The 2016 New Zealand Bird Conference and Annual General Meeting of Birds New Zealand will be held in Napier (Hawkes Bay) over 4 - 6 June. A number of presentations will deal with procellariiform birds.  Abstracts for the two talks on ACAP-listed species, the Buller’s Albatross Thalassarche bulleri and the Black Petrel Procellaria parkinsoni are given below.

Black Petrel, photograph by Department of Conservation

Elizabeth (Biz) Bell, Claudia Mischler & Nikki McArthur.  Can you hear me?  Using acoustic monitoring to determine the presence and range of black petrels on Great Barrier Island/Aotea, Te Hauturu-o-Toi/Little Barrier Island and the Moehau range.

Nocturnal seabirds are ideal candidates for acoustic monitoring because they are highly vocal at their colonies, particularly in the breeding season.  Seabirds have distinct calls, and the signature of these calls can be distinguished to species using acoustic analysis software and archived for future use.  A number of automated acoustic recorders were deployed across Great Barrier Island/Aotea, Te Hauturu-o-Toi/Little Barrier Island and the Moehau Range to record calls of black petrels (Procellaria parkinsoni) in the air and on the ground through the 2014/15 and 2015/16 breeding seasons. The recorders were deployed at selected locations at all three sites from late-November and were retrieved before the end of May covering the egg laying, incubation and early chick rearing period of the black petrel breeding season.  Black petrels call on the ground when trying to attract mates to their burrow between October and February with most activity being in November and December.  Calling continues through the night, with peak activity occurring in the first few hours after dark.  The acoustic recorders were programmed to record for one hour each night during the peak period of activity (with times varying at different locations), logging any calls within the range of the microphones.  Over 5000 hours of recordings have been collected between December 2014-April 2015 and November 2015-March 2016.  Acoustic software has been used to start the analysis of this long recording series with the aim to detect and catalogue calls by species and determine when and where the calls were made.  This will provide data on the presence and range of black petrels and other seabirds (and species) across the three sites and provide locations that could be ground-searched for black petrel burrows using random transects and seabird-dogs in the future.v Preliminary results have identified a number of species on the acoustic devices at all three locations and suggest black petrels are present across Great Barrier Island/Aotea in any suitable habitat type and are concentrated on the main high altitude ridgeline on Hauturu/Little Barrier Island and could be prospecting on the Moehau Range.

Buller's Albatross, photograph by Paul Sagar 

Jana Wold, Peter Ritchie, Geoff Chambers & Christopher J. Robertson.  Review of taxonomy and development of genetic assignment testing for Northern Buller's albatross
Buller's albatross are an endemic species to New Zealand and is currently divided into two subspecies, Northern (Thalassarche bulleri platei) and Southern (Thalassarche bulleri bulleri).  These taxa have nonsynchronous breeding seasons, but their identification using morphological methods is challenging. Distinguishing between the two taxa is crucial as Buller’s are a significant bycatch in commercial fisheries and the relative impact on each population is unknown.  Long breeding cycles, low fecundity and late sexual maturity potentially slow the recovery of populations from disturbances that reduce the number of breeding individuals. The overall objective of this study is to use a set of DNA markers to determine the degree of genetic differences between Northern and Southern Buller's albatross. This information could be used to help resolve the taxonomic status of the subspecies. Mitochondrial DNA and microsatellite DNA will be used to determine the levels of genetic variation and differentiation within and between the Northern and Southern Buller's populations. The specific aims of this study are: 1) to develop molecular methods, mtDNA sequencing and microsatellite genotyping for Buller’s Albatross, 2) to use these tools to determine levels of genetic differentiation between the northern and southern groups, and 3) to develop a method for determining the provenance of individuals

The following papers by authors and title on procellariiform birds will also be presented at the conference (click here to read their abstracts).

