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title: "What is the most southerly record of the Waved Albatross off Chile?"
---

# What is the most southerly record of the Waved Albatross off Chile?

The at-sea distribution of the ACAP-listed and Critically Endangered Waved Albatross *Phoebastria irrorata* is pretty much restricted to the waters of Ecuador and Peru, with occasional sightings off the coasts of Columbia and Panama ([click here](http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/speciesfactsheet.php?id=3955 )).

 However, there are a few records supported by photographs from Chilean waters with the most southerly I have found so far being at 33°S, 12 nautical miles from Valparaiso on 3 March 2012 reported by [Pelágico Aventura](http://www.adventurepelagic.cl/menu%20esp2.html), a pelagic seabird watching tour company ([click here](http://www.adventurepelagic.cl/registros%20importantes%202.htm)).

 Previously, the most southerly sighting is of a bird near Tongoy, Chile at 30°S, also reported by Pelágico Aventura but without any substantiating details.  Fifteen birds were reported seen during the FONT ([Focus on Nature Tours](http://www.focusonnature.com/)) pelagic trip from Arica (18° 29′S), Chile in the El Niño year of 1997.

 Between 4 August and 2 September 2010 BirdLife International's Albatross Task Force Instructor Luis Cabezas reported that "I noticed a couple of beautiful Critically Endangered Waved Albatross, birds that nest in the Galapagos Islands.  This was the first time I had seen this species as they are not normally present this far south in Chilean waters.  I was even more surprised to find that I was recording the southern-most sighting of this species!  I was able to get a couple of photos to confirm the sighting ... close to San Ambrosio Island (26°20'37"S, 079°53'28"W)" ([click here](http://www.birdlife.org/community/2010/10/sinking-a-few-in-chile-with-albatross-task-force-instructor-luis-cabezas/)).

 ![Waved_Albatross_flying_by_Barry_Baker](https://acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Albatrosses/W/Waved/Waved_Albatross_flying_by_Barry_Baker.jpg)  
Waved Albatross in flight.  Photograph by Barry Baker

 *ACAP Latest News* will be pleased to publish  substantiated records farther south than 33°S of the Waved Albatross in Chilean waters.

 *John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 22 November 2012*