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title: "Westland Petrels moult in numbers off the Pacific coast of South America"
---

# Westland Petrels moult in numbers off the Pacific coast of South America

 Writing in *[Notornis](http://www.notornis.org.nz/)*, journal of the Ornithological Society of New Zealand, P.A. Fraser reports sighting over 1200 Westland Petrels *Procellaria westlandica*, many in primary moult, in November 2005 among the fjords and channels of southern Chile.

  With the annual breeding population of this New Zealand winter-breeding endemic estimated as 4000 pairs in 2008 (see the [ACAP Species Assessment](https://www.acap.aq/acap-species)), and an earlier assessment of the population visiting South America as of the order of 3500 birds in the austral spring (Spear *et al*. 2005) it is clear that Chilean waters are now confirmed as being important for the species (see also Brinkley *et al*. 2000 for historical South American records).

 ![](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Petrels/W/Westland_Petrel_by_Barry_Baker.jpg "Westland Petrel at sea.  Photograph by Barry Baker")

  Conservation of the Westland Petrel thus requires efforts both by New Zealand, on its breeding grounds, and Chile, primary site of its non-breeding distribution.

  **References:**

  Brinkley, E.S., Howell, S.N G., Force, M.P., Spear, L.B. & Ainley, D.C. 2000.  Status of the Westland Petrel (*Procellaria westlandica*) off South America.  *Notornis* 47: 179-183.  [http://www.notornis.org.nz/free_issues/Notornis_47-2000/Notornis_47_4_179.pdf](http://www.notornis.org.nz/free_issues/Notornis_47-2000/Notornis_47_4_179.pdf)

 Fraser, P.A. 2009.  Westland Petrels (*Procellaria westlandica*) off the coast of Chile.  *Notornis* 56: 98-99.  [http://www.notornis.org.nz/contents.php?volume_issue=n56_2](http://www.notornis.org.nz/contents.php?volume_issue=n56_2)

 Spear, L.B., Ainley, D.G. & Webb, S.W. 2005.  Distribution, abundance, habitat use and behaviour of three *Procellaria* petrels off south America.  *Notornis* 52: 88-105.  [http://www.notornis.org.nz/free_issues/Notornis_52-2005/Notornis_52_2_88.pdf](http://www.notornis.org.nz/free_issues/Notornis_52-2005/Notornis_52_2_88.pdf) 

 *John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 10 January 2009*