Petra Quillfeldt (Department of Animal Ecology and Systematics, Justus-Liebig-Universität, Giessen, Germany) and colleagues have published in the Journal of Avian Biology on influence of device accuracy and choice of algorithm on the at-sea distribution of Black-browed Albatrosses Thalassarche melanophris.

The paper’s abstract follows:

“Species distribution models (SDM) based on tracking data from different devices are used increasingly to explain and predict seabird distributions. However, different tracking methods provide different data resolutions, ranging from < 10 m to > 100 km. To better understand the implications of this variation, we modeled the potential distribution of black-browed albatrosses Thalassarche melanophris from South Georgia that were simultaneously equipped with a platform terminal transmitter (PTT) (high resolution) and a global location sensor (GLS) logger (coarse resolution), and measured the overlap of the respective potential distribution for a total of nine different SDM algorithms. We found slightly better model fits for the PTT than for GLS data (AUC values 0.958 ± 0.048 vs 0.95 ± 0.05) across all algorithms. The overlaps of the predicted distributions were higher between device types for the same algorithm, than among algorithms for either device type. Uncertainty arising from coarse-resolution location data is therefore lower than that associated with the modeling technique. Consequently, the choice of an appropriate algorithm appears to be more important than device type when applying SDMs to seabird tracking data. Despite their low accuracy, GLS data appear to be effective for analyzing the habitat preferences and distribution patterns of pelagic species.”

Black-browed Albatrosses at sea, photograph by Graham Parker

With thanks to Richard Phillips.

Reference:

Quillfeldt, P., Engler, J.O., Silk, J.R.D. & Phillips, R.A. 2017. Influence of device accuracy and choice of algorithm for species distribution modelling of seabirds: a case study using black-browed albatrosses. Journal of Avian Biology DOI: 10.1111/jav.01238.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 18 September 2017

Delegates to the Albatross and Petrel Agreement's 10th Meeting of its Advisory Committee (AC10) being held in Wellington, New Zealand had a welcome day off from meeting discussions yesterday.

In the morning we visited the Zealandia Eco-sanctuary in the hills above Wellington. The sanctuary is encircled by a predator-proof fence to keep out feral cats, rodents and Common Brushtail Possums Trichosurus vulpecula and now supports a number of species of reintroduced land birds among regenerating forest. Good views of the Kākā Nestor meridionalis, a New Zealand endemic parrot, at feeders kept the cameras going. The guided tour was followed by a pleasant buffet lunch in the sanctuary’s restaurant.

Zealandia's anti-predator fence is very similar to that erected in 2011 to protect Laysan Albatrosses Phoebastria immutabilis (ACAP listed) and Wedge-tailed Shearwaters Ardenna pacifica at Kaena Point on the Hawaiian island of Oahu.

Zealandia's anti-predator fence; Richard Phillips (UK) and Joseph Fette (USA) in conversation

USA observer to ACAP, Beth Flint from Hawaii checks her bag, before entering the sanctuary

Mamaku or Black Tree Ferns Cyathea medullaris overhead

 In the afternoon we headed to the collections facility of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. Our museum hosts, Colin Miskelly, Alan Tennyson and Susan Waugh had set out a table of procellariiform study skins for us to view that included ACAP-listed great albatrosses and smaller mollymawks, as well as all seven prion species, including the recently described (and globally Endangered) MacGillivray’s Prion Pachyptila macgillivrayi from Gough Island.

AC10 Delegates view a table of procellariiform skins at Te Papa, including ACAP-listed albatrosses and petrels

All seven prion species in a row; McGillivray's is second from the right

Quorum?  ACAP Taxonomy Working Group members Mark Tasker and Alan Tennyson consider which is a Shy and which a White-capped Albatross with Colin Miskelly

Highlights of the tour included being shown bones of extinct New Zealand moas (Dinornithiformes), a skull and claw of a Haast’s Eagle Harpagornis moorei (once the world’s largest eagle) and, unexpectedly, elephant bird Aepyornis bones from Madagascar.

