ABUN and ACAP to collaborate once more to produce artworks in support of World Albatross Day

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