The ACAP-listed Antipodean Albatross Diomedea antipodensis, endemic to New Zealand, has been uplisted from Vulnerable to Endangered in the 2017 update of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species due to very rapid population decreases at both its main breeding sites on the Antipodes and Auckland Island Groups since 2004.

According to a press release by BirdLife International “bycatch in longline fisheries is a major threat, one which is increasing as albatrosses have to fly further to find food - and with more females being accidentally caught and drowned than males there is now thought to be a strong sex imbalance in the population.”

Click here for BirdLife International’s assessment for the Antippodean Albatross.

Antipodean Albatross on Adams Island, Aucklands; photograph by Colin O'Donnell

Because of its worsening conservation status the Agreement added the population of the Antipodean Albatross of the nominate subspecies that breeds on Antipodes Island to the list of ACAP priority populations for conservation management at a meeting of its Advisory Committee, held in Wellington, New Zealand, this September (click here).

Another New Zealand endemic, the ACAP-listed Westland Petrel Procellaria westlandica, has also been uplisted from Vulnerable to Endangered.  BirdLife states that “this species qualifies as Endangered because it is restricted to one very small area when breeding, and its habitat is declining in quality due to erosion and landslips.”

Better conservation news is that ACAP-listed Black-browed Albatross Thalassarche melanophris has been downlisted from Near Threatened to Least Concern in the 2017 Red List due to an increasing population trend for a species with a very large range in the Southern Ocean and a large global population estimated by BirdLife International as 1.4 million individuals.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 20 December 2017

The UK’s Royal Society for the Protection of birds (RPSB) is looking for a a Project Officer to work at its headquarters with BirdLife International’s Albatross Task Force, a team of seabird bycatch instructors helping fishers in South America and southern Africa to limit their impact on albatrosses and other threatened seabirds

“The job involves liaising directly with project partners to deliver ambitious programme goals to reduce seabird bycatch, and as such requires cultural sensitivity, partnership building abilities and strong Spanish language skills, which will be tested at interview.

This position would suit knowledgeable and enthusiastic early career scientists looking to apply their skills to a marine conservation project aimed at making a meaningful impact.”

Closing date for receipt of applications is 5 January 2018.

Read more here.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 19 December 2017

Applications are sought for project funding that will assist the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP) meet its objective of achieving and maintaining a favourable conservation status for albatrosses and petrels. Total funding of approximately AUD 120 000 is available for allocation.

Applications must be submitted on an ACAP Small Grants Application Form, also available from this website via the home page. When assessing project applications, preference will be given to projects that address elements of the Advisory Committee Work Programme (see Annex 4, AC10 Report) and any research priorities identified by the AC Working Groups (see AC10 Docs 11 Rev 1, 12 and 13 Rev 1). Innovative proposals making a substantive contribution to the Agreement’s objective will also be considered.

Applicants are encouraged to contact the relevant Working Group Convenors or the Advisory Committee Chair (click here to access names) to discuss the development and relevance of their application to ensure it addresses the requirements of the AC Work Programme.

Applications opened on 15 December 2017 and will close on 23 February 2018.

As agreed by AC10, applications will only be accepted from ACAP Parties. Completed applications (in any of the three Agreement languages – English, French or Spanish) are to be submitted to relevant ACAP National Contact Points, who will then forward them to the ACAP Secretariat by the 23 February deadline.

Applicants will be advised of the outcome of their applications by 15 June 2018.

Click here for news of the ACAP Secondment Programme for 2018.

French and Spanish texts are also available.

Southern Royal Albatross pair on Enderby Island, Auckland Islands; photograph by Barry Baker

ACAP Secretariat, 18 December 2017

It’s currently fledging time until the end of the month for ACAP-listed Westland Petrels Procellaria westlandica (globally Endangered and nationally a Naturally Uncommon Endemic) on New Zealand’s South Island from their only known breeding site at Punakaiki.

Similar to many burrowing procellariiforms that breed in the vicinity of human habitation the fledglings are at risk from becoming disoriented by night lights, resulting in groundings, collisions with power lines and vehicles (click here).

A recent posting by the Westland Petrel Conservation Trust to its Facebook Page shows the problem persists as quoted here:

“A recent night patrol of State Highway 6 adjacent to the petrel colony netted four grounded Westland Petrel fledglings at risk of being run over. Two appeared to have crashed after being disoriented by streetlights near the Punakaiki River Bridge, and the other two probably struck power lines near the Nikau Scenic Reserve a few kilometres south. Looks like they're keen to be on their way to the launching site and thrown off the cliff - this time with no glitch. Two others, also picked up near the Nikau Reserve, were not so lucky and died from their injuries.”

The four fledglings are boxed ready for release

Daytime release from a cliff top

Photographs courtesy of the Westland Petrel Conservation Trust.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 15 December 2017