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The mission of the Wild Bird Society of Japan (WBSJ), a BirdLife national partner, is given as the conservation of birds and biodiversity, and education about protection of birds, nature and biodiversity.  Founded in 1934, the society has a membership of nearly 35 000, with a staff of 75.  Key activities include protection of threatened species and their habitats, running bird sanctuaries and nature reserves, identifying Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) and spreading the importance of ecosystem and biodiversity through weekly basis birdwatching events held by 89 chapters (regional groups of members) throughout the country.

ACAP Latest News reached out earlier this year to the WBSJ.  In response, Yutaka Yamamoto of the Society’s Conservation Division replied to say: “We will support a World Albatross Day, to be held on 19 June each year”.

A Vulnerable Short-tailed Albatross Phoebastria albatrus on Torishima, photograph by Hiroshi Hasegawa

With thanks to Yutaka Yamamoto, Conservation Division, Wild Bird Society of Japan

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 15 June 2020

‘Wandering Albatross’ by Leigh Wolfaardt

Leigh Wolfaardt is a South African artist and illustrator who lives close to nature and the ocean on a farm in the Western Cape Province.  A graduate of the University of Cape Town’s Michaelis School of Fine Art, she has lived for five years in the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)*, where she came face to face with – and painted – albatrosses for the first time (click here).  A summer research visit to South Georgia (Islas Georgias del Sur)* with her husband, Anton Wolfaardt (who Co-chairs ACAP’s Seabird Bycatch Working Group) brought her into contact with breeding Wandering Albatrosses on Albatross and Prion Islands.  She tells ACAP Latest News that she has a particular interest in the wild and spectacular environments of islands, finding these isolated havens great sources of inspiration for her art.

Leigh Wolfaardt in her studio

Leigh has previously written to ACAP Latest News in support of this week’s inaugural World Albatross Day: “Albatrosses are truly magnificent creatures, an absolute wonder and delight to observe in flight, gliding effortlessly above the waves.  They are a never-ending source of inspiration for my art.  World Albatross Day provides an important opportunity to promote awareness of these wonderful, but highly threatened, denizens of the oceans and skies.”

 Leigh carefully researches new artworks with the aid of field guides

She has now produced a new artwork illustrating aspects of the life cycle of the Wandering Albatross, from egg to chick to adults displaying on land and in their element at sea.  She describes her work: “To celebrate World Albatross Day on the 19th of June, I have just completed my study of one of the most awe-inspiring birds on this earth, the magnificent Wandering Albatross which has an impressive wingspan of up to three metres.  Watching them gliding effortlessly over the waves of the South Atlantic is a truly magical sight.”

Limited edition art prints sized 30 x 38 cm of 'Wandering Albatross' will soon (COVID-19 dependent) be available for online purchase.

With grateful thanks to Leigh Wolfaardt for her support of albatross conservation.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 15 June 2020

*A dispute exists between the Governments of Argentina and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland concerning sovereignty over the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (Islas Georgias del Sur y Islas Sandwich del Sur) and the surrounding maritime areas

The National Audubon Society is the national partner of BirdLife International in the United States.  Founded in 1905, the National Audubon Society protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow, throughout the Americas using science, advocacy, education, and on-the-ground conservation. This mission is realized through coordinating the network activities of nearly 500 local chapters and 1.7 million members.

Through its Seabird Restoration Program, Audubon works to reverse the decline of seabird populations caused by the overfishing of prey, climate change and pollution by focusing on sustainable fisheries management, restoring, protecting and creating new seabird sanctuaries and marine protected areas, and by addressing declining populations.

Anna Weinstein, Director of Marine Conservation, National Audubon Society; photograph by Ewan Burns

Anna Weinstein, National Audubon Society’s Director of Marine Conservation, writes to ACAP Latest News:

“The National Audubon Society is looking forward to celebrating the very first World Albatross Day this year.  In my home state of California, our members cherish our three species of North Pacific albatrosses which ply our waters from the Aleutian Islands, throughout the U.S. West Coast, and into Baja California.  I am proud of the steps our fisheries managers have taken to reduce the bycatch of albatrosses, cease the use of destructive gear types, and help restore albatross breeding islands.

Now, our nation must join the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels in order to help protect the 31 magnificent species of ACAP-listed albatrosses and petrels around the world.”

With thanks to Rachel Guillory, Communications Manager, Coasts, National Audubon Society.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 14 June 2020

The Hawai‘i Wildlife Center (HWC), based on the ‘Big Island’ of Hawaii, is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting, conserving and aiding in the recovery of Hawai‘i’s native wildlife through hands-on treatment, research, training, science education and cultural programmes.  The HWC provides state-of-the-art care and rehabilitation to all species of native birds – including seabirds - and bats from throughout the Hawaiian Islands.  HWC started as a dream and desire to protect native animals and improve the available wildlife care and rehabilitation in Hawai‘i, especially since the islands contain one of the highest concentrations of threatened species anywhere in the world.  In addition to wildlife care, HWC provides professional wildlife rescue and response training throughout the Pacific region as well as undertaking public education and outreach programmes with local students and community members.

Linda Elliott, President and Director of the Hawai‘i Wildlife Center

Linda Elliott, President and Director of the H awai‘i Wildlife Center, writes to ACAP Latest News: “We operate with a staff of five and an ‘ohana [family] of volunteers statewide.  The animals we work with have both a local cultural importance as well as a profound global significance.  Hawai‘i holds a great deal of the world’s biodiversity in its islands and it is our hope that the work we do and the stories we share will play a role in preventing the extinction of more native Hawaiian species."

She continues: "I have been lucky to have been able to work hands-on with albatrosses before starting the Hawai‘i Wildlife Center.  My first encounter was with the ‘ginormous’ colony of Laysan and Black-footed Albatrosses on Midway Atoll.  I was brought over by the then USFWS Refuge Manager, Robert Shallenberger, to undertake training in oiled wildlife response and was immediately blown away by the density, sounds and beauty of the island’s albatrosses.  I even had the opportunity to glimpse a rare Short-tailed Albatross while there.  A mystery spill-oiled Laysan Albatross showed up, allowing for a fortuitous opportunity to demonstrate rescuing and rehabilitating an albatross in a remote location."

HWC Director Linda Elliott washes a Laysan Albatross Phoebastria immutabilis

A Laysan Albatross fledgling from a nearby island gets a check-up exam

A Black-footed Albatross Phoebastria nigripes under care, photographs by the Hawai‘i Wildlife Center

"All of us at the Hawai‘i Wildlife Center are excited to be a part of the World Albatross Day celebration this week.  We have cared for both Mōlī (Laysan Albatross) and Kaʻupu (Black-footed Albatross) at our facility in Kapa‘au, Hawai‘i.  Some patients required care for natural causes while others had been impacted by human activities in some way.  We hope that by sharing stories of the struggles and triumphs of albatrosses we can inspire more people to rally around conservation efforts to save these amazing birds!”

With thanks to Linda Elliott, Director & Rae Okawa, Development Coordinator, H awai‘i Wildlife Center.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 13 June 2020