Red de Observadores de Aves y Vida Silvestre de Chile (ROC) is a non-governmental environmental organisation committed to the conservation of birds and biodiversity in Chile by undertaking research projects and conducting awareness raising among the public.  The NGO works closely with Chilean environmental authorities in conducting species assessments and developing strategies for bird conservation.

ROC manages the Atacama Storm Petrel Project aimed at studying and conserving four species of Chilean desert-breeding storm petrels (Golondrinas del desierto): Markham's Hydrobates markhami (Near Threatened), Ringed H. hornbyi (Near Threatened), Wedge-rumped H. tethys (Least Concern) and White-vented or Elliot’s Oceanites gracilis (Data Deficient).  The NGO has discovered the main breeding colonies for some of these species in the Atacama Desert, and is currently developing a conservation plan to address the threats they face, mainly associated with light pollution and the destruction of breeding sites.

Fernando Medrano uses playback of recorded calls in a search for Ringed Storm Petrels, 70 km inland in the Atacama Desert

Thousands of Markham's Storm Petrels are disorientated by light pollution in northern Chile every year

ROC is the local partner of eBird (the world’s largest biodiversity-related citizen science project) in Chile, a platform it strongly promoted to collect information towards the first breeding bird atlas for Chile.  It also conducts regular waterfowl and shorebird censuses throughout the country, and runs several projects monitoring American Oystercatchers Haematopus palliatus, Snowy Plovers Charadrius nivosus and South American Painted Snipes Nycticryphes semicollaris, among others, and at some sites has implemented habitat management actions for conservation.

Ivo Tejeda, Executive Director, Red de Observadores de Aves y Vida Silvestre de Chile

Ivo Tejeda, ROC’s Executive Director, writes to ACAP Latest News: “Chile has one of the most extensive and diverse coastlines in the world.  Our ocean nourished by the Humboldt Current allows more than half of the world's albatrosses to come to our seas.  However, most of the Chilean population is ignorant of this fact, and of the threats driving these species towards their decline.  For ROC, this year’s inaugural World Albatross Day on 19 June will be a perfect opportunity to spread knowledge among the general public about these extraordinary seabirds, their incredible characteristics, behaviours, and at the same time, raise awareness of the threats they face”.

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La Red de Observadores de Aves y Vida Silvestre de Chile (ROC) es una organización no gubernamental cuya misión es la conservación de las aves y la biodiversidad en Chile, para lo cual desarrolla proyectos de investigación y genera una mayor conciencia en la sociedad en estos ámbitos. Trabaja de forma cercana con las autoridades chilenas evaluando el estado de conservación de especies y desarrollando estrategias para la conservación de las aves.

A través proyecto “Golondrinas del Desierto”, la ROC estudia y protege a cuatro especies de golondrinas de mar que se reproducen en el norte de Chile: la golondrina de mar negra Hydrobates markhami (Casi amenazada), de collar H. hornbyi (Casi amenazada), Peruana H. tethys (Preocupación menor) y chica Oceanites gracilis (Datos insuficientes). La ONG ha descubierto las principales colonias reproductivas para algunas de estas especies en el desierto de Atacama, y actualmente está elaborando un plan de conservación para abordar sus amenazas, asociadas principalmente a la contaminación lumínica y la destrucción de sus sitios de nidificación.

Rodrigo Silva, Pablo Gutiérrez and Ronny Peredo check a cavity with an endoscopic camera

A Markham's Storm Petrel chick in its nest, 20 km inland in northern Chile

La ROC es el socio local de eBird (el mayor proyecto mundial de ciencia ciudadana y biodiversidad), plataforma que ha promovido fuertemente con el fin de colectar información para el desarrollo del primer Atlas de las Aves Nidificantes de Chile. También realiza regularmente monitoreos de aves acuáticas y playeras de forma colaborativa a lo largo del país, y desarrolla varios otros proyectos de monitoreo de Pilpilén común Haematopus palliatus, Chorlo nevado Charadrius nivosus y Becacina pintada Nycticryphes semicollaris, entre otros; además, en algunos sitios ha implementado medidas de manejo de hábitat para la conservación.

Ivo Tejeda, Director Ejecutivo de la ROC, señala para ACAP Latest News: “Chile presenta una de las costas más extensas y diversas en el mundo. Nuestro océano, nutrido por la Corriente de Humboldt, permite que más de la mitad de las especies de albatros lleguen frente a la costa de nuestro país. Sin embargo, gran parte de la población no conoce sobre este hecho, así como acerca de las amenazas que están haciendo disminuir sus poblaciones. Para la ROC, este año inaugural del Día Mundial de los Albatros el 19 de junio es la oportunidad perfecta para dar a conocer al público general a estas extraordinarias aves marinas y sus increíbles características; y al mismo tiempo, generar una mayor conciencia sobre las amenazas que enfrentan”.

