Georgios Karris (Technological Educational Institute, Panagoula, Zakynthos, Greece) and colleagues have published in the North-Western Journal of Zoologyon population sizes of Scopoli’s Shearwaters Calonectris diomedea on two Greek islands.

The paper’s abstract follows:

“The Strofades Island complex in the Ionian Sea comprises two small islands, i.e. Stamfani and Arpyia, and several rocks. The islands host a significant Scopoli’s Shearwater (Calonectris diomedea) colony, which is regarded as the largest one in Greece, although no complete national population census has ever been carried out. Here we present data of the first complete survey of the species population in the area, evaluated via coastal counts of rafting birds at sea and nest surveys of occupied burrows. Both methodologies provided similar estimates. The maximum number of Scopoli’s Shearwaters visiting the Strofades archipelago during the pre-laying period was estimated at 17,000-18,000 individuals, based on the maximum counts of 3,068 and 2,723 rafting individuals/km of suitable nesting coastline of Stamfani and Arpyia islands, respectively. The breeding population was censused [sic] by inspecting apparently occupied sites in 30 100 m2 sampling units, randomly located along the coastal habitats of each island. Sampling was made over two habitat types of different quality for nesting. We estimated that a total of ca. 5,550 pairs breed on the two main islands, of which 64% were located on the larger Stamfani Island. The study reveals that the Strofades archipelago harbors the largest known Scopoli’s Shearwater colony in the eastern Mediterranean.”

Scopoli's Shearwater, photograph by 'Pep' Arcos

Reference:

Karris, G., Xirouchakis, S., Grivas, C., Voulgaris, M.-D., Sfenthourakis, S. & Giokas, S. 2017.  Estimating the population size of Scopoli’s Shearwaters (Calonectris diomedea) frequenting the Strofades islands (Ionian Sea, western Greece) by raft counts and surveys of breeding pairs.  North-Western Journal of Zoology 13: 101-108.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 17 July 2017

Amy Martin (School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland, New Zealand) and colleagues have published in the ornithological journal Ibis on changes in bird plumage and skin colour over time in museum specimens of five species of procellariiform seabirds.

The paper’s abstract follows:

“Bird plumage and skin colour can be assessed from museum specimens. To determine whether these accurately represent the colours of live birds when viewed by birds themselves, we analysed the spectral reflectances of live and up to 100-year-old museum specimens of five seabirds [sic] species (White-faced Petrel Pelagodroma marina, Common Diving Petrel Pelecanoides urinatrix, Grey-faced Petrel Pterodroma gouldi, Little Shearwater Puffinus assimilis and Fluttering Shearwater Puffinus gavia). Live birds had brighter colours than museum specimens, but there were no significant differences in the wavelengths reflected. Modelling indicated that seabirds would be able to detect colour changes in the skin, but not the feathers, of museum specimens, but only for species with blue or pink feet (Pelecanoides urinatrix and Puffinis assimilis). For seabirds, museum specimens are adequate proxies for feather colour but not for skin colour.”

Fluttering Shearwater

Reference:

Martin, A.L.B., Gaskett, A.C. & Friesen, M.R. 2017.  Feather colours of live birds and museum specimens look similar when viewed by seabirds.  Ibis DOI: 10.1111/ibi.12501.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 14 July 2017

Japan’s 99-ha Okinoshima Island along with three nearby reefs was given World Heritage status as a cultural site by the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (WHC) at its 41st Session of the Committee held in Krakow, Poland this and last week (click here).  The island, although heavily infested with rats (thought to be both Black Rattus rattus and Norwegian R. norvegicus), supports a large population of globally Near Threatened Streaked Shearwaters Calonectris leucomelas, reported by BirdLife International as of c.150 000 individuals.

Streaked Shearwater

“The Sacred Island of Okinoshima and Associated Sites in the Munakata are located 60 km off the western coast of Kyushu island, the island of Okinoshima is an exceptional example of the tradition of worship of a sacred island. The archaeological sites that have been preserved on the Island are virtually intact, and provide a chronological record of how the rituals performed there changed from the 4th to the 9th centuries CE. In these rituals, votive objects were deposited as offerings at different sites on the Island. Many of them are of exquisite workmanship and had been brought from overseas, providing evidence of intense exchanges between the Japanese archipelago, the Korean Peninsula and the Asian continent. Integrated within the Grand Shrine of Munakata, the island of Okinoshima is considered sacred to this day.”

Read of an expedition to the island to gather information on its invasive rats here.  The visit also recorded rodent depredation on the shearwaters.  The island was designated a National Wildlife Protection Area by Japan’s Ministry of the Environment in 1984 (click here).

Women are banned from entry to Okinoshima in terms of Shinto religious belief.  During an annual festival in May about 200 men are given permission to land, otherwise the island is only visited by (male) priests.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 13 July 2017

At the Sixth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), held in South Africa in November 1999, the attending Parties adopted a first resolution (6.2) on bycatch (defined as the incidental capture of a non-target species in fisheries).  The resolution made specific mention of albatrosses and petrels.

Since then the CMS has adopted four further resolutions on bycatch. These have now been consolidated into a single resolution to replace all the existing ones.  It will be considered at the 12th Meeting of the Conference of Parties, to be held in Manila, Philippines in October 2017 (UNEP/CMS/COP12/Doc.24.4.4).

A bycaught Wandering Albatross gets a longline hook removed, photograph by the British Antarctic Survey

In preparation for the upcoming CoP in Manila the combined resolution is up for discussion at the Second Meeting of the Sessional Committee of the Scientific Council (ScC-SC2) of the CMS being held in Bonn, Germany this week.   The main objective of the meeting is to provide advice on scientific and technical matters to the CoP.

The draft bycatch text takes note of “the work already completed or underway” by ACAP on bycatch issues.  ACAP’s Executive Secretary, Marco Favero is attending the meeting in Bonn. 

A new resolution on managing marine debris will also be discussed.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 12 July 2017