--- title: "Monitoring the Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatrosses on Nightingale Island, Tristan da Cunha suggests a stable population following an historical decrease" --- # Monitoring the Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatrosses on Nightingale Island, Tristan da Cunha suggests a stable population following an historical decrease The Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross *Thalassarche chlororhynchos* is endemic to the United Kingdom's Tristan da Cunha Islands in the South Atlantic where it is considered to have a conservation status of [Endangered](http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/speciesfactsheet.php?id=3965). The species breeds on all four islands in the group with an estimated total population of 27 500 - 41 600 breeding pairs per year, equating to 55 000 - 83 200 mature individuals, although there is considerable uncertainty around the overall population estimate. The Tristan Conservation Department (TCD) undertakes monitoring of Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatrosses on Nightingale Island, following guidelines set out in the 2006-2010 *Tristan Biodiversity Action Plan* (now under revision) and the *Tristan and Nightingale Islands Wildlife Monitoring Manual*.  Counts of breeding birds are made annually around the four molly ponds towards the island's centre with banding of adults and large chicks undertaken around the Second Pond. ![](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Albatrosses/A/Atlantic_Yellow_nosed/ayna_julian repetto george swain_pond 2_nightingale_katrine_herian.jpg) Julian Repetto and George Swain check an incubating Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross at Second Pond, Nightingale Island Photograph by Katrine Herian ![](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Albatrosses/A/Atlantic_Yellow_nosed/ayna_jerry green george swain julian repetto at pond 2_nightingale_katrine_herian.jpg) Jerry Green, Julian Repetto and George Swain banding an Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross Phootgraph by Katrine Herian In September 2011 approximately 1000 occupied nests were counted around the four ponds at the commencement of egg laying.  On 12 November 2011 when hatching had shortly commenced 784 occupied nests were counted by a team lead by the TCD's Julian Repetto.  Last month 403 large chicks were counted by Julian's team, enabling a rough estimate of breeding success to be made. Historical counts made at Nightingale's ponds suggest that the population has decreased.  For example a 1972-1974 estimate of 1000-1200 pairs for the Second Pond alone can be compared with the 277 occupied nests counted in November last year. A 2007 estimate by Peter Ryan ([FitzPatrick Institute](http://www.fitzpatrick.uct.ac.za/), University of Cape Town) for the whole island of 4000 pairs is given in the text of the [ACAP Species Assessment](https://www.acap.aq/acap-species).  Partial counts made away from the Ponds by the TCD in 2010/11 and by Brad Robson of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds ([www.rspb.org.uk](http://www.rspb.org.uk/)) during the 2011/12 breeding season suggest an island annual population of some 3000 to 4000 breeding pairs, giving a level of current stability. Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatrosses also breed on two islets adjacent to Nightingale ([click here](https://www.acap.aq/2010-news-archive/albatross-census-on-nightingales-islets-first-estimates-for-36-years)). Although Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatrosses have been exploited for food on Nightingale Island by the Tristan Islanders in the past, the species (including its eggs) is now fully protected throughout the whole island group by the *Conservation of Native Organisms and Natural Habitats (Tristan da Cunha) Ordinance* of 2006.  However, it is still at risk from longline mortality at sea and so remains globally threatened. **Selected References:** Cuthbert, R., Ryan, P.G., Cooper, J. & Hilton, G. 2003.  Demography and population trends of the Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross.  [*The Condor* 105: 439-452](http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.1650/7209). Elliott, H.F.I. 1957.  A contribution to the ornithology of the Tristan da Cunha Group.  [*Ibis* 99: 545-586](http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1474-919X.1957.tb03049.x/abstract). Richardson, M.E. 1984.  Aspects of the ornithology of the Tristan da Cunha Group and Gough Island, 1972 - 1974.  *Cormorant* 12: 123-201. Tristan Island Government 2006.  *[Tristan da Cunha Biodiversity Action Plan](http://www.rspb.org.uk/Images/TristanBiodiversityActionPlan2_tcm9-180968.pdf)*.  53 pp. + 10 annexes. Rowan, M.K. 1951.  The Yellow-nosed Albatross.  *Ostrich*22: 139-159. Ryan, P.G., Glass, N. & Ronconi, R.A. 2011. The plants and birds of Stoltenhoff and Middle Islands, Tristan da Cunha. [*Polar Record* 47: 86-90](http://journals.cambridge.org/download.php?file=%2FPOL%2FPOL47_01%2FS0032247410000112a.pdf&code=9506d55a131b3b35d298f403f4d38dc7). Sommer, E., Cuthbert, R. & Hilton, G. 2008.  Tristan and Nightingale Islands Wildlife Monitoring Manual Research Report.  [*RSPB Research Report* 33: 1-36](http://www.rspb.org.uk/Images/tristan_nightingale_manual_tcm9-220540.pdf). [St Helena] 2006.  The Conservation of Native Organisms and Natural Habitats (Tristan da Cunha) Ordinance 2006.  *The St. Helena Gazette Extraordinary* Vol. XLIV, No. 13. Wace, N.M. & Holdgate, M.W. 1976.  *Man and Nature in the Tristan da Cunha Islands.* Morges:*International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.* With thanks to Katrine Herian (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) and Julian Repetto (Tristan Conservation Department) for information. *John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 16 April 2012*