ACAP Latest News

Yellow A50 is in the foreground with a chick of the 2025/26 season close to fledging behind, photograph by Sharyn Broni, Department of Conservation

Every year around this time, Department of Conservation rangers keep a look out at the mainland colony of Endangered Northern Royal Albatrosses Diomedea sanfordi in the Pukekura/Taiaroa Head Nature Reserve on New Zealand’s South Island for the first bird to return for the 2026/27 breeding season.

This year the first sighting is a bird bearing the colour band Yellow A50.  “A50 is eight years of age and has just arrived back from a winter off the coast of South America and has now returned to search for a mate and begin breeding.”  A50 is a female, identified by its yellow band, according to the Royal Cam Albatross Group New Zealand Facebook Page, and has not yet bred, although “she has been looking for a mate over the past three seasons.  Only time will tell if she breeds during the 2026/27 season.  With only one bird back so far, it will be several weeks before all the breeders have arrived from their year off.”

To mark the first return, city churches and schools in nearby Dunedin will ring bells at 13h00 NZST on Friday 25 September.  “We’d love lots of bellringers throughout Dunedin and afar to join in and ring their bells 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!”

John Cooper*, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 24 September 2026

*Not certain to be ringing his bell at 03h00 SAST in Cape Town!

 A Northern Royal Albatross pair, photograph by Chris Robertson

The results for BOTY2026 – New Zealand, operated by Forest & Bird, are in.  The winner, with 25 601 votes, is the Black Robin Petroica traversi.  This Vulnerable species, with an adult population of only 350, breeds on two small islands in the Chathams group.  Three seabirds appear in the top ten, chosen from a list of 74 “contestants”.  The Eastern Rockhopper Penguin Eudyptes chysocome filholi came in seventh, while the Yellow-eyed Penguin Megadyptes antipodes filled the tenth position.  The only ACAP-listed species, and the only procellariiform, in the top tier is the Northern Royal Albatross Diomedea sanfordi, slotting in as No. 9 (having been as high as 8th).

Backed by the Royal Albatross Centre (as well as by ACAP), the Endangered albatross received 12 658 votes.  Two other ACAP-listed species, the Vulnerable Black Petrel Procellaria parkinsoni and the Endangered Westland Petrel P. westlandica, did not fare so well, coming in at 48th and 67th, respectively.  Hutton’s Shearwater Puffinus huttoni, a species that has been regularly reported on in ACAP Latest News, was 25th.

The final results for New Zealand's BOTY2026

“Participation has really soared, says Rebecca Hatch, Forest & Bird's Group Manager.  This year has seen record numbers of votes with 105 000 people.  Roughly one in every 50 Kiwis [New Zealanders} voted in Bird of the Year 2026.  Bird of the Year … helps people discover, connect with, and fall in love with the incredible diversity of New Zealand's wildlife, while shining a light on the real challenges nature is facing.”

In several previous New Zealand BOTYs, it has been the Endangered Antipodean Albatross D. antipodensis that has been the best achieving ACAP-listed candidate.  In 2020 it reached its best position, on the podium as second and behind the Kākāpō Strigops habroptila in the top slot.

No albatross (or any procellariform seabird for that matter) has won the competition since its inception in 2005.  There is always next year … .

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 24 September 2026

Newell’s Shearwater, photograph by Daniela Casilla, Pacific Missile Range Facility

“Dark Skies” are now the new night-time norm at the Pacific Missile Range Facility on the western coast of the Hawaiian island of Kauai after the U.S Navy installation implemented its annual programme during the shearwater fledging season, which started on 08 September and runs until 15 December.

Annual fledging of Critically Endangered Newell’s Shearwaters Puffinus newelli and Endangered Hawaiian Petrels Pterodroma sandwichensis on Kauaʻi marks a critical period for two of Hawaii’s most threatened seabirds.  The Pacific Missile Range Facility Dark Skies programme plays a vital role in protecting these birds by reducing light pollution and ensuring safer passage for fledglings.

“Fledgling seabirds leave their mountain burrows for the first time each year to make their way to the ocean, relying on natural light from the moon and stars to navigate.  Bright artificial lighting can disorient the birds, causing them to become grounded, injured or killed.  The Dark Skies program — developed in partnership with federal, state and community organizations — helps reduce light pollution and improve[s] safe passage for fledglings during this vulnerable migration period.  Numbers of fallen seabirds decreased significantly since the program began.”

A Pacific Missile Range Facility environmental staff member installs a light shield along the Waiapuaʻa Bay walking path in preparation for Dark Skies.  Photograph by Jonell Kaohelauliʻi, U.S. Navy

Protective measures include shielding exterior lighting, reducing nonessential lights during peak fledging periods and increasing community awareness about responsible night-time lighting practices.

“The Pacific Missile Range Facility encourages residents and businesses to support islandwide seabird protection efforts by dimming or shielding outdoor lights at night and reporting any downed seabirds to the Save Our Shearwaters or taking the bird to the nearest aid station.”

Edited from an article in the Kaua’i News dated 16 September 2026.

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 23 September 2026

Newi Makhado holds his bronze Eagle-Owl Award statuette and framed certificate, awarded to him by BirdLife South Africa in 2025 for his contributions to the conservation of South Africa’s seabirds, photograph by John Cooper

Dr Azwianewi Benedict (Newi) Makhado, South Africa’s National Contact for the Albatross and Petrel Agreement, was elected as Chair of the Scientific Council of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) in August this year.  The Scientific Council, on which Newi represents South Africa as a Scientific Councillor, makes recommendations to the CMS Conference of the Parties on such issues as research on migratory species, specific conservation and management measures in relation to threats to migratory species, the inclusion of migratory species in the Appendices and designation of species for Concerted Actions under the Convention (click here).

South African delegates and observers Thando Cebekhulu, Azwianewi Makhado, Andrea Angel and Makhudu Masotla attending ACAP meetings in Swakopmund, Namibia, May-June 2026, photograph by Barry Baker

Newi also represents South Africa on the ACAP Advisory Committee and serves as a member of its Bycatch and Population Status and Conservation Working Groups.

Newi is a Specialist Scientist Marine Top Predators in the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, where he has conducted research on seabirds on South African guano islands, on the sub-Antarctic Marion and Prince Edward Islands and in Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica since 2004.  He has made extensive contributions via numerous publications in the scientific literature to the understanding and protection of South Africa’s seabirds, including the threatened ACAP-listed albatrosses and petrels that breed at Marion Island.

In 1999/2000 Newi spent 15 months on the island as part of the M56 Overwintering Team studying the diet of the island’s two fur seals towards his MSc at the University of Pretoria, awarded in 2002.  Newi is an Honorary Research Associate of the FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology at the University of Cape Town, the alma mater for his 2009 PhD that investigated the impact of fur seals on the conservation status of seabirds at the Prince Edward Islands and off western South Africa.

In addition to his international roles with ACAP and the CMS, Newi represents South Africa’s at the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) and its subsidiary Scientific Committee.

The ACAP Secretariat extends its congratulations to Newi Makhado on his election and looks forward to continuing working with him at future sessions of the Meeting of Parties and meetings of its Advisory Committee and associated working groups.

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 23 September 2026