Johannes H. Fischer, Igor Debski, Graeme Taylor & Heiko U. Wittmer.  Nest-site selection in South Georgian Diving Petrels on Codfish Island (Whenua Hou): implications for conservation management

S.B. Borrelle, Jones, H.P., Barbara Bollard-Breen & D.R. Towns.  Spectral response of Pohutukawa to seabird nutrient inputs  [burrowing seabirds] (click here for more information)

Alan J.D. Tennyson, Matt J. Rayner, Graeme A. Taylor, Stefanie M.H. Ismar, Neil B. Fitzgerald, Megan Friesen & Chris P. Gaskin.  Breeding biology of the New Zealand storm petrel

Colin M. Miskelly & Charles-André Bost.  Seabird research in the French subantarctic (Crozet and Kerguelen Islands)

B.J. Dunphy, Goddard, R.F., Taylor G.A. & Hickey A.J.R.  Conservation physiology of New Zealand seabirds: haematological biomarkers of El Nino impacts?  [Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus]

Rachel F. Goddard, Anthony J. Hickey & Brendon J. Dunphy.  Diving physiology and anatomy of sooty shearwaters: What makes them such exceptional athletes?

Megan Friesen, Anne Gaskett, Louis Ranjard, Amy Martin, Jacqueline Beggs & Cheryl Krull.  Evidence of vocal matching in a seabird species: examining acoustic responses in grey-faced petrels

M.J. Rayner, Gaskin, C., Taylor, G., Young, M., Berg, M., Baird, K., Heiss-Dunlop, S., Ismar, S., Freisen, M., Landers, T.J., Sagar, R. & Dunphy, B.J.  Tales from the A frame: a summary of insights from the first 12 years of research of the Burgess Island seabird community [burrowing seabirds]

R.L. Sagar., Dunphy B.J., Stanley M.C. & Rayner M.J.  Winds of change: an inter-annual investigation of factors affecting breeding success in mottled petrel

Graeme Taylor, Kath Walker, Graeme Elliott, Erica Sommer & Matt Rayner.  Ecology of Pterodroma petrels in New Zealand, behavioural insights from geolocation tracking and activity data

R.L. Sagar., Dunphy B.J., Stanley M.C. & Rayner M.J.  Nobody suspects the tea/l: mortality events in burrow nesting seabird chicks as a result of attacks by Campbell Island teal

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 01 June 2016

Tina Cornioley (Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Switzerland) and colleagues have a paper in press with the Journal of Animal Ecology which investigates the relationships between body mass and wind patterns in incubating Wandering Albatrosses Diomedea exulans.

The paper’s summary follows:

“1. Wind is an important climatic factor for flying animals as by affecting their locomotion, it can deeply impact their life-history characteristics.

2. In the context of globally changing wind patterns, we investigated the mechanisms underlying recently reported increase in body mass of a population of wandering albatrosses (Diomedea exulans) with increasing wind speed over time.

3. We built a foraging model detailing the effects of wind on movement statistics and ultimately on mass gained by the forager and mass lost by the incubating partner.  We then simulated the body mass of incubating pairs under varying wind scenarios.  We tracked the frequency at which critical mass leading to nest abandonment was reached to assess incubation success.

4. We found that wandering albatrosses behave as time-minimizers during incubation as mass gain was independent of any movement statistics but decreased with increasing mass at departure.  Individuals forage until their energy requirements, which are determined by their body conditions, are fulfilled.  This can come at the cost of their partner’s condition as mass loss of the incubating partner depended on trip duration.  This behaviour is consistent with strategies of long-lived species which favoured their own survival over their current reproductive attempt.  In addition, wind speed increased ground speed which in turn reduced trip duration and males foraged further away than females at high ground speed.

5. Contrasted against an independent dataset, the simulation performed satisfactorily for males but less so for females under current wind conditions.  The simulation predicted an increase in male body mass growth rate with increasing wind speed whereas females’ rate decreased. This trend may provide an explanation for the observed increase in mass of males but not of females.  Conversely, the simulation predicted very few nest abandonments, which is in line with the high breeding success of this species and is contrary to the hypothesis that wind patterns impact incubation success by altering foraging movement.”

Wandering Albatrosses, photograph by Richard Phillips

With thanks to Barry Baker.

