Archived News

The Streaked Shearwater Calonectris leucomelas breeds on Japanese, Korean and Russian islands in the North Pacific.  In the past its chicks has been extensively exploited and this is said to continue - but at a lower level then hitherto.  On some breeding islands it may be impacted upon by rats.

Up to now the species has been categorized as Least Concern by BirdLife International which, however, also states "[t]he population is suspected to be declining owing to unsustainable levels of exploitation and entanglement in fishing nets."

This situation may change as consideration is now being given by BirdLife's Globally Threatened Birds Forum to the shearwater's uplisting to Near Threatened or Vulnerable, based on population declines (click here).

The deadline for commenting on the uplisting proposal is month-end -  a week away.

Selected References:

Lee, K.-G. & Yoo, J.-C. 2002.  Breeding population of Streaked Shearwaters (Calonectris leucomelas) and the effect of Norway Rat (Rattus norvegicus) predation on Sasudo Island.  Journal of the Yamashina Institute for Ornithology 33: 142-147.

Oka, N. 2004.  The distribution of Streaked Shearwater colonies, with special attention to population size, area of sea where located and surface water temperature.  Journal of the Yamashina Institute for Ornithology 35: 164-188.

Oka, N., Suginome, H., Jida, N.& Maruyama, N. 2002.  Chick growth and fledgling performance of Streaked Shearwaters Calonectris leucomelas on Mikura Island for two breeding seasons.  Journal of the Yamashina Institute for Ornithology 34: 39-59.

Shiomi, K., Yoda, K., Katsumata, N. & Sato, K. 2011.  Temporal tuning of homeward flights in seabirds.  Animal Behaviour (in press on-line)

Yamamoto, T., Takahashi, A., Oka, N., Iida, T., Katsumata, N., Sato, K. & Trathan, P.N. 2011.  Foraging areas of streaked shearwaters in relation to seasonal changes in the marine environment of the Northwestern Pacific: inter-colony and sex-related differences. Marine Ecology Progress Series 424: 191-204.

John Cooper ACAP Information Officer, 24 January 2012