Black-browed Albatross at sea; photograph by Kollette Grobler

Tim Guilford (Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, UK) and colleagues have published in the journal Current Biology on Black-browed Albatrosses Thalassarche melanophris diving actively to depths of as much as 19 metres.

The paper’s abstract follows:

“Albatrosses are the iconic aerial wanderers of the oceans, supremely adapted for long-distance dynamic soaring flight. Perhaps because of this they are considered poorly adapted for diving, in contrast to many smaller shearwater and petrel relatives, despite having amphibious eyes, and an a priori mass advantage for oxygen-storage tolerance.  Modern biologging studies have largely confirmed this view casting doubt on earlier observations using capillary tube maximum depth gauges, which may exaggerate depths, and emphasising albatrosses’ reliance on near-surface feeding.  Nevertheless, uncertainty about albatross diving remains an important knowledge gap since bycatch in human fisheries (e.g. birds becoming hooked when diving for longline bait fish) is thought to be driving many population declines in this most threatened group of birds.  Here we show, using miniature electronic depth loggers (TDRs), that black-browed albatross, Thalassarche melanophris, can dive to much greater depths (19 m) and for much longer (52 s) than previously thought — three times the maxima previously recorded for this species (6 m and 15 s), and more than twice the maxima reliably recorded previously for any albatross (from 113.7 bird-days of tracking).  Further evidence that diving may be a significant behavioural adaptation in some albatrosses comes from co-deployed 3-axis accelerometers showing that these deeper dives, which occur in most individuals we tracked, involve active under-water propulsion without detectable initial assistance from momentum, sometimes with bottom phases typical of active prey pursuit.  Furthermore, we find (from co-deployed GPS) that diving occurs primarily in the distal portions of long-distance foraging trips, with deeper dives occurring exclusively during daylight or civil twilight, confirming the importance of visual guidance.”

Read a popular account of the publication here.

Reference:

Guilford, T., Padget, O., Maurice, L. & Catry, P. 2022.  Unexpectedly deep diving in an albatross.  Current Biology. doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2021.11.036.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 10 February 2022

 
The 2019 fledgling Short-tailed Albatross (right) returns to Midway Atoll.  Its parents are on the left; photograph by Jon Plissner

Note:  ACAP Latest News aims to post on recent developments and findings in procellariiform science and conservation relevant to the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels on five days a week, Monday to Friday.  To this end, the ACAP Information Officer trawls though social media, follows the scientific literature and corresponds with seabird researchers, conservationists and managers worldwide for snippets of news.  Sometimes, when there is a lot of news about, some coming from social media sources is shared directly to ACAP’s Facebook page.  But occasionally, so many news stories worthy of writing up in detail are around that by the time they get to receive a daily ALN post they are old and stale.

News from the Hawaiian Islands is often an example of this problem, so here to clear the backlog somewhat are leads to eight stories about Hawaiian albatrosses that otherwise with less news about might have received individual treatments.

Short-tailed Albatross juvenile returns to Midway Atoll

The Friends of Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge has posted on its Facebook page on the Vulnerable Short-tailed Albatrosses Phoebastria albatrus of Midway as follows:

“Midway Atoll's 2019 chick has made a return visit!  With an “AA08” red and white band, this juvenile albatross very briefly appeared in 2021, the earliest return ever recorded of a short-tailed chick to its nesting site.  The bird has been observed spending much more time on Midway this year, always in the same general area on Sand Island as its nest was three years ago.  In this picture taken by Fish and Wildlife Service Biologist Jon Plissner, the juvenile can be seen sitting within a few feet of its parents as they continue to brood their failed egg from this nesting season.  It’s mother, affectionately known as “Geraldine”, sits on the nest while “George” the father rests alongside.”  Read earlier ALN posts on George and Geraldine here.

Annual albatross counts on Midway completed for another year

Also from the Friends of Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge Facebook page: "2022 Albatross Count numbers are in!  This year the team counted 423,758 Laysan albatross nests and 25,626 black-footed albatross nests on the three islands of Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge.  Nest numbers were down as compared to last year, a normal and expected fluctuation that generally happens in alternating years.  Laysan nests were down 13.9% and black-footed down 3.4%.  Lower numbers could also be partially attributed to increased coastal flooding of nests during what has been an exceptionally stormy winter.  Learn more about the process of counting every nest on Midway Atoll in this video by FWS Volunteer Daniel Rapp.”

The oldest Black-footed Albatross known is 62

The U.S. Geological Survey Bird Banding Laboratory reports that the oldest known Black-footed Albatross Phoebastria nigripes (Near Threatened) is at least 62 years old.  “The Bird Banding Lab finalizes work on a 20-year-old project to build a complete dataset of all banded and resighted pacific albatrosses.  This dataset spans 80 years and covers the efforts of the monitoring program initiated in 2001 to assess the Black-footed and Laysan Albatross population.  This collaborative project between USGS and FWS resulted in a curated dataset of 1 million records.” (click here).

A Laysan Albatross visits the Anapuka Dune Restoration Project on Molokai

The Anapuka Dune Restoration Project of the Moloka’i Land Trust in the Mokio Preserve on the Hawaiian island of Molakai will build a predator proof exclosure to protect a social attraction site to establish a new Laysan Albatross Phoebastria immutabilis (Near Threatened) colony safe from sea level rise.  Decoys and sound have brought in an albatross for repeated landings recently (click here and watch a video).  “This was the first documented landing in the social attraction site since it was deployed back in November 2017”.  Access earlier ALN posts on the project here.