Reference:

Cornioley, T.,Börger, L., Ozgul, A. & Weimerskirch, H. 2016.  Impact of changing wind conditions on foraging and incubation success in male and female wandering albatrosses.  Journal of Animal Ecology  DOI:10.1111/1365-2656.12552.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 31 May 2016

Status and Trends of Macquarie Island Albatrosses and Giant Petrels: Management and Conservation of Threatened Seabirds

The Tasmanian Wildlife Management Branch (DPIPWE) is seeking expressions of interest from personnel interested in being considered to undertake the role of field assistant for the Macquarie Island Albatross and Petrel Program during the 2016-17 summer period.  Potential participants are requested to submit expressions of interest which address criteria which are essential to the role.  The successful person shall be required to be available to travel to Macquarie Island between October 2016 and April 2017 (approximate dates, depending upon Australian Antarctic Division shipping schedule) and also to pass Australian Antarctic Division medical clearance, which include both physical and psychological testing components, as well as undertake mandatory pre-departure field training.

Wandering Albatrosses court below Petrel Peak on Macquarie Island, photograph by Kate Lawrence

This long-term seabird conservation programme has been running for over 20 years, collecting important breeding and demographic data for the four species of ACAP-listed albatrosses and two species of giant petrels that breed on Macquarie Island.  A team of two field staff is required to be deployed to Macquarie Island for up to six months. The team is largely based in remote area field huts with limited facilities.  Huts will also be shared with staff from other programmes.  The terrain is rugged, the weather is challenging and heavy packs are required to be carried when in the field.  A high level of physical fitness is required prior to the beginning of the season.  Programme data are also required to be collected and entered into databases, and a comprehensive report prepared at the end of the field season (May 2017).  This is a volunteer position, however, all costs associated with the programme, including travel and medical checks, will be met. Preference will be given to applicants who indicate a preparedness to undertake two consecutive field seasons.  Continuation of the applicant in the second season is contingent upon performance in the first season and future programme planning and logistics.  As such, continued involvement in the field programme for a second season will be reviewed at the end of May 2017.

Applicants should have relevant tertiary qualifications (or equivalent).  The deadline for applications is 20 June 2016.

Read more here on candidate requirements and how to apply.

Click here for regular postings of other employment opportunities with ACAP-listed albatrosses and petrels.

With thanks to Rachael Alderman for information.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 30 May 2016

Eight Australian, New Zealand and United Kingdom islands and island groups in the Southern Ocean are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites (click here). News is now in that France may be adding to this total in time, as it has placed its four sub-Antarctic island groups that form the National Nature Reserve of French Southern Territories (La réserve naturelle nationale des Terres australes françaises) in the southern Indian Ocean onto its tentative list, a required precursor to making a formal nomination to the World Heritage Convention. The islands are already RAMSAR Wetlands of International Importance, declared in 2008 (click here).

In addition, the French Terres australes et antarctiques françaises (TAAF) is currently engaged in registering its sub-Antarctic national nature reserve (comprising Amsterdam, Crozets (except Possession), parts of Kerguelen and St Paul that was created in 2006) with the Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with an evaluation process set for September this year.

 Amsterdam Island, only home of the Amsterdam Albatross, photograph from Thierry Micol

Amsterdam Albatross, photograph by Scott Shafer

The original TAAF news release in French follows:

“La réserve naturelle nationale des Terres australes françaises candidate à l’UNESCO

La réserve naturelle nationale des Terres australes françaises engage la procédure de classement au patrimoine mondial de l’UNESCO et à la liste verte de l’UICN.

Cette réserve, reconnue au niveau national, œuvre pour la connaissance et la conservation du patrimoine naturel des îles subantarctiques françaises depuis maintenant 10 ans.

Afin d’étendre sa reconnaissance et sa notoriété à l’échelle mondiale, la collectivité des TAAF s’engage en faveur de son inscription au patrimoine mondial de l’UNESCO. Dans cette perspective, la réserve vient d’adresser sa candidature à la liste indicative des biens naturels, justifiant d’une valeur universelle exceptionnelle, au Comité du patrimoine mondial.

En parallèle, les TAAF se sont engagées dans un processus d’inscription de la réserve à la liste verte de l’Union Internationale pour la Conservation de la Nature (UICN), une nouvelle certification à l’échelle mondiale portant sur la gestion efficace et la gouvernance équitable des aires protégées.

Dans ce cadre, l’UICN France évaluera d’ici le mois de septembre le modèle de gestion de la réserve des Terres australes françaises.”

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 27 May 2016