Balearic Shearwater at sea, photograph by ‘Pep’ Arcos

Alice Bernard (Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, Université de Montpellier, France) and colleagues have published in the journal Biological Conservation on overlaps between migration routes of Critically Endangered (and ACAP-listed) Balearic Shearwaters Puffinus mauretanicus and Northern Gannets Morus bassanus and offshore wind farms.

The paper’s abstract follows:

“Studying fine-scale movements of seabirds during migration is logistically challenging, but GPS technologies allow accurate tracking of individuals on their migratory journeys.  Such data provide essential information in the context of offshore wind farm (OWF) developments, notably to anticipate spatial OWF overlap with migratory corridors and main foraging areas used along the routes of vulnerable species.  Using high-precision GPS-GSM tags, we investigated the end of summer, southbound migration of two emblematic seabirds of French waters: Juvenile and adult Northern gannets Morus bassanus, and adult Balearic shearwaters Puffinus mauretanicus.  Both species travel along the Southwestern European coast, between the Bay of Biscay and Western Africa, or the Mediterranean Sea.   Adult gannets thereby migrate through the EEZ of up to 10 countries, six for juvenile gannet, and four for shearwaters. Combining behavioural segmentation based on hidden Markov models and utilization distribution modelling, we found that between two and 6 % of migration routes overlapped with proposed OWFs, with similar impacts on transit and foraging/resting areas. Studied seabirds were most at risk within Portuguese compared to Spanish waters, as they flew closest to OWFs (<10 km on average).  While massive OWF developments are being planned within Western European coastal areas, our study suggests that offshore developments should be set >22 km away from the coast, to preserve transnational seabird migratory corridors.”

Reference:

  The responsibility of Western European coastal states for the conservation of two emblematic migratory seabirds in the context of offshore wind farms.  Biological Conservation 314: 111678  doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2025.111678.

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 13 February 2026

A Streaked Shearwater pair

Daisuke Ochi (Fisheries Resources Institute, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency, Kanagawa, Japan) and colleagues have published in the Journal of Ornithology on nest attendance during chick rearing of the Near Threatened Streaked Shearwater Calonectris leucomelas.

The paper’s abstract follows:

“This study tested a hypothesis regarding behavioral coordination in breeding behavior of Streaked Shearwater Calonectris leucomelas: the “chick development hypothesis,” which posits that coordination enhances chick growth via improved provisioning. As an additional supportive hypothesis, we examined whether highly coordinated pairs may exhibit longer nest stay durations, which contributes to the maintenance of coordination. Using an automated recording system, we quantified coordination with the φ−coefficient and assessed its relationship with reproductive performance through provisioning and nest attendance metrics. We found that higher parental coordination was associated with fewer extended nest absences, potentially reducing periods of prolonged chick fasting; however, while provisioning rate significantly enhanced chick growth, coordination itself did not directly affect chick growth rate. Notably, coordinated pairs exhibited significantly longer nest stay durations, supporting the supportive hypothesis. These results clarify that behavioral coordination is associated with both longer parental nest stays and fewer extended absences, demonstrating that its supplementary effects extend beyond direct relationships to chick growth.”

Reference:

Ochi, D., Oka, N. & Watanuki, Y. 2026.  Coordinated discordance: strategic nest attendance for chick rearing in a monogamous seabird.  Journal of Ornithology doi.org/10.1007/s10336-025-02352-7.

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 12 February 2026

Refuge Complex team members lay the first stretch of matting along the exterior perimeter of the predator-proof fence in the Kīlauea Point NWR, photograph from the US Fish & Wildlife Service

Biology and habitat maintenance teams have initiated an Invasive Weed Control Program in the Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge on the Hawaiian island of Kauai to help manage invasive plants along the perimeter of the predator-proof fence that protects Laysan Albatrosses Phoebastria immutabilis and other breeding seabirds from feral cats and pigs, rodents and stray dogs.  The fence runs along 2.1 miles (3.4 km) of challenging terrain, making management efforts very difficult in a year-long growing climate.

“This year, teams are beginning to install matting derived from used industrial conveyor belts to help manage weed growth.  Much more durable than traditional weed matting, this recycled material will resist our harsh climate for many years, helping to keep the predator resistant fence free from vines, grass, trees and other encroachments that can reduce the efficacy of the fence – directly helping to keep our seabird populations safe from introduced mammalian predators including rats, cats, dogs and pigs”.

The work reported here fits well with this year’s theme for World Albatross Day on 19 June of “Habitat Restoration”.

Information from Wild Times, the January 2026 online newsletter of the Friends of Kauaʻi Wildlife Refuges.

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 11 February 2026

The October 2025 Waved Albatross at sea off California, photograph by Stan Tekiela

A Critically Endangered Waved Albatross Phoebastria irrorata was photographed and videoed at sea on 05 October 2025 on the Cordell Bank off Sonoma and Marin counties, Northern California from a seabird-watching vessel.  This has been reported as the first record for the species north of Central America (click here).

Endangered albatross spotted in North Bay waters marks first-ever sighting north of Costa Rica”, video by Mike Carozza

What has been considered likely to be the same individual was identified from a research station at sea roughly 37 km offshore near Point Piedras Blancas, central California on 23 January 2026.  The sighting was approximately 4800 km north of the Galapagos Islands where the species breeds (click here).

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 10 February 2026