Only one Critically Endangered Tristan Albatross Diomedea dabbenena was analysed for parasites, photograph on Gough Island by Tom McSherry

Patricia Serafini (Laboratório de Biomarcadores de Contaminação Aquática e Imunoquímica, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil) and colleagues have published early view and open access in the journal Parasitology on surveying for parasites in southern albatrosses and petrels, including eight ACAP-listed species.

The paper’s abstract follows:

“Emerging infectious diseases pose threats to wildlife, particularly in geographically isolated populations where hosts may lack prior exposure and immunity.  Seabirds inhabiting remote islands in the southwest Atlantic and Southern Ocean, including threatened albatrosses and petrels, are increasingly affected by infectious pathogens.  However, baseline data on vector-borne infections in these species remain scarce.  This study assessed the presence of vector-borne haemosporidian parasites (Plasmodium, Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon) and bacterial pathogens (Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Anaplasma and Ehrlichia) in albatrosses and petrels, providing insights into disease prevalence and potential threats to these populations.  We analysed blood and tissue samples from 269 individuals of 5 albatross and 12 petrel species, collected over an 11-year period (2013–2023) from South Georgia and multiple sites along the Brazilian coastline.  Molecular assays, including nested Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), were used for pathogen screening.  Blood smears from birds sampled in South Georgia were also examined for haemoparasites via light microscopy.  We found no molecular or microscopy evidence of infection with haemosporidian parasites, Borrelia, Anaplasma or Ehrlichia in any of the samples.  These findings suggest that vector-borne pathogens are either absent or at low prevalence, possibly because of limited vector presence, natural resistance or historical isolation from infection.  Continuous monitoring is critical given current environmental changes and risks of pathogen introduction via climate-driven shifts in vector distribution.  Our study establishes an essential baseline for future disease surveillance, prevention and mitigation in albatrosses and petrels, underscoring the importance of long-term monitoring to detect emerging pathogens in vulnerable seabird populations.”

With thanks to Richard Phillips and Patricia Serafini.

Reference:

Pereira Serafini P. et al. 2025.  Disease surveillance in albatrosses and petrels from the Southwest Atlantic and Southern Ocean.  Parasitology, 1-7. doi.org/10.1017/S0031182025100590.

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 30 September 2025

 Collected corpses of Wedge-tailed Shearwaters preyed upon by feral cats at Ninini Point, Kauai, photograph from the Hawaii-based environmental consultancy, Archipelago Research and Conservation (ARC)

At least three mass kills of Wedge-tailed Shearwaters (ʻuaʻu kani) Ardenna pacifica have been recorded on the Hawaiian island of Kauai this breeding season, amounting to a minimum of 180 birds by feral cats and unleashed dogs.

“Dr André Raine, Science Director for Archipelago Research and Conservation said that these were not isolated events.  The most recent incident that we investigated - in a ʻuaʻu kani colony at Ninini Point - was one of the worst I have seen, with at least 125 birds killed by cats.  Dead birds were scattered all over the colony, most of them being adults.  When the adults are killed, their chicks then also slowly starve to death.  Unfortunately, these kinds of reports happen on an almost annual basis and at seabird colonies all over the island.”

'Ua'u kani Colony at Ninini Point Devastated by Cats — At Least 125 Birds Killed

“At Ninini Point, conservationists found a total of 106 dead adult birds and a further 19 dead chicks.  They were only able to check a quarter of the colony, so it is highly likely there were many more.  Based on the condition of the bodies, predations had been occurring at the site all season long.  One dead bird was found with its egg still inside its body - showing it had been killed at the start of the breeding season – while in the case of two of the chicks, they had been freshly killed the previous night.  Additional incidents in the last two weeks were recorded at Mahaʻulepu Heritage Trail (at least 16 birds) and the road past Spouting Horn (at least 39 birds).”

Another view of the devastation at Ninini Point, photograph from Archipelago Research and Conservation

Dr Raine continued “What is extremely frustrating is that this is an almost annual event on Kauaʻi.  Looking through my reports, we have had annual kills of ʻuaʻu kani at Spouting Horn for the last three years straight and kills at Mahaʻulepu Heritage Trail going back as far as 2013.  This year we started with a report from Haena of over nine shearwaters killed by a dog off its leash and as we are nearing the end of the season we are getting multiple reports of mass kills across the island.  It happens every year.”

Wedge-tailed Shearwaters can breed in shallow burrows, making them easy prey to cats and dogs, photograph from Archipelago Research and Conservation

Read the full account from ARC here.  You can also view videos and news articles here and here.  Read the most recent ACAP Monthly Missive entitled “Two different animals: pet cats at home, feral cats on islands” giving a personal take on the issue.

