A Wandering Albatross stands over its chick on Marion Island, artwork by Lea Finke of Artists & Biologists Unite for Nature (ABUN) for World Albatross Day 2020, after a photograph by Michelle Risi

The Regional Red Data Book of Birds of South Africa, Lesotho and Eswatini 2025 released last month by BirdLife South Africa "presents the most comprehensive and up-to-date regional assessments of bird species across southern Africa".

"Developed through rigorous scientific research and in collaboration with local and international experts, the Red Data Book provides critical insights into the conservation status of birds in the region. It follows the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List framework, adapted to reflect the unique environmental challenges and species diversity of southern Africa,  offering an evidence-based guide to the risks of extinction faced by avian species in the region." [edited]

Bird species that occur regularly within the region considered (which includes surrounding waters and South Africa 's Prince Edward Islands in the southern Indian Ocean) are assessed with a threatened (Critically Endangered (CE), Endangered (E), Vulnerable (V) or Near Threatened (NT) status. Ten threatened/near threatened procellariiform species have been recorded breeding within the region covered,  Nine of these are ACAP-listed albatrosses and petrels that breed regulalrly at the Prince Edward Islands, as listed here.

Wandering Albatross Diomedea exulans V

Grey-Headed Albatross Thalassarche chrysostoma E

Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross T. carteri E

Sooty Albatross Phoebetria fusca E

Light-mantled Albatross P, palpebrata V

Northern Giant Petrel  Maconectes halli NT

Southern Giant Petrel M, giganteus  NT

Grey Petrel Procellaria cinerea E

White-chinned Petrel P. aequinocialis V

Five of the nine ACAP-listed species have been assessed with the same level of threat as they have internationally. The exceptions are  Light-mantled Albatross (regionally V, globally NT),  Grey Petrel (regionally E, globally NT), Northern Giant Petrel (regionally NT, globally Least Concern) and Southern Giant Petrel (regionally NT, globally Least Concern).  These higher levels of threat for four species reflects mainly their small populations at the Prince Edward Islands in relation to their global populations.  However, in addition the winter-breeding Grey Petrel is at particular risk from the introduced House Mice on Marion Island (but not on nearby Prince Edward Island where mice do not occur).

Foe each species covred  in the new regional RDB detailed information is given under the broad heads, NAMES, CURRENT ASSESSMENT STATUS, HISTORIC LISTING INFORMATION, REASON FOR INCLUSION, CATEGORY JUSTIFICATION, BIOLOGY & ECOLOGY, THREATS & CONSERVATION and CONTRIBUTORS & REFERENCES.  For each species a full citation is conveniently given, as in this example written by Kim Stevens (who has studied the species on Marion Island towards her PhD)..

Stevens, K.L. 2025. Grey-headed Albatross. In: Lee, A.T.K., Rose, S., Banda, S., Bezeng, S.B., Maphalala, M.I., Maphisa, D.H. & Smit-Robinson, H. (Eds), The 2025 Red Data Book of Birds of South Africa, Lesotho and Eswatini. BirdLife South Africa: Johannesburg: Available at: https://www.birdlife.org.za/red-list/grey-headed-albatross/.

"The Albatrosses of the Prince Edward Islands", artwork by Leigh Wolfaardt

 I co-authored the very first South African RDB for birds - a very slim volume - way back in 1976.  New editions by other authors followed in 1984, 2000 and 2015, all in hard copy,  Now online, the fifth edition by Alan Lee, BirdLife South Africa's Science and Innovation Programme Manager, and his team of co-editors, reprents a huge advance in the scholarly interpretation of science and conservation. .

Get online, check it out for free and take the time to browse.  Reckon it's quite the tour de force!

 John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 03 June 2025

 I vvco

 
Short-tailed Albatross

ACAP today releases Japanese versions in its Infographic series for the three ACAP-listed species that breed on Japanese islands in the North Pacific.  They are for the Black-footed Phoebastria nigripes, Laysan P. immutabilis and Short-tailed P. albatrus Albatrosses.

 
Black-footed Albatross

Thanks are due to Namo Niumim for the design and artwork and to Yasuko Suzuki, BirdLife International and Naoki Tomita, Yamashina Insitute for Ornithology for their careful translating and editing of the English texts into Japanese,  The three Japanese infographics have been sponsored by the Yamashina Institute, which will exhibit them at a World Albatross Day event to be held in Japan from 14 June to 6 July.

Laysan Albatross

Access all the language versions for the ACAP Species Infographics produced to date from here.

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer,A greement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 02 June 2025

Representatives of some of the 13 ACAP Parties attending MoP8, photograph by Johan de Goede

The Eighth Session of the Meeting of the Parties (MoP8) of the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP), held from 19 to 23 May in Dunedin, New Zealand, concluded with a strong commitment to take urgent action to address the conservation crisis faced by albatross and petrels.  The meeting was chaired by Danica Stent of New Zealand.

