The results are in for the annual census of Laysan Phoebastria immutabilis and Black-footed P. nigripes Albatrosses on Kure Atoll in the North-Western Hawaiian islands.

A mixed colony of Black-footed and Laysan Albatrosses

“We had an increase of about 11 000 Laysan Albatrosses and a few more Black-footed Albatrosses from last year. This year, we counted a total of 35 360 mōlī [Laysans] and 3381 kaʻupu [Black-foots].”

It is assumed the count was of incubating birds since nest contents were checked: “As I went to confirm whether or not an albatross was sitting on an egg, I found one sitting on a light bulb, another on a golf ball, and a few sitting on two eggs.”

The census took a team of five working for the non-profit foundation Kure Atoll Conservancy six days to complete.

Read more here for the 2016 count and here for the 2013 count.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 03 January 2017

A pair of Vulnerable Short-tailed Albatrosses Phoebastria albatrus has been photographed on Sand Island, part of the Midway National Wildlife Refuge (click here) .

Sand Island's Short-tailed Albatross pair, photograph by Wieteke Holthuijzen 

Previously, a pair of Short-tailed Albatrosses has bred successfully on Midway's Eastern Island within the atoll, fledging several chicks (click here).  Short-tails have been recorded singly on Sand Island before but breeding has not yet been observed.

“Refuge staff are hopeful that this pair may produce an egg this season”.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 02 January 2017

Stephanie Borrelle (Institute for Applied Ecology New Zealand, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand) and colleagues has published in the journal Oryx on how well seabirds recover after their islands are freed of invasive predators.

The paper’s abstract follows:
“Protecting seabirds is a global conservation priority given that 29% of seabird species are threatened with extinction. One of the most acute threats to seabirds is the presence of introduced predators, which depredate seabirds at all life stages, from eggs to adults. Consequently, eradication of invasive predators has been identified as an effective and commonly used approach to seabird conservation. Seabird recovery following the eradication of predators is influenced by complex and interacting environmental and demographic factors, and there are gaps in our understanding of species-specific responses. We reflect on the recovery of seabirds on islands cleared of predators, drawing on the equilibrium theory of island biogeography, and synthesize key influences on recovery reported in the literature. We present a regionally specific case study on the recovery of seabird colonies (n = 98) in the Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand, which is a hotspot of seabird diversity (27 species), with a long history of eradications of invasive predators. We found that on islands cleared of predators seabirds recover over time, and such islands have more diverse seabird assemblages than islands that never had predators. Recovery appears to be influenced by a suite of site- and species-specific factors. Managers may assume that given enough time following eradication of predators, seabirds will recolonize an island. Although time is a factor, proximity to source populations and human activities has a significant effect on recolonization by seabirds, as do demographic traits, colonizing ability and habitat suitability. Therefore, integrating expected site and species-specific recovery responses in the planning of eradications should help guide post-eradication management actions.”

House Mice have killed this Atlantic Petrel chick on Gough Island, photograph by Ross Wanless

Reference:

Borrelle, S.B.,Boersch-Supan, P.H.,Gaskin, C.P. & Towns, D.R. 2016.  Influences on recovery of seabirds on islands where invasive predators have been eradicated, with a focus on Procellariiformes.  Oryx doi.org/10.1017/S0030605316000880.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 30 December 2016

ACAP Latest News reported a year ago on the killing of Laysan Albatrosses Phoebastria immutabilis breeding in the Ka'ena Point Natural Area Reserve on the Hawaiian island of Oahu by intruders entering the fenced area at night.  Eggs were also smashed and recording and attracting equipment removed (click here).

One of the Laysan Albatrosses found dead after the event next to its egg, photograph from Pacific Rim Conservation

The miscreant?  A trail-side camera catches an intruder on the night of the killings

News is now in that after a year a 19-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the incident. He turned himself in, was booked and released on [US]$25,000 bail.  He faces 19 criminal counts.  They include 14 counts of animal cruelty, as well as criminal property damage, theft and engaging in a prohibited act in a state nature reserve.

The accused albatross killer pleaded not guilty in his first court appearence this week (click here).  The trial date has been set for 27 February.  The accused's defence attorney has stated that my client "was camping at Kaena Point with schoolmates from Punahou.  He was there when this happened but he did not injure any birds. He didn’t do it. He didn’t maim or touch the animals, period.”  The attorney said another of the accused's schoolmates was responsible for the albatross slaughter.

Two other suspects, then schoolmates of the adult accused and who were minors at the time of the incident, have also been arrested.  Their cases are to be handled in a juvenile court.

Pacific Rim Conservation which monitors Kaena Point's albatrosses and was responsble for the Kaena Point Ecosystem Restoration Project which resluted in the erection of a predator-proof fence reports on a positive outcome of the incident:

"In many ways our hearts are no less broken than they were last year and we are still grieving. But there have been some silver linings to this. We have seen a change in all of you who regularly hike out to Kaena - bad behavior is not tolerated out there anymore and we see folks regularly taking it upon themselves to teach good behavior to others. We receive a lot more questions when we are working out there which is good. We encourage you to always ask questions, even of the folks who appear to be working off trail- anyone working in the reserve will always come over to talk to you and explain what they are doing if asked. If you see something you don’t feel comfortable with addressing- call DOCARE- their number is 643-DLNR. Those of you who hike out to Kaena are the eyes and ears and together we can work together to try and keep that area safe for our wildlife. Aloha and Mahalo you for all of your support over the last year."

Read more here.  ACAP Latest News will report on the outcome of the trial.

Kaena Point predator-proof fence, photograph by Lindsay Young

Laysan Albatrosses at Kaena Point in happier times, photograph by Lindsay Young

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 29 December 2016