Oiled Black-browed Albatrosses photographed at sea in the South Atlantic

During two hours of observations aboard a fishing trawler on 1 July 2011 assumed oil-stained Black-browed Albatrosses Thalassarche melanophris were recorded by Graham Parker at 45° 01'S, 60° 41'W on the high seas in the South Atlantic Ocean.

Of the approximately 500 Black-browed Albatrosses present around the vessel, a minimum of 11 oil-stained individuals were recorded as being distinctly marked.  In the worst case the entire breast of the bird was darkly covered in oil, and in the least affected just a few marks were present around the neck and head regions.

There were a large number of Southern Royal Albatrosses Diomedea epomophora and Kelp Gulls Larus dominicanus present but no oil stains were observed on either species.  No oiled-stained giant petrels Macronectes spp., White-chinned Petrels Procellaria aequinoctialis or Cape Petrels Daption capense were observed of these largely dark-coloured species.  No oil was present in the water around the fishing vessel.

Oiled Black-browed (and other) albatrosses are occasionally seen at breeding colonies in the South Atlantic in small numbers, but sightings at sea appear rare.

Reference:

Huin, N. & Croxall, J.P. 1996.  Fishing gear, oil and marine debris associated with seabirds at Bird Island, South Georgia, during 1993/1994.  Marine Ornithology 24: 19-22.

With thanks to Graham Parker, Richard Phillips and Anton Wolfaardt for information.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 17 July 2011

The Agreement on the
Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels

ACAP is a multilateral agreement which seeks to conserve listed albatrosses, petrels and shearwaters by coordinating international activity to mitigate known threats to their populations.

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