Figure 1 from the paper: Foraging tracks of wandering albatrosses Diomedea exulans tracked during the study. Possession Island indicated with a black triangle. Grey tracks show individual bird movements; shaded polygons indicate 90% (lightest), 75% (mid), and 50% (darkest) utilisation distributions for all females (yellow polygons) and males (blue polygons). Pink dotted line shows approximate location of Antarctic Polar Front (Orsi and Harris 2019). Map and GPS tracks displayed in a Lambert azimuthal equal-area projection, centred on Possession Island.

Natasha Gillies (School of Environmental Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK) and colleagues have published open access in the journal Ecology and Evolution on how Wandering Albatrosses Diomedea exulans breeding in the southern Indian Ocean adapt their foraging behaviour to climatic variations.

The paper’s abstract follows:

“Climate change has marked effects on global weather patterns and oceanic systems, impacting animal behaviour and fitness in potentially profound ways. Despite this, we lack detailed information about species' responses to climatic variation. Using an 11-year tracking dataset of over 300 individual birds, we explore the consequences of variation in the southern annular mode (SAM) and southern oscillation index (SOI) for individual behaviour and fitness in wandering albatrosses Diomedea exulans breeding in the Southern Indian Ocean. Our results reveal distinct responses between males and females to climatic variation that align with the impacts of each climatic index on the distinct foraging ranges of each sex. In positive SAM phases, linked to poorer foraging conditions in female ranges and better conditions in male ranges, females exhibited behaviour consistent with reduced foraging success: that is, fewer prey capture attempts and more movement between feeding patches. Males, on the other hand, showed no behavioural change. During positive SOI phases, associated with good foraging conditions in both male and female foraging ranges, both sexes showed evidence of more successful foraging, with birds engaging in more search behaviour, and taking shorter trips with fewer prey capture attempts, together indicating increased food intake per unit time. We found limited evidence for a role of individual variation, as measured through differences in personality, suggesting that plastic responses to climate are sufficiently important so as to obscure inter-individual variation. Supporting this was the finding that individual breeding success was unaffected by climatic variation, suggesting that plastic foraging behaviour allows albatrosses to mitigate climate impacts and maintain reproductive output.”

Reference

Gillies, N., Thorley, J., Weimerskirch, H., Jenouvrier, S., Barbraud, C., Delord, K. & Patrick, S.C. 2024.  Plastic behaviour buffers climate variability in the Wandering Albatross.  Ecology and Evolution 14: e70631. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70631

16 December 2024

The Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP) and the South East Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (SEAFO) have renewed their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

Initially signed in 2018, the MoU aims to facilitate cooperation between SEAFO and ACAP to minimise the incidental bycatch of albatrosses and petrels within the SEAFO Convention Area. ​

Key areas of cooperation include data collection and analysis, information exchange, education and awareness programs, bycatch mitigation measures, training programs, and reciprocal participation in relevant meetings. 

"The renewal of this MoU highlights the importance of collaborative efforts to protect seabirds in international waters," said ACAP Executive Secretary, Dr Christine Bogle.

SEAFO’s Executive Secretary, Lizette Voges also welcomed the renewal of the MoU, stating: “We are looking forward to another 6 years with ACAP and specifically ACAP’s involvement in revising our Seabird CM [conservation measures]”.

The MoU, signed on November 27, 2024, will remain in effect for 6 years and is available to view and download at the ACAP website.

13 December 2024

The juvenile Grey-headed Albatross that reached Olaithoduvai, Sri Lanka, photographed by Lahiru Walpita, from the journal cover

Lahiru Walpita and Moditha Kodikara Arachchi have published in the correspondence section of the journal Indian Birds on the sighting of a juvenile Grey-headed Albatross Thalassarche chrysostoma off the coast of Sri Lanka on 22 July 2024.  The bird approached as close as 50 m from the shore at the Olaithoduvai fishing village from where it was photographed.

As the article suggests, this seems to be the first definite record of this Southern Ocean albatross north of the equator (click here).

Reference:

Walpita, L. & Arachchi, M.K. 2024.  The Grey-headed Albatross Thalassarche chrysostoma from Sri Lanka.  Indian Birds 20: 140-141.

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 12 December 2024

A Buller’s Albatross floating on the water; photograph by Enzo M.R. Reyes

Enzo M.R. Reyes (Marine Bycatch and Threats Team, Department of Conservation, National Office, Aotearoa New Zealand) and colleagues have published in the journal Notornis on the movement of Thalassarche albatrosses and Procellaria petrels between New Zealand and Ecuador.

The paper’s abstract follows, 

"Albatrosses and petrels are among the most endangered seabird species worldwide. They face threats such as plastic ingestion, bycatch in fisheries, invasive predators at breeding sites, light pollution, and climate change. Many seabird species from Aotearoa New Zealand migrate to the eastern Pacific waters during the non-breeding season, following the abundant food availability of the Humboldt current. In this article, we compile observations of Thalassarche and Procellaria petrels in Ecuadorian waters from five information sources such as incidental tourist vessel observations, incidental fishermen observations, beach patrols, seawatching and GLS loggers. We provide strong evidence of the presence of Salvin’s albatross and White-chinned petrel in Ecuador, two species previously considered hypothetical for the country’s official bird list. Additionally, we present photographic evidence of a live Southern Buller’s albatross in Ecuador and document further observations of the black petrel, including its interactions with local fisheries. These records emphasize the importance of enhancing monitoring efforts to gain a deeper understanding of the ecology and conservation of Ecuador’s seabirds. They also highlight the necessity and advantages of collaboration between New Zealand and Ecuador concerning highly mobile bird species."

Figure 3. b) from the paper. Salvin’s albatross track during October 2018 to October 2019 from New Zealand Hauriri Bounty Islands colonies in the subantarctic islands to South America and reaching Ecuadorian waters.

The paper is available to download at the Ornithological Society for New Zealand's website.

Reference:

Reyes, E.M.R., Giovanardi, S., Suarez-Espin. G., Haase, B., Rexer-Huber, K., Parker, G., Sagar, P. & Fischer, J.H. 2024. Where do some Aotearoa New Zealand seabirds go? Records of Thalassarche albatrosses and Procellaria petrels in Ecuadorian waters. Notornis 71(3): 69–75.

11 December 2024