With thanks to Verónica López and Ivo Tejeda.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Office, 02 March 2020

The Southern Oceans Seabird Study Association (SOSSA) is an Australian natural history research and conservation organisation, based in New South Wales.  It was founded by members of the New South Wales Albatross Study Group (NSWASG) in 1994.  The NSWASG was an amateur ornithological fieldwork group established in 1958 that banded albatrosses and other seabirds off the coast of eastern New South Wales, Australia.  SOSSA organizes and runs regular pelagic sea-birding trips out of Wollongong and Southport, New South Wales Australia, when albatrosses may be caught for banding.  It also publishes an on-line “quarterly(-ish!)” newsletter, The Albatross.

Janice Jenkin-Smith and Lindsay Smith of SOSSA with a Wandering Albatross caught at sea for banding

ACAP Latest News reached out to SOSSA and founder members Janice Jenkin-Smith OAM* and Lindsay Smith OAM replied offering their support for the inaugural World Albatross Day on 19 June this year.  They write: “After studying several species of albatrosses, including Black-browed, Buller's, Indian Yellow-nosed, Shy and Wandering, off the south coast of New South Wales, Australia over the last 40 years we have observed the great decline in numbers, particularly of Wandering and Indian Yellow-nosed Albatrosses, over that period first hand.  It saddens us greatly to see the demise of these wondrous creatures at the hands of humans.  During out regular monthly pelagic trips to band the birds we encourage members of the public to join us and experience the wonder of albatrosses and other seabirds at first hand and share their own experiences with others in order to bring attention to the their plight.”

*Order of Australia

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 29 February 2020

The Portuguese Society for the Study of Birds (Sociedade Portuguesa para o Estudo das Aves; SPEA) is a nonprofit environmental NGO founded in 1993 with about 4000 members.  SPEA’s mission is focused on the study and conservation of wild birds and their habitats, as well as onsupporting sustainable development for the benefit of future generations.

SPEA is the BirdLife partner in Portugal and has as its main goals:

To promote the study of bird biology and develop a scientific and technical basis for the implementation of conservation and management measures;
To enhance the conservation of wild bird populations and their habitats, particularly within Portuguese territory; and
To contribute to the development and promotion of ornithology in its various aspects through the development and dissemination of the guiding principles of the discipline.

SPEA’s Marine Department began its work in 2004, with the identification of marine Important Bird Areas (mIBAs) for seabirds in Portugal, followed by the government adoption of legal protection for these special sites. Over the past few years, the marine team has grown and focused its work on two of the main threats to seabirds: invasive species on islands and seabird bycatch.  Currently, the marine team works in Portugal and Cabo Verde on numerous projects, with several partners and involving the collaboration of hundreds of volunteers a year.

Portugal has an extensive coastline holding important colonies of breeding seabirds.  The area is also important as a feeding and passage area for several species, including the ACAP-listed and Critically Endangered Balearic Shearwater Puffinus mauretanicus.

A recreational fisher about to release an entangled Balearic Shearwater, photograph by SPEA

 Ana Almeida, SPEA’s Marine Conservation Officer, writes to ACAP Latest News: “The Critically Endangered Balearic Shearwater crosses Portuguese waters in search of food and a safe place to rest during the non-breeding period.  Unfortunately, here it faces a serious threat from fisheries.  At SPEA, we are working to develop mitigation measures that reduce seabird bycatch, in close collaboration with fishers.  All together, we can make a difference.  On World Albatross Day, we will celebrate seabirds and sustainable fishing, with no seabird bycatch.”

Joana Andrade, Head of SPEA’s Marine Conservation Department also has a message for ‘WAD2020’: “The Balearic Shearwater is a seabird that breeds only in Spain’s Balearic Islands and that during its non-breeding period occurs in Portuguese waters.  It is a species with a small population that faces a sharp decline and is expected to be extinct in 60 years.  The main threats to the species are introduced species at its breeding sites and bycatch.  At SPEA we are working to understand better the impact of bycatch.  We go aboard commercial fishing vessels to monitor how shearwaters get entangled in the fishing gear, at what time of the year, in what type of fishing gear, etc.  There is an urgent need to raise awareness of the need to conserve this magnificent species.  On World Albatross Day we want to draw everyone´s attention to the need to protect the Balearic Shearwater,  so that it does not disappear from our oceans.”

SPEA is the seventh national BirdLife partner to offer its support of World Albatross Day in 2020, following those of Australia, France, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain and the United Kingdom, all Parties to ACAP; support has also come from BirdLife International.

With thanks to Ana Almeida for text and photographs.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer 28 February 2020

UPDATE:  Closing date for submissions has been extended by one week to 7 March.

The 4th International Forum on the Sub-Antarctic will be held in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia from Wednesday 29 to Thursday 30 July 2020.  The meeting is to be hosted by the Tasmanian Government and the New Zealand Department of Conservation

“A reminder that abstracts for speed talks/posters for the 4th International Forum on the sub-Antarctic close on 29 February.  This is the only international conference dedicated to the sub-Antarctic.  We want to hear from anyone who has an interest in anything about the sub-Antarctic. Please spread the word to colleagues who may be interested and may not be on our mailing list.”

For more information or to submit an abstract click here.

Shy Albatrosses Thalassarche cauta on Tasmania's Albatross Island, photograph by Rachael Alderman

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 22 February 2020, updated 27 February 2020