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title: "BirdLife hosts a Gadfly Petrel Conservation Group"
---

# BirdLife hosts a Gadfly Petrel Conservation Group

The Albatross and Petrel Agreement currently covers all of the World's albatrosses and two genera of petrels, the two giant petrels *Macronectes* and the five large burrowing *Procellaria* petrels.  In addition at several ACAP meetings discussion has occurred on the advisability of adding selected species of shearwaters *Calonectris* and *Puffinus* to the Agreement, although to date no nominations have been made ([click here](http://www.marineornithology.org/PDF/36_1/36_1_1-8.pdf))*.

 A large group of seabirds belonging to the petrel family Procellariidae that is not currently covered or is being considered for listing by ACAP are the 36 gadfly petrels of the genera *Pterodroma* and *Pseudobulweria*, two-thirds of which have a globally threatened status ([click here](http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/speciessearchresults.php?reg=&cty=&cri=&fam=18&gen=0&spc=&cmn=&hab=&thr=&bt=&rec=N&vag=N&hdnAction=ADV_SEARCH&SearchTerms)).

 ![](http://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Petrels/Petrels/atlantic_petrel_graham_parker_kalinka_rexer-huber.jpg "Atlantic Petrel breeding on Gough Island: a threatened gadfly petrel.  Photograph by Graham Parker and Kalinka Rexer-Huber ")

 In order to address the serious plight of these species, the Gadfly Petrel Conservation Group was established in 2008/9 by the Global Seabird Programme of BirdLife International with the aim of improving knowledge and conservation status of the 32 species of *Pterodroma* and four *Pseudobulweria* petrels.  The aim of the group is to act as a resource for scientists working with gadfly petrels worldwide by providing an informal forum for sharing management experiences and knowledge to help advance their understanding and conservation.  The current membership of the group is close to one hundred.

 Many gadfly petrels are known or are thought to share similar ecological requirements, both at their breeding sites and at sea.  Threats from introduced predators, habitat loss/alteration and vulnerability due to limited numbers of known breeding sites are a few of the common threats faced.  This makes the sharing of knowledge of management successes (and failures) of disproportionate importance to the future conservation of these species.

 ![](http://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Petrels/Petrels/atlantic_petrel_chick_mouse_ross _wanless.jpg "Gough House Mouse feeds on an Atlantic Petrel chick.  Photograph By Ross Wanless")

 Interested persons may apply to join the electronic group by e-mailing Ben Lascelles at BirdLife's Global Seabird Programme on [Ben.Lascelles@birdlife.org](mailto:Ben.Lascelles@birdlife.org).  If approved, access to the group's web site will be forthcoming, allowing the 10 existing discussion groups and forum section to be followed and contributions to them to be made.

 The gadfly group held its first meeting with an attendance of over 40 at the First World Seabird Conference in August last year ([click here](http://www.birdlife.org/community/2010/09/gadfly-petrel-conservation-group-poster/)[).](http://www.birdlife.org/community/2010/09/gadfly-petrel-conservation-group-poster/)

 *See also: "A brief review of the conservation status of shearwaters *Calonectris* and *Puffinus**"**.*  [ACAP AC5 Inf 15](http://www.acap.aq/english/english/advisory-committee/ac5/ac5-information-papers).

 With thanks to John Croxall and Ben Lascelles for information.

 *John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 13 January 2011*