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title: "Changing fortunes: BirdLife announces its intention to change the globally threatened status of three albatross species and asks for comments"
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# Changing fortunes: BirdLife announces its intention to change the globally threatened status of three albatross species and asks for comments

[BirdLife International](http://www.birdlife.org), which manages the global threat categories of birds on behalf of the [World Conservation Union’s Red List](http://www.iucnredlist.org/), is proposing the recategorization of three albatross species, calling for comments to be posted to its [Globally Threatened Bird Forum](http://www.birdlife.org/globally-threatened-bird-forums/)[for Seabirds](http://www.birdlife.org/globally-threatened-bird-forums/category/species-group/threatened-seabirds/) by 19 August 2013.  Following this, the final decisions will be announced.

 New information on the population or range size and trends of a species, or the threats impacting it, may indicate that a species warrants uplisting or downlisting to higher or lower categories of threat.  In such cases, BirdLife International’s web-based Globally Threatened Bird Forums are used to advertise the proposed change and to solicit relevant information or comment from a wide network of experts and organisations ([click here](http://www.birdlife.org/globally-threatened-bird-forums/)).

 The albatross and petrel species proposed for change are:

 Black-footed Albatross *Phoebastria nigripes*:  Vulnerable to Near Threatened

 Black-browed Albatross *Thalassarche melanophris*: Endangered to Near Threatened

 Grey-headed Albatross *Thalassarche chrysostoma*: Vulnerable to Endangered.

 ![](http://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Albatrosses/B/Black_browed/Black_Browed_Albatross_closeup_marion_by_genevieve_jones.jpg) 

 Black-browed Albatross, now be Near Threatened?

 Photographed on Marion Island by Genevieve Jones

 It is also proposed following review not to change the status of Amsterdam Albatross *Diomedea amsterdamensis* (currently Critically Endangered; proposed downlisting to Endangered) and Northern Royal Albatross *D. sanfordi*(currently Endangered).

 Discussions on procellariiform species that lack sufficient feedback to enable a decision will be held over until next year ahead of the 2014 Red List update.  These include the White-capped Albatross *T. steadi* (currently Near Threatened; proposed uplisting to Vulnerable), White-chinned Petrel *Procellaria aequinoctialis* (Vulnerable; uplisting to Endangered), Streaked Shearwater *Calonectris leucomelas* (Least Concern) and Matsudaira's Storm Petrel *Oceanodroma matsudairae* (Data Deficient) ([click here](http://www.birdlife.org/globally-threatened-bird-forums/category/species-group/threatened-seabirds/)).

 In addition the ACAP-listed Grey Petrel *P. cinerea* ([Near Threatened](http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/speciesfactsheet.php?id=3925)) has recently been recommended to BirdLife’s Globally Threatened Bird Forum for Seabirds for uplisting to Vulnerable.  A decision on whether to proceed with a review of its conservation status for the 2014 round of decisions is currently pending.

 With thanks to Joe Taylor for information

 *John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 4 August 2013*