A Laysan Albatross (left) lands next to decoys in the Anapuka Dune Restoration site; photograph by Butch Haase

Black-footed Albatross breed for the first time on Oahu

The NGO Pacific Rim Conservation has posted on its Facebook page: “It's been 12 years since we started social attraction for Black-footed Albatross (Ka`upu) at Kaena Point, and this year, it finally paid off: the first wild pair of Black-footed Albatross started nesting in late November!  While their egg cracked and won't hatch this year, we are thrilled to have the start of an incipient colony.  This is the first record of these species nesting in the inhabited main Hawaiian Islands and bodes well for their ability to adapt to rising seas.”  Access many earlier ALN posts on the albatrosses of the predator-protected Kaena Point National Wildlife Refuge here.

A Laysan Albatross flies over an incubating Black-headed Albatross at Kaena Point; photograph from Pacific Rim Conservation

Earlier, on 9 January the NGO reported on Facebook that “today there were four Black-footed albatross at Ka`ena Point: one unbanded, the female we banded at Kaena Point two years ago, one visiting bird from Tern Island 500 miles NW of Oahu, and, most excitingly, a returning female we translocated to Oahu as a chick in 2018!  V651 (our translocation chick) was moved from Tern Island in 2018 and spent more than 10 days aboard a ship to reach her new home.”  So it seems a new high-level colony protected from predicted sea level rise is on the way!

A translocated Black-footed Albatross returns to the James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge

And more from Pacific Rim Conservation, this time on its efforts to create a new breeding site for both Black-footed and Laysan Albatrosses in the James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge on Oahu: "Do you remember our translocated Black-footed Albatross Chick #16 in 2018?  She was one of our largest translocated chicks that year with one of the biggest attitudes.  About a month before fledging she was given the official ID band of V666.  Four years later, she is the first of the translocated Black-footed Albatross chicks to return to the translocation site that our staff has seen in person. Scroll through the photo series and see how V666 has changed from her first week with us to just last week! And make sure if you are able to see and take photos of ID bands of any Black-footed Albatross on Oahu, to send those our way!"  Access earlier ALN posts on the NGO's translocation work in the refuge here.

Feral cats kill more Laysan Albatross chicks on Kauai

The Kilauea Point Natural History Assoc dba Friends of Kauai Wildlife Refuges has reported this month of the ravages of feral cats on albatrosses on the Hawaiian island of Kaui: “We have learned that at least twelve mōlī [Laysan Albatross] chicks have been killed by feral cats in the past week alone here on the North Shore of Kauaʻi - pulled right out from under their parent on the nest.  Feral cat predation must be stopped.  Want to help?  Please email the Kauaʻi County Council at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and express your support of Bill #2842. This important piece of legislation prohibits feeding and abandoning cats on County property and prohibits abandoning cats on private property without landowner consent.”  Read an earlier report in ACAP Latest News on feral cats preying upon Laysan Albatross chicks on Kauai.

A breeding count for Laysan Albatrosses in the Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge on Kauai

"As of February 1st, we have a total of 92 nests at Kīlauea Point NWR, 20 mōlī (Laysan albatross) chicks have hatched with several pipping from 68 active nests." (click here).  Access earler ALN posts on Laysan Albatrosses in the refuge here.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 09 February 2022

The Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT) invites applications for the position of Executive Secretary.

The CCSBT is an intergovernmental organisation responsible for the global conservation and management of Southern Bluefin Tuna. The Secretariat of the CCSBT is a small team of administrative and professional staff, headquartered in Canberra, Australia.  The Executive Secretary is responsible for the management and supervision of the Secretariat, and for supporting the operation of the Commission, including its meetings and its conservation and management measures.

The appointment will be for a term of three years with the possibility of renewal, subject to the approval of the Commission.  Applications should be emailed to the Executive Secretary, Robert Kennedy (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) by 4 March 2022.  Read more details here.

The Albatross and Petrel Agreement signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna in December last year (click here).

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 08 February 2022

An incubating "Royal Cam" Northern Royal Albatross at Taiaroa Head; photograph by Sharyn Broni

Thirty-six pairs of globally Endangered Northern Royal Albatrosses Diomedea sanfordi laid eggs in the Pukekura/Taiaroa Head colony on the mainland of New Zealand’s South Island this 2021/22 season.  Chicks are now emerging, including the one that is being watched by the live-streaming ‘Royal Cam”.

The colony’s Department of Conservation Ranger, Sharyn Broni, writes “While this news is exciting and the colony is doing well, this species still faces plenty of challenges out in the wild.  The latest bird threat classification report, released in December, saw the northern royal albatross’ conservation status worsen to Threatened – Nationally Vulnerable.  The report says fisheries bycatch (primarily outside of New Zealand’s waters), and droughts or storm events associated with climate change, appear to be causing the decline.  It’s a reminder that we can help by taking steps to reduce our contribution to climate change, and to dispose of plastic carefully, as once it’s in the ocean albatross can mistake it for food.”

Last season 41 eggs laid in the colony at the tip of the Otago Peninsula resulted in a record 30 chicks successfully fledging.

Read more here.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 07 February 2022