In her opening address, Ms Stephanie Rowe, Deputy Director-General of Biodiversity, Heritage, and Visitors of New Zealand’s Department of Conservation, applauded the world-leading research and technical guidance ACAP has produced over the last 20 years.  She emphasised, however, that “advice needs action”, and international collaboration is essential to addressing the threat posed by fisheries bycatch.  Ms Rowe wished parties success “to advance ACAP’s mission to reverse the decline of these treasured species”.

Stephanie Rowe gives her address, photograph by Johan de Goede

In 2019, ACAP's Advisory Committee highlighted a conservation crisis with hundreds of thousands of albatrosses and petrels dying every year as a result of fisheries operations.  The implementation of ACAP’s Best Practice seabird bycatch mitigation advice by ACAP Parties, non-Party Range States and, critically, Regional Fisheries Management and Conservation Organisations was identified as essential for the conservation of these majestic seabirds.

ACAP has developed a comprehensive range of Best Practice Advice guidelines and fact sheets containing proven mitigation measures that can be implemented by coastal States and distant water fishing nations, and other entities to reduce seabird bycatch.  These are available in multiple languages and can be accessed through the ACAP website.

The Meeting of the Parties recognised the need to renew efforts to improve the uptake of ACAP Best Practice Advice.  The Meeting adopted a Resolution declaring that new evidence shows that the conservation crisis facing albatrosses and petrels due to the threat of fisheries bycatch is ongoing.  The Parties agreed to allocate funding in the Advisory Committee Work Programme to implement the Communications Strategy to communicate more effectively the conservation crisis facing albatrosses and petrels, and the solutions available.

Dr Michael Double, Vice Chair and the Chair of the ACAP Advisory Committee, in his report to the Parties, emphasised the declining overall conservation status of ACAP-listed species.  Key progress of the past triennium included continued development of seabird bycatch mitigation Best Practice Advice, funding of Small Grants and Secondments projects, and provision of advice on High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (HPAI).

Parties agreed to increase the Agreement’s budget and member contributions for the 2026-2028 triennium.  Parties recognised that fully and sustainably funding the Advisory Committee Work Programme is integral to addressing the drivers behind the worsening overall conservation status of ACAP species.

This meeting also marked the end of Dr Christine Bogle’s term (2019-2025) as Executive Secretary.  Parties paid tribute to Dr Bogle’s unwavering support during her term.  Parties also welcomed Mr Jonathon Barrington (Australia) as the new Executive Secretary-designate. Dr Bogle congratulated Mr Barrington on his appointment, highlighting their long-standing professional relationship and his valuable support.

ACAP Secretariat, 30 May 2025

 A Northern Royal Albatross chick in the Pukekura/Taiaroa Head Nature Reserve

Day Four of a Session of the Meeting of the Parties has the ACAP Secretariat readying the meeting report and resolutions for adoption on the next and final day.  On the same day delegates are traditionally taken on an excursion organized by the host country.  The Eighth Session (MoP8) held in Dunedin, New Zealand last week over five days was no exception with an outing arranged to undertake a guided walk at the well-known (and intensely managed) colony of Endangered Northern Royal Albatrosses Diomedea sanfordi in the Pukekura/Taiaroa Head Nature Reserve on the headland of the Otago Peninsula.  The mainland Taiaroa Head colony can be visited by the public who are able to view the breeding albatrosses through a glass window in an observatory operated by the Royal Albatross Centre.

During the Second Session of the Meeting of the Parties held in New Zealand in 2008, attendees were taken from Christchurch on an excursion to view albatrosses and petrels at sea off Kaikoura.  Three years later in 2011, the Sixth Meeting of ACAP's Advisory Committee (AC6) was held in Guayaquil, Ecuador, when a group of delegates took the opportunity to arrange an outing to the island of La Plata where they saw a single Critically Endangered Waved Albatross Phoebastria irrorata brooding its chick  However, MoP8 was the first time an ACAP meeting has made an official visit to see breeding albatrosses.

 
The Royal Albatross Centre

Last week’s excursion also included a visit to a Marae (Māori community centre).  For cultural reasons no photographs were taken of the pōwhiri (traditional welcome ceremony).

The Ōtākou marae on the Otago Peninsula, all photographs by Johan de Goede

Watch a breeding pair and their chick at Taiaroa Head via the live-streaming Royal Cam operated by the Department of Conservation.

With grateful thanks to the South African Delegate to MoP8, Johan de Goede, Assistant Director, Small Pelagic Fisheries Management, Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment for the photographs.

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 29 May 2025