression of plumage development, from the second set of down (mesoptiles), to final chick feathers (teleoptiles). Environmental conditions (primarily wind speed and relative humidity) had a stronger influence on the gradients in uninsulated areas (eye, bill) than insulated regions, which we interpret as a reflection of the relative degree of homeothermy exhibited by chicks of a given age. Based on biophysical modelling, total heat loss of chicks was estimated to increase linearly with age. However, mass specific heat loss decreased during the early stages of growth and then subsequently increased. This was attributed to age-related changes in feather growth and activity that increased surface temperature and, hence, metabolic heat loss. These results provide a foundation for further work on the effects of environmental stressors on developing chicks, which are key to understanding the physiological responses of animals to changes in climate in polar regions.”

Reference:

Stone, D.W., Gunn, C., Nord, A., Phillips, R.A. & McCafferty, D.J. 2020.  Plumage development and environmental factors influence surface temperature gradients and heat loss in wandering albatross chicks.  Journal of Thermal Biology  doi.org/10.1016/j.jtherbio.2020.102777.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 08 December 2020

Wisdom incubates her latest egg last month, with her red Z333 colour band visible; photograph by Jon Brack, Friends of Midway Atoll NWR

Following taking a ‘gap year’ in the 2019/20 breeding season, Wisdom, the world’s oldest known Laysan Albatross Phoebastria immutabilis, and her current mate Akeakamai, have returned to Midway Atoll and are incubating an egg.

Extracts from a post by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Pacific Islands follow:

“Wisdom, is a Mōlī (Laysan Albatross) and the world’s oldest known, banded wild bird has returned to Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and Battle of Midway National Memorial.  At least 69 years old, the first observation of Wisdom at her nest site took place on November 29, 2020.  Biologists have confirmed that she has laid an egg.  Each year millions of albatrosses return to Midway Atoll in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument to nest and raise their young.   Culturally, albatross species are kinolau (body form) of the Hawaiian deity Lono.  The birds’ return to land for mating coincides with the beginning of the makahiki season [Hawaiian New Year] occurring between October and November, and an important aspect to some practitioners’ ceremonies and practices during that time.

“Every year that Wisdom returns, she is rewriting what we know about albatross longevity — and inspiring the next generation,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Monument Superintendent Jared Underwood. “Wisdom helps us better understand how long these birds live and how often they breed. This knowledge informs our management actions to ensure a future for albatrosses that rely on the Refuge and Monument.”

“Wisdom and her mate have met on Midway Atoll to lay and hatch an egg almost every year since 2006.  Wisdom has laid between 30–36 eggs in her lifetime.  In 2017, the chick that she fledged in 2001 was observed just a few feet away from her current nest, marking the first time a returning chick of hers has been documented.”

Access the many posts to ACAP Latest News featuring Wisdom; and read more on her breeding activity over the last decade.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 07 December 2020

“A jinrickshaw in Cape Town”, from the Cape of Diab Facebook group

In the past albatrosses and their eggs were exploited in various ways, mainly for food, but also for cultural purposes, as notably occurred in Hawaii (to be covered in a future post).

A hitherto unreported cultural (or at least decorative) use is depicted in an old postcard that has recently come to light.  Thought to be from around 1900 (late Victorian/early Edwardian), the photo from South Africa’s Cape Town shows a rickshaw puller with a pair of yellow-nosed albatross wings (not identifiable to species) strapped to his upper arms.  This is the only known case of such a use found.  Perhaps he found them washed up on the shore, or obtained them from a fishing vessel. In the same era, rickshaw pullers in South Africa tended to a cow horn head dress, presumably as an aid to attracting clients.  Just a few rickshaws survive in the country in Durban, aimed at the tourist trade.

Headdresses worn by Durban rickshaw pullers: past and present

With thanks to Michael Fortune and Peter Ryan.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 04 December 2020