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Luis Cabezas (BirdLife International Albatross Task Force - Chile) and colleagues, writing in the New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research, report on at-sea observations of the Vulnerable Black or Parkinson's Petrel Procellaria parkinsoni that extend the species' range southwards in South American waters.

The paper's abstract follows:

"During seabird censuses performed as part of scientific research looking into seabird bycatch onboard industrial pelagic longline vessels targeting swordfish (Xiphias gladius) we made the first documented records of black petrel (Procellaria parkinsoni) in the pelagic waters of northern Chile, considerably extending the species' range southward.  These observations were made during hauling operations in the austral winters of 2008, 2009 and 2010 between 23°00'S and 32°49'S.  Black petrels were observed in 9.6% of censuses and a total of 10 birds were recorded.  Despite the fact that this species fed upon discards and wastes generated during fishing, no incidental mortality was observed.  Our results are relevant to the conservation of the black petrel in the south-eastern Pacific marine ecosystem, as they provide new information on species range and interactions with pelagic fisheries."

Reference:

Cabezas, L.A., Ruiz, J., Yates, O. & Bernal, M. 2012.  The black petrel (Procellaria parkinsoni) in pelagic waters off northern Chile: a southern extension to the known distribution and interactions with the pelagic longline fishery.  New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research. DOI: 10.1080/00288330.2012.661746.

With thanks to Oli Yates for information.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 28 July 2012