The FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, based in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Cape Town, South Africa is a leading ornithological research institute dedicated to postgraduate studies in avian biology and conservation.  The ‘Fitztitute’ has been active for many years conducting research in the Southern Ocean, notably on the suite of seabirds breeding on sub-Antarctic Marion Island, including on all its eight species of ACAP-listed albatrosses and petrels, as well as on plastic pollution.  This research has continued under its fifth and current Director, Peter Ryan.

The ‘Fitztitute’ has conducted research on Grey-headed Albatrosses, such as these two chicks attacked by House Mice on Marion Island; photograph by Ben Dilley

Applications for the position of Director of the FitzPatrick Institute, at the level of Associate Professor or Professor are now requested.  “In addition to a proven record of internationally recognized scholarship and a demonstrated commitment to stimulate research and postgraduate studies, this position demands innovation, strategic foresight, and the ability to thrive within a dynamic African environment; as well as experience of managing teams of biologists and support personnel.”

Requirements for the job:

• A relevant PhD and proven record of internationally recognized scholarship and a demonstrated commitment to stimulate research and postgraduate studies;
• A strong track record of teaching at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels;
• A track record of attracting external funding;
• A track record of providing inspiring and unifying leadership and mentorship to diverse teams;
• A record of forging interdisciplinary and cross-institutional linkages; and
• Proven administrative and managerial skills, including the ability to formulate budgets and control expenditure.

Responsibilities:

• To maintain a research programme, involving postgraduate student training, in avian biology, particularly studies of living birds and their conservation.
• To provide educational and research leadership in modern approaches to avian biology and conservation.
• To contribute to teaching in the Department of Biological Sciences.
• To foster an inclusive and welcoming environment for students from a diversity of backgrounds.

Full information on making an application is available from here.  The deadline for applications is 23 September 2022.

John Cooper, ACAP News Correspondent, 23 August 2022

An Amsterdam Albatross off Amsterdam Island; photograph by Kirk Zufelt.

The Albatross Task Force, an international team of scientific experts led by BirdLife International and the RSPB, has released its 2021/22 Annual Report on its work with fisheries to reduce seabird bycatch.

Albatross Task Force teams engage with fisheries in Argentina, Chile, Namibia and South Africa to encourage the uptake and proper implementation of ACAP’s Best Practice mitigation measures. More recently, in response to consumers increased interest in sustainable fishing, the Albatross Task Force have been utilising certification schemes such as that run by the Marine Stewardship Council, and direct engagement with retailers, to drive the adoption of mitigation measures by fisheries. 

On the release of the report, BirdLife International’s Bycatch Programme Manager, Rory Crawford stated, “…this has very much been the year the ATF went electronic, working on a number of projects to see how effective camera monitoring of our target fisheries might be in supporting seabird bycatch reductions – with some amazing results!

We’ve continued to build capacity to take action on preventing seabird bycatch in all parts of the fisheries management ecosystem – from crews to captains and fisheries observers to inspectors. Hundreds of key industry stakeholders have been empowered with seabird bycatch knowledge, and many teams have developed resources that institutions can use to deliver their own seabird bycatch training.

These are the vital foundations of making all theTaskForce’s efforts through the years sustainable – ensuring that keeping albatrosses off hooks and out of nets becomes a little part of everybody's job."

The full report is available to read here.

For regular updates on The Albatross Task Force follow @AlbyTaskForce on Twitter, @albatross_stories on Instagram, and read monthly updates on the ATF blog. 

Posted 22 August 2022

Laysan Albatrosses Phoebastria immutabilis (pictured) are globally Near Threatened and have most of their breeding populations on the low-lying atolls of the USA’s North-Western Hawaiian Islands making them susceptible to the effects of climate change. Photograph by Eric VanderWerf

The President of the United States, Joe Biden, has signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act, legislation that will invest 370 billion U.S. dollars into renewable energies, carbon reduction schemes and other initiatives to combat climate change.

Although climate change is only one factor contributing to the challenges many birds face for their survival, the signing of this bill signals a step in addressing the conservation crisis ACAP’s listed species are facing, and of which, climate change plays a role.

How will this new law help bird populations? The National Audubon Society has written about the key ways in which this bill will help the world’s birds. Read the full story here.

Posted 19 August 2022

Wedge-tailed Shearwaters in the Freeman Seabird Preserve, artwork from Pelagicos

The Wedge-tailed Shearwater Ardenna pacifica colony within the James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge on the Hawaiian island of Oahu has increased from zero four years ago to 134 breeding pairs in the current breeding season.  The NGO Pacific Rim Conservation writes on its Facebook page “While this was not one of the target species for our restoration efforts, seabirds are often attracted to other closely related species, and we think that our social attraction efforts for our translocated chicks [have] drawn in these burrow nesting seabirds. The word is out that this is a safe nesting spot!”

A Wedge-tailed Shearwater rests at its burrow entrance; photograph from Pacific Rim Conservation

The NGO has been using translocation of chicks that were then hand fed until fledging to establish new breeding colonies of Black-footed Phoebetria nigripes and Laysan P. immutabilis Albatrosses, Bonin Petrels Pterodroma hypoleuca and Tristram’s Storm Petrels Hydrobates tristrami within a predator-proof fence inside the refuge (click here).

Going up.  Wedge-tailed Shearwater active nests, Freeman Seabird Preserve, 2009-2022

At another site on Oahu, the colony of “Wedgies” in the Freeman Seabird Preserve continues to grow, with 423 breeding pairs recorded this year.  Pelagicos (Pelagic Conservation Laboratory, Hawai'i Pacific University) reports on its Facebook page that the colony is increasing “by an additional 24.9 nests every July census.  Since 2009, the colony has more than quadrupled in size”.

The first translocated Newell’s Shearwater to return to Nihoku; photograph from Pacific Rim Conservation

On another Hawaiian island, Kauai, the first translocated Newell’s Shearwater Puffinus newelli (a male) has returned to the coastal Nihoku Ecosystem Restoration Project site within the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge, leading to hopes a new breeding colony will be established for this Critically Endangered species.  The bird was first filmed calling from a burrow in June and was then caught and identified by the numbered leg band placed on it as a translocated chick in 2018 (click here).  Translocated Hawaiian Petrels Pterodroma sandwichensis (Endangered) have already started breeding within the predator-proof fence at Nihoku.

John Cooper, ACAP News Correspondent, 18 August 2022