Buller's Albatross, artwork by Pat Latas

Javier Quiñones (Oficina de Investigaciones en Depredadores Superiores, Instituto del Mar del Peru, Callao, Peru) and colleagues have published in the journal Pacific Science on at-sea observations of three mollymawk albatrosses Thalassarche in the coastal waters of Peru.

The paper’s abstract follows:

“Three albatross species occur in Peru that nest in New Zealand offshore islands: Salvin’s (Thalassarche salvini), Buller’s (T. bulleri ssp.), and Chatham albatross (T. eremita). To determine their spatial distribution, relative abundances, and foraging behavior in Peru, we conduct two surveys coinciding their wintering time in the austral autumn and spring 2019. The study area was from 06° S to 18° S and from the coastline to 100 nautical miles (nm) offshore. We recorded 483.7 hours of observation while surveying 7,678 km², recording 249, 200, and 22 individuals of Salvin’s, Buller’s, and Chatham albatrosses, respectively. Salvin’s occupied shallower waters along the continental shelf-break in the northern and central regions (07°–12° S), while Buller’s and Chatham’s preferred oceanic waters in southern regions (12°–17° S). Salvin’s greatest abundance was during autumn (April–June) when adults dominated (85.7%) and shifted to the north. In spring (October–December), the Salvin’s abundance was lower and dominated by subadults (62.5%) shifting to the south. Conversely, Buller’s greatest abundance was in spring, with similar age-classes to those of Salvin’s, while in autumn a lower abundance was observed and adults dominated (>85%). Chatham’s adults (80%) were abundant in autumn, while in spring Chatham’s were very few (n = 3 total observations). According to a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Correspondence Analysis (CA), Salvin’s were positively associated with higher sea temperature and salinity, lower latitudes, and shallower depths. Buller’s and Chatham’s were associated with greater shelfbreak distance and wind velocity. Salvin’s presence in Peru could primarily originate from birds coming from the Western Chain in The Snares. We suggest that adult Buller’s seen in autumn, probably originate from the Chatham Islands, while those in spring probably originate from The Snares. Salvin’s were spatially associated with cephalopods and Buller’s and Chatham’s with fishes. The two latter species were attracted to offal discards of small-scale fisheries.”

Reference:

Quiñones, J., Alegre, A., Romero, C., Manrique, M. & Vásquez, L. 2021.  Fine-scale distribution, abundance, and foraging behavior of Salvin’s, Buller’s, and Chatham Albatrosses in the Northern Humboldt Upwelling System.  Pacific Science 75: 1-21.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 20 April 2011

Southern Royal Albatross Diomedea epomophora by Pilan, from a photograph by Laurie Smaglick Johnson

Paul Martin (Department of Biology, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada) and James Briskie have published in the journal Notornis on dominance hierarchies among tubenoses fed from a tourist boat.

The paper’s abstract follows:

“Aggressive interactions among species competing for resources are common and usually asymmetric, leading to consistent dominance hierarchies.  Here, we document aggressive interactions among six albatross and three petrel species off southern New Zealand, in response to supplemental food provided by ecotourism boats.  For species with sufficient sampling, we found a consistent dominance hierarchy, with Diomedea antipodensis gibsoni > D. epomophora > Macronectes halli > Thalassarche cauta > T. salvini > T. bulleri > Daption capense.  The heavier species was dominant in most species pairs.  Dominant species monopolised the food provided by displacing subordinates.   However, subordinate species appeared to gain access to some food through fast responses, greater manoeuvrability, and feeding on small pieces of food ignored by dominants. Similar congregations and interactions at natural food sources suggest that dominance hierarchies may play an important role in structuring the diverse seabird communities in the southern oceans.”

Albatrosses and petrels compete for fish discards behind ecotourism boats in southern New Zealand (from the publication)

With thanks to Roger Sharp, Birds New Zealand.

Reference:

Martin, P.R. & Briskie, J.V. 2021.  Dominance interactions among New Zealand albatrosses and petrels at ecotourist boats. Notornis 68: 51-64.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 23 April 2021

André Raine of Archipelago Research and Conservation holds a Newell’s Shearwater chick

Archipelago Research and Conservation (ARC) is a recently established Hawaiʻi-based ecological consultancy and project management service that works primarily on seabirds and other native species.  ARC’s Science Director, Dr. André Raine, was previously Project Co-ordinator for the Kaua'i Endangered Seabird Recovery Project (KESRP).  André informs ACAP Latest News that in his new role within ARC he will be working with the globally Critically Endangered Newell's Shearwater Puffinus newelli and the globally Endangered Hawaiian Petrel Pterodroma sandwichensis, among other native species.  A key focus will be colony management for these two endemic seabirds, including social attraction projects.  ARC and other project partners are also initiating a social attraction project focused on the Band-rumped Storm Petrel Hydrobates castro (globally Least +++++++++++Concern but recently up-listed within the USA to Endangered).  Farther afield ARC has commenced work on locating breeding Tahiti Petrels Pseudobulweria rostrata (Near Threatened) in American Samoa with several other project partners.

Hawaiian Petrel (left) and Newell’s Shearwater (photograph by Lindsay Young)

Read recent news on ARC’s Facebook page and access a bibliography of publications on threatened tubenoses by André Raine and ARC Executive Director Helen Raine.  Publications listed may be requested via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

With thanks to André Raine.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 22 April 2021

Lord Howe Island, photograph by Ian Hutton

In 2019 after a long period of discussion and planning a concerted attempt was made to eradicate non-native Black Rats Rattus rattus and House Mice Mus musculus on Australia’s inhabited Lord Howe Island.  All signs pointed to the operation being a success, but now news is in that two adult rats have been seen recently on the island.  Fortunately, both rodents, found to be a male and a pregnant female, were caught on 16 April.

The Lord Howe Island Board reports that no other activity had been detected as of 19 April but that investigations were continuing.  “The preliminary view is that the rats were likely an incursion from the mainland, such as by cargo, rather than the survivors of the initial eradication.  Genetic testing will investigate the issue.  As a precaution, a strategic response strategy has begun, involving rat detection dogs, the placement of monitoring and baiting stations, and targeted inspections of high facilities.  While some locals have reported rodent sightings in the past, the discovery of the rats on the island represents a new phase in the program to keep the rats out.  This involves strict biosecurity arrangements to keep the risk of new rodents arriving by boat or plane as close to zero as possible."

Lord Howe supports breeding populations of Black-winged Pterodroma nigripennis and Providence P. solandri Petrels along with Flesh-footed Ardenna carneipes, Wedge-tailed A. pacifica and Little Puffinus assimilis Shearwaters that were already showing signs of improved breeding success following the 2019 eradication operation.

Flesh-footed Shearwater on Lord Howe Island, photograph by Tim Reid

Read more here.

With thanks to Nigel Brothers.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 21 April 2021