Today the Advisory Committee report will be adopted, closing two weeks of meetings. Then home from us all!  However, I first fly to Great Barrier Island tomorrow to visit the breeding site of the ACAP-listed and globally Vulnerable Black Petrel Procellaria parkinsoni.  Looking forward to it.

With thanks to Igor Debski, Department of Conservation and Colin Miskelly, Alan Tennyson and Susan Waugh, Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 15 September 2017

Tuesday evening this week delegates to the Albatross and Petrel Agreement's 10th Meeting of its Advisory Committee (AC10) being held in Wellington, New Zealand attended a function to celebrate New Zealand's role as the seabird capital of the world. The evening function was hosted by the Royal Forest & Bird Protection Society, New Zealand's BirdLife national partner in its National Office in Wellington.

The country's 21st Governor-General, Her Excellency The Right Honourable Dame Patsy Reddy, accompanied by her husband Sir David Gascoigne, attended and addressed the gathering. Their Excellencies, the Ambassadors of Argentina, Fausto Lopez Crozet; Brazil, Paulo Cesar de Camargo; and of Chile, Rodrigo Espinosa, all from countries which are Parties to ACAP, were also present, as was the Director-General of the New Zealand Department of Conservation, Lou Sanson.

The Governor-General, Her Excellency The Right Honourable Dame Patsy Reddy addresses the ACAP Delegates and other guests

From left: Karen Baird and Kevin Hague (Forest & Bird), Her Excellency the Governor-General The Right Honourable Dame Patsy Reddy and Sir David Gascoigne, Marco Favero (ACAP Executive Secretary) and Nathan Walker (ACAP Advisory Committee Chairperson)

Following her address which mentioned the country’s ongoing efforts to conserve its albatrosses and petrels, especially in relation to control and eradication of invasive predators, the ACAP Advisory Committee Chair Nathan Walker gave a speech in reply. He then presented the Governor-General with a framed photograph of a globally Vulnerable Antipodean Albatross Diomedea antipodensis, taken by Karen Baird.

ACAP Delegates listen to the Governor-General at Forest & Bird's National Office

With thanks to Kevin Hague, Chief Executive and Karen Baird and Geoffrey Keey of Forest & Bird for hosting the function and to Mark Tasker for the photographs.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 14 September 2017

Delegates to ACAP's 10th Advisory Committee (AC10) meeting in Wellington, New Zealand attended a awards ceremony of the Southern Seabirds Solutions Trust (SSST) in the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa on Monday evening. The biennial awards recognise commercial and recreational fishers who are committed to looking after New Zealand seabirds. The winners were announced by Conservation Minister Maggie Barry at Te Papa following her address who mentioned New Zealand’s intentions to rid sub-Antarctic Auckland Island of its feral pigs and cats by 2025 (click here).

Altair Fishing Ltd won the 2017 Seabird Smart Award for measures to protect seabirds across its fleet of tuna vessels, including using bird-scaring lines, setting fishing lines at night, adding weights to make bait sink quickly and dying bait to make it less visible to birds.

The Special Innovation Award was given to Gavin Heineman for re-engineering his 13.7-m vessel Echo to include an aluminium chute used to discard the guts and heads of fish, thus making them less accessible to seabirds.

Spectacular entrance to the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa's Te Marae (meeting house)

New Zealand's Conservation Minister Maggie Barry (right) with some of the award winners

Read more here.

While attending the evening function John Cooper (ACAP Information Officer) and Mark Tasker (UK) were pleased to meet up again with Bill Mansfield, SSST Chairperson, who had chaired ACAP’s Second Meeting of the Parties (MoP2) held in Christchurch, New Zealand in November 2006.

Last men standing: John Cooper (ACAP Information Officer), Bill Mansfield (Southern Seabird Solutions Trust Chairperson) and Mark Tasker (Past ACAP Advisory Committee Chair). All three were at the Second Meeting of the ACAP Parties (MoP2) held in Christchurch, New Zealand in November 2006 with Bill in the Chair

Where's my tie? Hannah Nevins (American Bird Conservancy),  Chris Robertson and John Cooper

Also good to renew a long-time friendship with New Zealand's legendary albatross researcher, Chris Robertson.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 13 September 2017