The first two returning birds meet up; female left, male right, photograph by Colin Facer, Department of Conservation

In what has become a tradition, the bells of Dunedin on New Zealand’s South Island are set to ring today to celebrate the first globally Endangered and Nationally Vulnerable Northern Royal Albatrosses Diomedea sanfordi returning to the mainland colony at Pukekura/Taiaroa Head for the start of the 2023/24 breeding season.

Laura Findlay, Royal Albatross Centre writes on Facebook:

“We hope you have your bells ready! Our first returning albatross for the new breeding season has been sighted. In fact, not just one but two birds were seen. GBK (green blue black, a 20- year old male) and YKG (yellow black green, a 30-year old female) were seen on the headland by our Department of Conservation ranger Colin [Facer] on Friday afternoon, 22 September 2023. YKG fledged a chick in 2020 but her mate hasn’t been seen since 2021, and GBK is also bereaved so it is hoped they may pair up – time will tell! They have both been circumnavigating the Southern Hemisphere for the past year and have now returned to start a brand-new season.

The city churches and schools will ring bells at 1pm [13h00 DSTNZ] on Monday 25 September 2023 and we’d love lots of bell ringers throughout Dunedin and afar to join in and ring their bells as well to help us celebrate. Don’t have a bell? Maybe you could set your phone to ring, sing a song or clap!”

The ACAP Infographic for the Northern Royal Albatross by Namo Niumim has been sponsored by the New Zealand Department of Conservation

I have visited Taiaroa Head twice, the first time being guided to a couple of occupied albatross nests in I think 1988 by New Zealand albatross doyen Chris Robertson QSM – a great privilege. I will have to wake early to ring my bell in Cape Town on Monday at 04h00 SAST!

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 25 September 2023

From the report: Figure 1. Diagram of bottom trawl gear with warp cables above and below the water line.

A review of warp mitigation methods for inshore trawl vessels <28m in length by Rachel P. Hickcox and Darryl I. McKenzie (Proteus, New Zealand) for New Zealand’s Conservation Services Programme has been released by the Department of Conservation.

The Executive Summary follows:

“The incidental catch of seabirds due to warp or cable strike is one of the main risks posed by coastal commercial trawl fisheries. Several different types of seabird bycatch mitigation devices are used that attach to or around warps, cables, and the vessel to form physical and visual barriers to deter seabirds. There is uncertainty, however, about the effectiveness of mitigation devices on small vessels, and there are no mandatory requirements for trawl vessels <28m in length to employ such devices. There is also no clear guidance or best practice due to limited observer data, at-sea trials, and published studies on the effectiveness of warp mitigation devices. 

The following literature review provides a brief overview of eight mitigation devices that are used on trawl vessels in New Zealand and around the world, only two of which are currently being used on vessels less than 28 meters in length overall. Data on seabird capture rates from the reviewed studies is presented and supplemented with observer data collected in New Zealand coastal trawl fisheries between 2015 and 2020. Current best practices for data collection regarding seabird abundance and warp strike observations were critiqued in preparation for a workshop that was held with invited experts. Workshop attendees met to discuss research approaches and develop recommendations (Phase 1) for at-sea trials of devices to quantify their relative effectiveness in mitigating warp strike (Phase 2). 

Warp strike/capture rate was 0.59 captures/100 tows on observed New Zealand coastal trawl vessels <28m between 2015 and 2020, regardless of mitigation method. Mitigation devices were used during 42% of all observed trawl tows between 2015 and 2020, with the bird baffler being the most frequently used. Based on the review of 14 international studies, it was determined that tori lines, bird bafflers, warp scarers, plastic cones, and water sprayers are the best candidate devices for trials on trawl vessels <28m to test their effectiveness at reducing seabird warp strike. 

During the workshop, tori lines, bird bafflers, pinkie buoy warp deflectors, and plastic cone warp deflectors were recommended for at-sea trials, based on expert opinions of feasibility, cost, practicality, and safety. Due to the large variation in vessel configurations, experts suggested categorising <28m vessels into three additional size classes. Sample size, vessel selection, gear configuration and type (e.g., size, structure, use of Dyneema warps), and the effects of discharge management were also discussed relative to efficient data collection methods and study design. Considerable challenges with testing mitigation devices at sea were raised that may make an at-sea trial difficult and/or impossible, including sample size and the confounding effects of many factors influencing warp strike rates. 

Best practices for data collection of abundance and warp strike rates, used by the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, the Department of Conservation, and Fisheries New Zealand, should form the basis of at-sea trial methodology, with some suggested modifications based on international studies and trials. Trial scope, device availability on vessels, cost, and feasibility will determine which of the four recommended mitigation devices are prioritised for testing. If a statistical approach is taken to address project objectives, alternative data collection methods such as electronic monitoring and on- board cameras should be considered to supplement observer data on warp strikes and the effectiveness of mitigation devices. 

Reference:

Hickox, R.P., Mackenzie, D. 2023. Review of warp strike mitigation methods on <28m commercial trawl vessels in New Zealand. MIT2022-07 final report prepared by Proteus for the Department of Conservation. 72 p. 

22 September 2023

 
Still some down to lose, the Royal Cam chick on 27 August, photograph by Sharyn Broni

The 2023 Royal Cam chick, named Manaaki, has fledged from Pukekura/Taiaroa Head on New Zealand’s South Island at an average age of 240 days and of a “healthy weight”. The globally Endangered Northern Royal Albatross Diomedea sanfordi chick, identified genetically as a male, was last seen hovering above the ground by the live-streaming camera during strong winds and then flew out of camera frame during the afternoon of 16 September. It was not seen within the colony the next morning.

Manaaki’s regurgitated plastic pieces

Before fledging, Manaaki regurgitated some pieces of plastic within a bolus of squid beaks alongside its nest, reminding us that this year’s theme for World Albatross Day on 19 June was “Plastic Pollution” (read an earlier ACAP Latest News post on regurgitated plastic at Taiaroa Head).

Over the next few days both colour-banded parents of the Royal Cam chick were seen visiting the empty nest (watch a short video of the male parent returning).)

As of 17 September, 18 chicks have fledged from the headland colony leaving 15 still to go; by today (21st) only nine chicks of the 32 remain in the colony.

News from the Facebook groups Albatross Lovers and the Royal Albatross Centre.

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 21 September 2023\\

Expressions of interest are sought by the World Seabird Union (WSU) to host the Fourth World Seabird Conference (WSC4) in 2026.

“The WSU seeks a Local Host for WSC4 who will work hand in hand with the WSU board of directors to promote and showcase the presentation of global seabird research and conservation efforts. The WSU is committed to facilitating WSC4, and we believe that the best approach to developing a successful conference is to partner with a Local Committee and allow them substantial flexibility in the planning and management of the conference. The International Steering Committee of the WSU will be available to provide support, advice, and assistance in all phases of the conference as needed or requested but does not intend to manage the Local Committee.”

The inaugural World Seabird Conference, led by Pacific Seabird Group, was hosted in Victoria, Canada in 2010. Cape Town, South Africa hosted WSC2 in 2015, and WSC3 was to be held in Hobart, Tasmania in 2021, but had to be moved online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Expressions of interest can be made through an online form at the following link, https://forms.gle/C6TFfSztp2rpfDpj9.

The deadline for submissions is October 5th, 2023.

20 September 2023