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Karen Bourgeois (FitzPatrick Institute, University of Cape Town, South Africa) and colleagues report two Northern Giant Petrels Macronectes halli ashore on Gough Island in the South Atlantic, first records for the island.

“Given that NGPs are regular non-breeding visitors to the archipelago’s inshore waters, the observation of NGPs ashore on Gough Island was expected; some individuals are likely to rest or even search for carrion while hunting nearby.  However, the NGP  observed in association with Gough’s SGP [Southern Giant Petrel M. giganteus] colony, near active breeders and nests, is of considerable interest as it indicates the  possibility of hybridization in the future, if not already, between the two Giant Petrel [sic] species on this island.

A Northern Giant Petrel ashore on Gough within a Southern Giant Petrel breeding colony

Photographs by Sylvain Dromzée

 For an earlier report on the photographed bird click here.

Reference:

Bourgeois, K. Wilson, J.W. & Dromzée, S. 2013.  First records of the Northern Giant Petrel Macronectes halli ashore on Gough Island.  Marine Ornithology 41: 135-136.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 14 October 2013