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title: "Breaking the ton: active conservation efforts are saving the rare Bermuda Petrel"
---

# Breaking the ton: active conservation efforts are saving the rare Bermuda Petrel

The Endangered Bermuda Petrel or Cahow *Pterodroma cahow* is one of six species of procellariiform seabirds included in appendices of the [Bonn Convention on Migratory Specie](http://www.cms.int)s that is not listed within the Albatross and Petrel Agreement ([click here](https://www.acap.aq/latest-news/albatrosses-and-petrels-listed-within-international-treaties-no-1-the-bonn-convention-on-migratory-species)).

 Two papers published in the journal [Bird Conservation International](http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayJournal?jid=bci) last year provide detailed information on the conservation status of this still-rare but recovering gadfly petrel.

 Jeremy Madeiros of the [Bermuda Department of Conservation Services](http://www.oagbermuda.gov.bm/portal/server.pt?open=512&objID=206&mode=2&in_hi_userid=2&cached=true) has recently provided an update to this published work to ACAP: "we finally exceeded the 100-pair mark with 101 breeding pairs of Cahow in the 2012 nesting season, with 57 chicks successfully fledged (up from 18 pairs producing a total of 8 fledged chicks in 1960). We also in 2012 had 10 breeding pairs with a total of 7 fledged chicks at the new colony on Nonsuch Island Nature Reserve, established by translocation of near-fledged chicks between 2004 and 2009. So far this breeding season, it looks like we have a total of at least 104 breeding pairs, including 12 pairs so far at the new Nonsuch site."

 References:

 Carlile, N., Priddel, D. & Madeiros, J. 2012. Establishment of a new, secure colony of Endangered Bermuda Petrel *Pterodroma cahow* by translocation of near-fledged nestlings.  [*Bird Conservational International*22: 46-58](http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=8503020&fulltextType=RA&fileId=S0959270911000372).

 Madeiros, J., Carlile, N. & Priddel, D. 2012. Breeding biology and population increase of the Endangered Bermuda Petrel *Pterodroma cahow. [Bird Conservational International](http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=8503023&fulltextType=RA&fileId=S0959270911000396)*[22: 34-45](http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=8503023&fulltextType=RA&fileId=S0959270911000396).

 **See also:**Gehrman, Elizabeth 2012.*Rare Birds: The Extraordinary Tale of the Bermuda Petrel and the Man who brought it back from Extinction*. Boston: Beacon Press.

 With thanks to Jeremy Madeiros and Nicholas Carlisle for information.

 John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 19 January 2013