Great Shearwaters at sea, illustration from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds

Ewan Wakefield (Department of Geography, Durham University, UK) and colleagues have published in the open access journal Marine Ornithology on plumage variation in Great Shearwaters Ardenna gravis.

The paper’s abstract follows:

“Most petrels (family Procellariidae) exhibit little or no obvious variation in plumage with age or sex, either because plumage performs no sexual function or does so in a way poorly perceptible to humans. This limits the inferences that can be made from visual observations of petrels at sea.  However, it has been suggested that nape coloration of Great Shearwaters Ardenna gravis whitens with age.  Here we test this supposition using observations of known-age-class individuals. We necropsied birds bycaught around Gough Island, a major breeding colony in the South Atlantic Ocean, and in Massachusetts Bay, a wintering area off the northeastern coast of the USA, to determine sex and classify nape coloration.  In addition, we classified the nape coloration of adults and fledglings photographed in colonies on Gough Island and Inaccessible Island in the South Atlantic.  Across birds (n = 328), ratios of light:intermediate:dark napes did not differ significantly between age classes, and the accuracy of age classification based on putative nape variation was only 52%.  Nape coloration did, however, vary systematically with sex and location: in Massachusetts Bay, light napes were more prevalent in adult females.  Off Gough Island, where only adults were sampled, this disparity did not occur.  We conclude that while nape coloration may vary due to feather wear, it is not a reliable indicator of age.  Rather, it may perform a sexual function, possibly mediating mate choice.  Further study of plumage variation and behavior at the colony would be required to test this hypothesis.”

Reference:

Wakefield, E.D., Robuck, A. R., Powers, K.D., Ronconi, R.A., Ryan, P.G., & Wiley, D.N. 2025.  Nape coloration varies with sex, not age, among Great Shearwaters Ardenna gravis.  Marine Ornithology 53: 151-158.

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 10 April 2025

Amsterdam Island before the fire, photograph by Thierry Micol

ACAP Latest News has previously reported on the January wildfire that caused the evacuation of the personnel manning France’s Amsterdam Island in the southern Indian Ocean.  More information comes from a 15.34-minute video narrated in French and entitled "What will remain of this unique island?".

“This giant fire has been gaining ground for several hours.  And we're on this French base, without a fire station, on one of the most isolated islands in the world...  Lucas is going to immerse us in this true story today.  That of Amsterdam Island, a French island isolated from the rest of the world, home to a handful of people and a unique flora and fauna... all threatened by a giant fire." [Google Translate]

With thanks to Maëlle Connan.

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 09 April 2025

Wedge-tailed Shearwaters Ardenna pacifica breed on Raivavae

Vincent Bretagnolle (Centre d’Études Biologiques de Chizé, Beauvoir sur Niort, France) and colleagues have published in the open access journal Marine Ornithology on procellariid seabirds breeding n the French Polynesian island of Raivavae, including three species of shearwaters and five species of gadfly petrels.

The paper’s abstract follows:

“Raivavae is a small island in the Austral Islands of French Polynesia that is surrounded by a lagoon with 28 islets.  Its marine avifauna is one of the least known and least studied in French Polynesia.  Overall, seabird surveys in the various Austral Islands have been extremely sparse.  This study addresses this need, using both historical and recent findings.  The results show high species richness, with 10 breeding procellarid [sic] species, though none are numerous.  We also update the knowledge on breeding petrels from other Austral Islands (except Rapa) and discuss the consequences of these findings in terms of their conservation on an island with cats Felis sp. and rats Rattus sp.”

Reference:

Bretagnolle, V., David, Y., Ghestemme, T., Butaud, J.-F., Withers, T., Shirihai, H. & Thibault, J.-C. 2025.  A petrel breeding diversity hotspot: Raivavae Island (Austral Islands, French Polynesia), with a need for conservation action.  Marine Ornithology 53: 163-171.

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 08 April 2025

An Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross tends its chick in the Falaises d'Entrecasteaux colony on Amsterdam Island, watercolour by ABUN artist, Silvia Abramant, after a photograph by Dominique Filippi

For the sixth year, ACAP is collaborating with with the international collective Artists and Biologists Unite for Nature (ABUN) to produce artworks in support of World Albatross Day on 19 June.  This year ACAP’s theme for WAD2025 is “Effects of Disease”, featuring the Endangered Amsterdam Albatross Diomedea amsterdamensis, endemic to France’s Amsterdam Island in the southern Indian Ocean, and the Endangered Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross Thalassarche carteri.  Both species are at risk from several diseases on Amsterdam Island.  ABUN Project #49 commenced on 01 April and will run until 31 May.

Silvia Abramant in her studio working on a botanical illustration

Most pleasant to report that within 24 hours the first painting had been submitted by Brazilian artist Silvia Abramant.  This might well be a record!  ACAP Latest News got in touch with Silvia to learn more about her and her art.  She writes that she lives in São Paulo, Brazil, has been painting for over 20 years and worked as an art teacher, following professional training at the Centro Universitário Belas Artes de São Paulo and taking courses in botanical illustration. She says watercolour is her favourite medium.  “I love drawing the peace of nature and being able to contribute through art and conservation”.

Albatrosses at sunset, artwork by Silvia Abraman for World Albatross Day, 19 June 2020, from a photograph by Dimas Gianuca

Silvia is no stranger to painting for ACAP, going back to the inaugural World Albatross Day in 2020, with two of her previous works illustrated here.

White-capped Albatross by Silvia Abramant for World Albatross Day, 19 June 2020, from a photograph by Laurie Smaglick Johnson

With the first artwork for ABUN Project #49 arriving the day after launching, ACAP has high hopes of quite a few more artworks arriving in support of albatross conservation over the next two months.  Get your brushes out!

With thanks to Silvia Abramant and Marion Schön, Artists and Biologists Unite for Nature.

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 07 April 2025