"Heart". A pair of Laysan Albatrosses, photograph by Hob Osterlund

Natasha Gillies (Department of Earth, Ocean and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, UK) and Katrina Siddiqi-Davies have reviewed same-sex partnerships in birds, including in Laysan Albatrosses Phoebastria immutabilis in the open access Journal of Avian Biology.

The paper’s abstract follows:

“Same-sex sexual behaviour (SSB), encompassing actions such as courtship, pair bonding, and parenting between individuals of the same sex, has been observed across numerous taxa, including birds. Yet despite its widespread occurrence, SSB remains poorly understood, often dismissed as maladaptive or the result of errors in sex discrimination. However, instances of same-sex partnerships – persistent pair bonds between same-sex individuals – challenge these assumptions, particularly in birds, whose diverse mating systems and high level of monogamy imposes strong selective pressures on pair formation and maintenance. This review synthesises our current knowledge of same-sex partnerships in birds, addressing their evolutionary origins, adaptive benefits, and broader ecological significance. We argue that the prevalence of same-sex partnerships has likely been underestimated, hindered both by historical biases in interpretation and, especially more recently, logistical challenges in data collection. Drawing on examples from across the avian class, we explore the potential reproductive and social benefits of same-sex partnerships. By reframing these behaviours as potentially adaptive rather than anomalous, we aim to advance understanding of their evolutionary persistence and encourage more systematic research into their occurrence and implications.”

Reference:

Gillies, N. & Siddiqi-Davies, K. 2026.  Same-sex partnerships in birds: a review of the current literature and a call for more data.  Journal of Avian Biology doi.org/10.1002/jav.03452.

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 18 February 2026

A helicopter flies past the research station on Marion Island, photograph by Otto Whitehead

The Saving Marion Island’s Seabirds: The Mouse-Free Marion (MFM) Project has made a Call for Expressions of Interest: Helicopter Services for an Aerial Baiting Trial on Marion Island during April-May 2027.

This Light-mantled Albatross Phoebastria palpebrata chick was scalped at night by House Mice on Marion Island; it did not survive.  Photograph by Peter Ryan

“Marion Island — a sub-Antarctic island and part of South Africa’s only Special Nature Reserve — is facing a serious and escalating conservation crisis.  House Mice, accidentally introduced in the early 19th century, have in recent years begun preying on the island’s globally important populations of albatrosses and petrels.  This predation is increasing and is considered unsustainable, placing many seabird species at risk of local extinction.

The MFM Project has been established to eradicate invasive mice from the island and remove this threat.  The Project is a partnership between BirdLife South Africa and the South African Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.  The full eradication operation will involve a complex, island-wide aerial baiting programme and represents one of the most significant island restoration initiatives currently being undertaken globally.

As part of detailed planning and to ensure operational readiness for the main project, an aerial baiting trial (of approximately 1000 hectares) will be conducted on Marion Island in April–May 2027.  The trial is intended to evaluate key elements of the baiting strategy, test operational systems and equipment, and refine logistical coordination under Marion Island’s challenging conditions.  The operation will require the deployment of a single helicopter and a pilot with demonstrated aerial-baiting experience.

The MFM Project is therefore inviting Expressions of Interest from suitably qualified helicopter companies with the demonstrated technical experience and expertise and the operational capacity to undertake this trial in a remote, logistically complex, and environmentally demanding setting.”

The detailed Expression of Interest (EOI) document provides comprehensive information on Marion Island, the conservation challenge posed by invasive mice, the proposed eradication methodology, and the specific requirements for helicopter services for the aerial baiting trial.

Note this EOI relates specifically to the aerial baiting trial, not to the full eradication operation.

To request the EOI documentation contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., MFM Project Manager and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., MFM Operations Manager.

The deadline for submission of Expressions of Interest is 27 March 2026.

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 17 February 2026

Banner design by Kitty Harvill, with photographs by David Boyle, Chris Jones and Michelle Risi

The Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels is pleased to announce it will collaborate once more for the seventh year running with Artists & Biologists Unite for Nature (ABUN) to produce artworks in support of World Albatross Day on 19 June, with its 2026 theme of “Habitat Restoration”.  ABUN Project #52 will run for two months from 16 February to 19 April, with the international collective’s artists being requested to paint or draw in support of WAD2026.

A Chatham Albatross stands over its chick on The Pyramid/Tarakoikoia, New Zealand, photograph by David Boyle

Two albatross species will be used to feature the theme for “WAD2026” with ABUN artworks, as well as by logos, photographic posters and species infographics.  They are the Endangered Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross Thalassarche chlororhynchos, endemic to the Tristan da Cunha islands, part of the United Kingdom Overseas Territory of St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha in the South Atlantic, and the Vulnerable Chatham Albatross Thalassarche eremita, endemic to the Chatham Islands, New Zealand.

An Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross tends its chick on Gough Island, photograph by Michelle Risi

The WAD2026 theme of Habitat Restoration will include such management activities as eradication or control of introduced plants and animals at breeding sites, provision and maintenance of predator-proof fences, establishment of new breeding colonies by attraction techniques and translocations of eggs and chicks, candling and substituting infertile with fertile eggs, supplementary feeding and hydration of chicks and adults, artificial incubation during hatching, and use of fly repellents and sprinkler systems to improve breeding success.

The WAD2026 theme follows on from the inaugural theme “Eradicating Island Pests” in 2020, “Ensuring Albatross-friendly Fisheries” in 2021, “Climate Change” in 2022, “Plastic Pollution” in 2023, Marine Protected Areas” in 2024 and “Effects of Disease” in 2025, all of which have been supported by ABUN Projects.

With thanks to ABUN Co-founder, Kitty Harvill.

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 16 February 2026

Balearic Shearwater at sea, photograph by ‘Pep’ Arcos

Alice Bernard (Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, Université de Montpellier, France) and colleagues have published in the journal Biological Conservation on overlaps between migration routes of Critically Endangered (and ACAP-listed) Balearic Shearwaters Puffinus mauretanicus and Northern Gannets Morus bassanus and offshore wind farms.

The paper’s abstract follows:

“Studying fine-scale movements of seabirds during migration is logistically challenging, but GPS technologies allow accurate tracking of individuals on their migratory journeys.  Such data provide essential information in the context of offshore wind farm (OWF) developments, notably to anticipate spatial OWF overlap with migratory corridors and main foraging areas used along the routes of vulnerable species.  Using high-precision GPS-GSM tags, we investigated the end of summer, southbound migration of two emblematic seabirds of French waters: Juvenile and adult Northern gannets Morus bassanus, and adult Balearic shearwaters Puffinus mauretanicus.  Both species travel along the Southwestern European coast, between the Bay of Biscay and Western Africa, or the Mediterranean Sea.   Adult gannets thereby migrate through the EEZ of up to 10 countries, six for juvenile gannet, and four for shearwaters. Combining behavioural segmentation based on hidden Markov models and utilization distribution modelling, we found that between two and 6 % of migration routes overlapped with proposed OWFs, with similar impacts on transit and foraging/resting areas. Studied seabirds were most at risk within Portuguese compared to Spanish waters, as they flew closest to OWFs (<10 km on average).  While massive OWF developments are being planned within Western European coastal areas, our study suggests that offshore developments should be set >22 km away from the coast, to preserve transnational seabird migratory corridors.”

Reference:

  The responsibility of Western European coastal states for the conservation of two emblematic migratory seabirds in the context of offshore wind farms.  Biological Conservation 314: 111678  doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2025.111678.

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 13 February 2026