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Sarah Crofts and colleagues have produced a report detailing severe storm damage to breeding colonies of Black-browed Albatrosses Thalassarche melanophris on two islands in the South Atlantic late last year, previously reported in ACAP Latest News (click here).

The illustrated report's edited abstract and concluding statement follow:

"This report examines the impacts of a severe storm event in December 2010 on colonial nesting seabirds, specifically black-browed albatrosses (IUCN - Endangered) and southern rockhopper penguins (IUCN - Vulnerable) at Beauchêne Island and Steeple Jason Island.

With a predicted increase in storm events due to climate change, the possible increase in frequency of these impacts and the cumulative effects of other threats need to be monitored and taken into account for future management strategies. Also, it highlights the importance of continuing to implement measures to mitigate known threats to these seabird populations to help buffer against population losses caused by other unforeseeable natural disasters."

Black-browed Albatrosses on Beauchêne Island after the storm
Photograph by Anton Wolfaardt

Reference:

Crofts, S., Wolfaardt, A. & Baylis, A. 2011.  Storm damage to colonial seabirds at Beauchêne Island and Steeple Jason Island during 13-14 December 2010.  20 pp.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 1 November 2011