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The Endangered Bermuda Petrel or Cahow Pterodroma cahow is one of six species of procellariiform seabirds included in appendices of the Bonn Convention on Migratory Species that is not listed within the Albatross and Petrel Agreement (click here).

Two papers published in the journal Bird Conservation International last year provide detailed information on the conservation status of this still-rare but recovering gadfly petrel.

Jeremy Madeiros of the Bermuda Department of Conservation Services has recently provided an update to this published work to ACAP: "we finally exceeded the 100-pair mark with 101 breeding pairs of Cahow in the 2012 nesting season, with 57 chicks successfully fledged (up from 18 pairs producing a total of 8 fledged chicks in 1960). We also in 2012 had 10 breeding pairs with a total of 7 fledged chicks at the new colony on Nonsuch Island Nature Reserve, established by translocation of near-fledged chicks between 2004 and 2009. So far this breeding season, it looks like we have a total of at least 104 breeding pairs, including 12 pairs so far at the new Nonsuch site."

References:

Carlile, N., Priddel, D. & Madeiros, J. 2012. Establishment of a new, secure colony of Endangered Bermuda Petrel Pterodroma cahow by translocation of near-fledged nestlings.  Bird Conservational International 22: 46-58.

Madeiros, J., Carlile, N. & Priddel, D. 2012. Breeding biology and population increase of the Endangered Bermuda Petrel Pterodroma cahow. Bird Conservational International 22: 34-45.

See also: Gehrman, Elizabeth 2012. Rare Birds: The Extraordinary Tale of the Bermuda Petrel and the Man who brought it back from Extinction. Boston: Beacon Press.

With thanks to Jeremy Madeiros and Nicholas Carlisle for information.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 19 January 2013