“An adult Light-mantled Albatross [Phoebetria palpebrata] was found in 29 April 2014 … at Vilatur beach … municipality of Saquarema, Rio de Janeiro.  The bird found was quite weak, possibly dehydrated, and unable to take flight.  This paper is one of the few documented records of Light-mantled Albatross in Brazil, noting that more records should be published in scientific journals to understand more the distribution and dispersion pattern of this species.”

Light-mantled Sooty Albatrosses, photograph by Aleks Terauds

Reference:

Corrêa, G.V.V. & Pereira, G.A. 2016.  Documented record of the Light-mantled Albatross Phoebetria palpebrata (Foster, 1785) from southeastern Brazil.  Brazilian Journal of Biology 76: 808-809.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 06 July 2016

Susan Rehorek (Department of Biology, Slippery Rock University, Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania, USA) and colleagues have published in the Journal of Morphology on the morphology of developing eggs of the Laysan albatross Phoebastria immutabilis.

The paper’s abstract follows:

“Bird incubation is subdivided into two phases: differentiation (embryonic phase) and growth (fetal phase).  Most birds have a relatively short incubation period (20–30 days) with the phase transition occurring midway through the incubation period.  The Laysan albatross (Phoebastris [sic] immutabilis) is a large pelagic bird with a long incubation period.  The purpose of this study was to document the differentiation phase with the aim of ascertaining the impact of a lengthened incubation on embryonic development.  Eighty-two previously collected albatross embryos were examined, measured, and staged.  The albatross was found to develop more slowly than smaller birds, with a rate similar to other long-incubating birds.   Legs and wings grow at similar rates but exhibit variation in growth among their anatomical components. While the albatross embryos shared some morphological stages with chickens, they were more similar to ducks and pelicans.  Special features of the albatross not shared with the Gallianserae (chickens and ducks) included an alligator-like curved tail, narial tubes, and a cloacal bulge.  Further examination of other larger pelagic birds with long incubation periods are needed to determine the uniqueness of the Laysan albatross embryonic development.  Although much embryonic phase growth was documented in the postnatal period, little is known about the later, fetal phase in Laysan albatross.  Future studies should involve examination of later (post day 32) fetuses.”

Laysan Albatross egg, photograph by Pacific Rim Conservation

Reference:

Rehorek, S.J., Smith, T.D. & Beeching, S.C. 2016.  Early development and differentiation of the Laysan albatross (Phoebastria immutabilis (Rothschild, 1893): Procellariiformes).  Journal of Morphology DOI: 10.1002/jmor.20572.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 05 July 2016

BirdLife International is looking for someone to lead strategic advocacy in regional and international policy processes to secure improved conservation outcomes for marine Important Bird Areas (mIBA) and Key Biodiversity Areas (KBA), including designation of marine protected areas.

“This exciting new role will play a key role in advancing conservation outcomes for seabirds, by providing strategic advice to the BirdLife International Marine Programme and delivering effective high-level advocacy in regional and international policy fora.

The ideal candidate will have: • Strong understanding of international environmental policy processes. • Demonstrated experience in international policy processes related to nature conservation, fisheries and/or the marine environment. • Experience with policy advocacy, lobbying and negotiation. • Experience in writing reports/position papers relating to policy and MEAs. • The ability to convey scientific/technical information in a clear and concise manner to a range of audiences. • The right to work in the UK.”

Click here for more information.

An ACAP-listed Balearic Shearwater at sea; photograph by Pep Arcos

Applications should include a covering letter summarising the applicant’s suitability for the position, a detailed CV and contact details of two referees known to the applicant in a professional capacity to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..  The closing date is 14 July 2016.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 04 July 2016

The 2015 Eskom Red Data Book of Birds of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland is the fourth edition of a regional account of threatened avian species for the three named countries within southern Africa.  Other than for the first Red Data Book, published in 1976, South Africa’s sub-Antarctic Prince Edward Islands have also been included.

As for its predecessors, the latest Red Data Book for the major part of southern Africa is based on the IUCN threatened categories and criteria for assessment, but at a regional, rather than at a global scale.

Nine of 16 ACAP-listed albatross and petrel species covered by the book breed within the region only at the Prince Edward Islands in the southern Indian Ocean, which are legally protected as a Special Nature Reserve, with the added status as a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance and is surrounded by a large Marine Protected Area.  Because these species breed at only two regional localities (Marion Island and Prince Edward Island) they have all been categorized as threatened or Near Threatened.  Additionally, although improvements have occurred largely through the work of BirdLife South Africa’s Albatross Task Force (click here) they remain at risk to at-sea mortality from longline and trawl fisheries, as well as recently shown from introduced House Mice Mus musculus on Marion Island (click here).

A further seven species of ACAP-listed albatrosses and petrels that breed outside the region but face threats at sea within it are included.  Each of the 16 regionally breeding and non-breeding species has an individual account of two to four pages which includes a detailed and annotated map that shows breeding locations and at-sea distributions, and in most cases a pleasing pen and ink drawing of the bird by Fransie Peacock.

All but four of the 16 ACAP-listed species keep their global threatened status at the regional level.  A notably difference is for the globally Near Threatened (since 2013) Black-browed Albatross Thalassarche melanophris (incorrectly cited in the regional RDB as T. melanophrys – click here), which is accorded a regional threatened status of Endangered, due to fishery-induced mortality within the Benguela Upwelling System off the Atlantic coast of southern Africa.  A further error for this species is it being listed as globally Endangered (as it was in 2012) in its account, although correctly as Near Threatened in the index on page 26.  The globally Near Threatened Grey Petrel Procellaria cinerea, previously affected by the now exterminated feral Domestic Cats Felis catus but now at risk to mice on Marion Island, is accorded a regional status of Vulnerable.  However, this species could be due for relisting to Vulnerable at the global level in a future revision (click here).

Black-browed Albatross, photograph by Oli Yates

Grey Petrel at Marion Island, photograph by Peter Ryan

Well referenced, well written and well laid out this new regional RDB is an essential addition to any southern African ornithological library.  However, for those working internationally on the conservation of procellariform tubenoses, and more particularly with the relatively few ACAP-listed species covered, an on-line version (as exists at the global level – click here for albatrosses) would be a boon, both for convenience and to save on international postage for what is a weighty book.

With thanks to Martin Taylor.

References:

Barnes, K.N. (Ed.). 2000.  The Eskom Red Data Book of Birds of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland.  Randburg: BirdLife South Africa.  169 pp.

Brooke, R.K. 1984.  South African Red Data Book – Birds.  South African National Scientific Programmes Report  No. 97.  213 pp.

Siegfried, W.R., Frost, P.G.H., Cooper, & Kemp, A.C. 1976.  South African Red Data Book – Aves.  South African National Scientific Programmes Report No. 7.  108 pp.

Taylor, M.R., Peacock, F. & Wanless, R.M. (Eds) 2015.  The 2015 Eskom Red Data Book of Birds of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland.  Johannesburg: BirdLife South Africa.  464 pp.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 04 July 2016