Black-browed Albatross at sea, photograph by Marcos de Campo

Jesica Andrea Paz (Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Argentina) and colleagues have published in the journal Emu - Austral Ornithology on the absence of sexual segregation in Black-browed Albatross Thalassarche melanophris at sea in the south-west Atlantic.

The paper’s abstract follows:

“Sexual segregation in habitat use occurs when sexes differ in their use of the physical environment and is widely reported among seabirds. The Black-browed Albatross (Thalassarche melanophris) is one of the most abundant seabird species in the south-west Atlantic, but whether the sexes differ in their habitat selection during winter remains unknown. Here, we tested for sexual segregation in adult and immature Black-browed Albatrosses during winter. Movement data from 21 satellite-tracked Black-browed Albatrosses across the south-west Atlantic Ocean between 2011 and 2015 were used to determine suitable foraging habitat for males (n = 7) and females (n = 14) using habitat selection models. Sexual segregation was then assessed using an index of niche overlap for immature and adult age classes. Variables with the highest importance in habitat selection models across all groups were depth and sea surface temperature. The highest probabilities of occurrence were in shallow waters and intermediate surface temperatures. No sexual segregation was found which may be because of the large abundance of prey in the region and moderate energy requirements during the non-breeding season. These results are relevant for spatially explicit conservation management in this region, including the designation of marine protected areas. Indeed, bycatch in fisheries is a major threat to seabirds in this area, and foraging behaviour and performance in winter of this keystone species will influence their future reproductive performance.”

Reference:

Paz, J.A., Seco Pon, J.P., Krüger, L., Favero, M. & Copello, S. 2021.  Is there sexual segregation in habitat selection by Black-browed Albatrosses wintering in the south-west Atlantic?  Emu – Austral Ornithology doi.org/10.1080/01584197.2020.1869910.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 03 February 2021

Southern Giant Petrel breeding on Long Beach, Gough Island; watercolour by Susanne Durchholz, from a photograph by Michelle Risi

“Painting Petrels in Peril” is ACAP’s second collaboration with Artists & Biologists Unite for Nature” (ABUN).  Last year no less than 77 ABUN artists produced 324 paintings and line drawings of albatrosses that were used to support the inaugural World Albatross Day on 19 June.  Photographers responded to ACAP’s call to make some of their best works available to inspire the artists.  This and last month ABUN’s artists are again back to work illustrating the nine ACAP-listed petrels and shearwaters, following a second call for photos.  The ensuing artworks will be added to those of the 22 species of albatrosses and will be used to promote awareness of the continuing conservation crisis being faced by the 31 ACAP-listed species.

Halfway through the collaboration, 23 artworks have been received from 12 artists, with many more expected this month than last.  The artworks received so far depict six of the nine species; an appeal has been made by ABUN to paint the three still not covered.  So far, the Southern Giant Petrel Macronectes giganteus has proved the most popular subject – a selection of ABUN paintings of 'Southern Geeps' follows.

 Southern Giant Petrel, watercolour by Andrea Siemt, from a photograh by Liezl Pretorius

Southern Giant Petrel and chick by Helen Worthington, from a photograph by Michelle Risi

Displaying Southern Giant Petrel, water colour by Lea Finke from a photograph by Kirk Zufelt

Southern Giant Petrel on Gough Island, digital artwork by Pat Latas from a photograph by Michelle Risi

 A Southern Giant Petrel feeds its chick by Marion Schön, from a photograph by Michelle Risi

With thanks to Kitty Harvill, ABUN Co-founder and all the contributing artists and photographers.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 02 February 2021

A Critically Endangered Tristan Albatross pair, Gonydale, Gough Island, United Kingdom; photograph and design by Michelle Risi

Following on from last year’s World Albatross Day theme of “Eradicating Island Pests”, ACAP’s chosen theme for 2021 is “Ensuring Albatross-friendly Fisheries”.  The large number of albatrosses and petrels killed by fisheries was the main driving force for the establishment of ACAP two decades ago and addressing this continuing conservation problem remains an important part of ACAP’s ongoing work.  In support of World Albatross Day ACAP intends to highlight one or more of the 22 albatross species each year with posters and other artworks.

The featured species chosen for 2021 are the two most threatened albatrosses, both categorized by IUCN as Critically Endangered (defined as facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild).  They are the Tristan Albatross Diomedea dabbenena of the United Kingdom’s Gough and Inaccessible Islands and the Waved Albatross Phoebastria irrorata of Ecuador’s Islas Española and La Plata.  Both species are at risk to fishery activities as described in their ACAP Species Summaries..

The 24 high-resolution posters of the two species were designed by Michelle Risi, a member of ACAP’s World Albatross Day Group.  The posters, three for each species, have been produced with English, French, Portuguese and Spanish texts.  Whereas Portuguese is not an official ACAP language as are the other three, Portuguese-speaking Brazil is a long-standing and active Party to the Agreement and its waters are visited by a number of ACAP-listed species, including the Tristan Albatross.

The posters can be freely downloaded, printed out and shared but ACAP requests it be acknowledged in their use for conservation purposes.  They should not be used for financial gain.

Two Critically Endangered Waved Albatrosses display together, Isla Española, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador; photograph by Laurie Smaglick Johnson

Click here for the four language versions of the ‘WAD2021’ logo.

With thanks to Laurie Smaglick Johnson and Michelle Risi.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 01 February 2021

 Black-vented Shearwater

Cecilia Soldatini (Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación, Superior de Ensenada ‐ Unidad La Paz, Baja California Sur, México) and colleagues have published in the journal Ibis on how mass and wind length of Black‐vented Shearwaters Puffinus opisthomelas (Near Threatened) relate to climate variability.

The short note’s abstract follows:

“Recent climatic variation has led to a change in size or mass in some species.  The Black‐vented Shearwater Puffinus opisthomelas is endemic to the California Current System, a highly variable system, giving us cues on the effects of interannual variability on predators.  Here, we report the results of a comparison of biometrics measurement in the short term, four years, with different environmental conditions.  We found that environmental variability has a direct effect on the body condition of the species, affecting not only body mass, but also wing length, with shorter wings as a carry‐over effect of adverse conditions.”

Reference:

Soldatini, C., Rosas Hernandez, M.P., Albores‐Barajas, Y.V., Bambini, G., Munguia‐Vega, A., Giambalvo, G. & Dell’omo, G. 2021.  Carry‐over effects of environmental stochasticity of the California Current on body condition and wing length of breeding Black‐vented Shearwaters (Puffinus opisthomelas).  Ibis doi.org/10.1111/ibi.12919.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 29 January 2020