---
title: "ACAP Breeding Sites No. 25: La Plata, Ecuador. “A poor person's Galapagos” for Waved Albatrosses"
---

# ACAP Breeding Sites No. 25: La Plata, Ecuador. “A poor person's Galapagos” for Waved Albatrosses

![Isla La Plata Sebastian Cruz 1](http://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Islands/Isla%20La%20Plata%20Sebastian%20Cruz%201.jpg) 

 [Isla de la Plata](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isla_de_la_Plata) is 41 kilometres offshore from the fishing village of [Puerto López](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puerto_L%C3%B3pez) on the mainland of Ecuador.  The photo above shows Punta Machete, facing west.  This is the main breeding site for the 12 ACAP-listed Waved Albatross *Phoebastria irrorata* pairs known to frequent the island.  The arid 1200-ha island forms part of the 46 000-ha [Machalilla National Park](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machalilla_National_Park), which includes a 14 430-ha Ramsar Wetland of International Importance (Zona Marina Parque Nacional Machalilla, [Site No. 503](http://www.ramsar.org/cda/en/ramsar-pubs-annolist-anno-ecuador/main/ramsar/1-30-168%5E16426_4000_0__), designated in 1990).

 The west coast of Isla La Plata.

 ![Isla La Plata Sebastian Cruz 2](http://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Islands/Isla%20La%20Plata%20Sebastian%20Cruz%202.jpg) 

 The coastline is home to several seabird species, including Nazca *Sula granti* and Blue footed. *S. nebouxii* Boobies.  Red-footed Boobies *S. sula*, Magnificent Frigatebirds *Fregata magnificens* and Red-billed Tropicbirds *Phaethon aethereus* also breed on the island.  The NGO [Island Conservation](http://www.islandconservation.org/) successfully removed feral domestic goats *Capra aegagrus hircus* from the island in 2008 and feral cats *Felis catus* in 2009 ([click here](http://www.islandconservation.org/featured/?id=15)).

 ![Waved Albatross Isla La Plata Sebastian Cruz 3](http://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Albatrosses/W/Waved/Waved%20Albatross%20Isla%20La%20Plata%20Sebastian%20Cruz%203.jpg)

 A pair of [Critically Endangered](http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/speciesfactsheet.php?id=3955) Waved Albatrosses on Isla La Plata.  Most nests are found within vegetation, primarily among bushes.

 ![Waved Albatross Isla La Plata Sebastian Cruz 4](http://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Albatrosses/W/Waved/Waved%20Albatross%20Isla%20La%20Plata%20Sebastian%20Cruz%204.jpg) 

 Photographs by Sebastian Cruz

 A Waved Albatross closely broods its chick on La Plata.  The chick can just be seen.

 [Click here](http://www.acap.aq/index.php/en/news/news-archive/24-2011-news-archive/897-the-waved-albatross-of-isla-de-la-plata-gets-a-visit-during-acap-meetings-in-ecuador) to read of an ACAP outing to Isla La Plata in August 2011 at the time of the Sixth Meeting of its Advisory Commitee.

 **Selected References:**

 ACAP 2008.  Plan of Action for the Waved Albatross (*Phoebastria irrorata*).  [AC4 Doc 50 rev.4.  30 pp](http://www.acap.aq/index.php/en/advisory-committee/cat_view/128-english/15-advisory-committee/80-ac-4/84-ac4-meeting-documents).

 Anderson, D. J.; Cruz, F. 1998.  Biology and management of the Waved Albatross at the Galápagos Islands.  In: Robertson, G. & Gales, R. (Eds).  Albatross Biology and Conservation.  Chipping Norton: Surrey Beatty & Sons.  pp. 105-109.

 Anderson, D.J., Huyvaert, K.P., Apanius, V., Townsend, H., Gillikin C.L., Hill, L.D., Juola, F., Porter, E.T., Wood, D.R., Lougheed, C. & Vargas, H. 2002.  Population size and trends of the Waved Albatross *Phoebastria irrorata*.  *[Marine Ornithology](http://www.marineornithology.org/PDF/30_2/2_anderson.pdf)*[30: 63-69](http://www.marineornithology.org/PDF/30_2/2_anderson.pdf).

 Awkerman, J.A., Huyvaert, K.P., Mangel, J., Alfaro Shigueto, J. & Anderson, D.J. 2006.  Incidental and intentional catch threatens waved albatross population.  *[Biological Conservation](http://users.wfu.edu/djanders/labweb/reprints/Awkerman%20et%20al%20albatross%20bycatch%202006.pdf)*[133: 483-489](http://users.wfu.edu/djanders/labweb/reprints/Awkerman%20et%20al%20albatross%20bycatch%202006.pdf).

 *Sebastian Cruz, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Radolfzell, Germany and John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 15 April 2013*