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 29 September 2025

 Hawaiian Petrel chick, photograph by André Raine

André Raine (Archipelago Research and Conservation, Hanapēpē, Kauaʻi, Hawaii, USA) and colleagues have published in the journal Bird Conservation International on two island populations of Endangered Hawaiian Petrel Pterodroma sandwichensis that start breeding two weeks apart.

The paper’s summary follows:

“The ʻuaʻu, or Hawaiian Petrel Pterodroma sandwichensis, is an endangered seabird endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. Genetic, morphometric, and behavioural differences have previously been found between different island populations of the species.  Understanding the breeding phenology of different populations of ʻuaʻu is therefore vital for conservation actions targeting the species.  To assess breeding phenology of ʻuaʻu on the islands of Kauaʻi and Lānaʻi, two main techniques were used over a 12-year period: direct burrow monitoring and burrow cameras.  The breeding phenology of the ʻuaʻu is described based on this data.  On Kauaʻi, breeding birds arrive in the middle of April, undergo an exodus of approximately one month, and return to lay in the beginning of June.  Incubation continues until early August, followed by chick-rearing, which ends on average two weeks before the chick fledges.  Fledging starts in mid-October, peaks in mid-November, and ends in the third week of December.  Lānaʻi birds arrive two weeks earlier and fledge one week earlier than on Kauaʻi. On both islands breeding was asynchronous with a 68-day (Kauaʻi) and 48-day (Lānaʻi) gap between first and last fledging birds.  Considering phenology data across its entire Hawaiian range, ʻuaʻu first arrive on east Maui, then Lānaʻi, Hawaiʻi Island, and Kauaʻi in that order.  These differences in timing presumably reflect and/or reinforce genetic differentiation between subpopulations of the species.  The utility of this information is discussed in terms of directing management actions towards key periods of vulnerability to introduced predators, including peak incubation, chick emergence, and chick exercise periods.  Description of island-specific phenologies is also critical to inform efforts to rescue fledglings disoriented by artificial light, mitigate powerline collisions, and refine existing monitoring and restoration projects.  Future work using acoustic monitoring and data collected at social attraction sites is recommended for assessing the phenology of non-breeders at colonies.”

Read a popular account of the publication here.

Reference:

Raine, A.F., Driskill, S., Sprague, R., Rothe, J., Caceres, G., Schuetz, J., McFarlin, M. & Travers, M.S.  2025.  Differences in breeding phenology between two geographically separated populations of the ʻuaʻu (Hawaiian Petrel Pterodroma sandwichensis).  Bird Conservation International 35, doi.org/10.1017/S0959270925000024.

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 26 September 2025

 “New season’s arrivals stand out from the remaining breeders who are still fledging chicks as they have a pale bill unlike the bright pink bill of a parent who has a chick to feed, and they often have dark feathers on the head which will fade during the summer”, photograph by Sharyn Broni

In what has become an established tradition, bells will be ringing today in Dunedin on New Zealand’s South Island to mark the first Endangered Northern Royal Albatross Diomedea sanfordi to return to start the 2025/26 season in the Taiaroa Head/Pukekura colony.  The colony is the only one on the mainland of New Zealand and is one of the very few in the world where breeding albatrosses can be viewed by the general public without joining a sea-going - and expensive - expedition.

“Our first returning albatross for the new breeding season has been sighted! KM (black metal) a 30-year-old male who is a very successful breeder raising 12 chicks since 2003 with the same partner.  KM was seen on the headland by Department of Conservation rangers on 14th September.  KM hasn’t been seen for one year as [it has] been circumnavigating the Southern Hemisphere and has now returned to start a brand-new season.”  The bird’s long-time mate is WOK and they fledged a chick in 2024.  KM has an injury on the other leg which means he cannot have the usual colour bands.

“Bell ringing will take place at 12:30 pm NZST Thursday 25th September.  The city churches will join us in ringing the bells but as its school holidays in New Zealand, we are unsure how many schools will be able to join us this year, so we’d love lots of other bell-ringers throughout Dunedin and afar to join in and ring their bells as well to help us celebrate!  Don’t have a bell? Maybe you could set your phone to ring, sing a song or clap! We love original ideas and lots of fun!  If you’re in Dunedin join us at the centre for a bell-ringing ceremony.”

The Northern Royal Albatross is, when successful, a biennial breeder.  The return of adults for a new breeding season overlaps with the fledging of chicks from the previous season, including the chick that has been followed by a 24-hour live-streaming “Royal Cam” since hatching on 28 January this year.  It fledged on 17 September at 232 days of age (and a mass of 7.7 kg, up from 286 g at hatching), with a successfully working GPS satellite tracker attached.  A total of 18 trackers, nine on females and nine on males, have been attached to the back feathers of 2024/25 chicks, now fledging.

Information from an online Royal Cam Community Discussion group, Facebook and from elsewhere.

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 25 September 2025