Announcement: Extreme Gadfly Petrel Expeditions

Background: The following challenging pelagic expeditions are being organised as part of the on-going Tubenoses Project (Shirihai, H. & Bretagnolle, V. In prep. Illus. by Cox J. Albatrosses, petrels and shearwaters of the world: a handbook to their taxonomy, identification, ecology and conservation, A & C Black, London), and represent an effort to collect further data on the identification, variation, distribution and population sizes of some of the least known petrels on the planet.

The expeditions listed below are non-commercial pelagic voyages with all participants, including the organisers, equally sharing the costs of chartering the vessels. The expeditions will be conducted in a similar manner to recent voyages that led to the rediscovery of Beck’s Petrel Pterodroma becki in 2007 in the Bismarck archipelago (Shirihai 2008), and the first pelagic observations of Zino’s Petrel Pterodroma madeira in April 2009, off Madeira (Shirihai 2009), and Fiji Petrel Pseudobulweria macgillivrayi, off Gau Island, Fiji (Shirihai et al. 2009).

Up-coming expeditions (2009):

(1) Search for the Jamaican Petrel (presumed extinct) off Jamaica: This voyage will run from 17th November to 1st December 2009, using a fast ocean-going boat. Depending on the weather conditions, we will spend 7 to 10 days at sea off Jamaica.

The Jamaican Petrel had been described to science, when it promptly disappeared; its last confirmed record was in 1891, almost two decades after mongooses were believed introduced onto the main island of Jamaica. Hopes remain that a tiny population of Jamaican Petrels still survive in the extensive tracts of suitable forest habitat. Moreover, mongooses have not prevented Black-capped Petrels from breeding in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Several attempts have been made over the last decades to find the Jamaican Petrel on land, specifically in the Blue Mountains, without success. None of these expeditions have searched at sea, a proven strategy as described above.

In preparation for this expedition, HS visited Jamaica (March-April 2009) to see habitats that might support a population of breeding petrels, and also viewed the breeding habitat of Black-capped Petrels in the Dominican Republic. HS and Vincent Bretagnolle have made a geographical survey (using satellite image maps and marine charts) and have analysed meteorological data for the region; parameters that contributed to the successful studies of Beck’s, Zino’s and Fiji Petrels at sea. From this analysis, a very specific oceanic corridor has been proposed that might be used by any Jamaican Petrels travelling to and from the island.

The plan is to intensively search this area and to use 1.5 tons of chum that will be prepared by our ground team and a local fish factory. The material will be kept aboard ship in dedicated freezers.

For logistical reasons, there is room for only 4 expedition members and currently there is only one spot available; the expedition share is US$7000.

Please contact HS at albatross_shirihai@hotmail.com to sign on, or for further information about the voyage, its plans and conditions.

(2) Search for the recently rediscovered Vanuatu Petrel in the remote Banks Group: This two-week voyage, 13th to the 28th December 2009, will use a 72ft. expedition research vessel sailing out of the port of Santo, Vanuatu.

The Vanuatu Petrel Pterodroma occulta was collected in January 1927, by Rollo Beck (Whitney South Sea Expedition), though it was overlooked as a White-necked Petrel P. cervicalis until Imber and Tennyson (2001) drew attention to the fact that the specimens were distinctly smaller and represented an unrecognised species. Since then an additional specimen was found ashore in eastern Australia in 1983. The first at-sea record was of a bird observed by HS in January 2006 between New Caledonia and Vanuatu. Then in 2007, two/three birds were sighted off southern Vanuatu. There is recent evidence (still unpublished) that suggests a breeding population on at least one island in Vanuatu.

In December 2009 we shall try to obtain further data on this population, both at sea and on several islands in the remote Banks group. Dr. Vincent Bretagnolle, Dr. Orian Shirihai and HS are the organisers of this expedition. Besides studying petrels and other seabirds, the expedition will seek out some of the landbirds of the islands and also study tribal customs of the indigenous islanders, including the use of alternative medicines.

Only 7 expedition members can be accommodated on the vessel, the remaining space will be occupied by a set of huge freezers that will store two tons of chum for use during the planned mass chumming operations.

To date there are 5 on board, and two more are welcome, at US$7000 per person. This rate will be discounted for students and those from conservation bodies to US$5000 per person.

Please contact directly HS at albatross_shirihai@hotmail.com to sign up, or for further information about the voyage plans and conditions.

Expeditions planned for 2010 & 2011 (with further information on the following to be posted nearer the times):

2010:

Off Madeira: To study Zino’s Petrel at sea, 20th-30th June (with Hadoram Shirihai & Tony Pym, and the organisation of Madeira Wind Birds).

Guadalupe Islands, Mexico: In search of the (believed extinct) Guadalupe Storm Petrel, March 2010 or 2011, with Hadoram Shirihai.

2011-12:

Chatham Islands: In search of the Magenta Pterodroma magentae and Chatham Island Petrel P. axillaris (tentatively scheduled for Dec), and most of the local land-bird endemics. With Tony Pym & Hadoram Shirihai. For further information please contact Tony (tony_pym@hotmail.com).

Juan Fernández archipelago, Chile: For the three endemic eastern tropical Pterodroma (during Nov-Dec), namely Juan Fernandez Petrel Pterodroma externa, Stejneger's Petrel Pterodroma longirostris and Defilippi’s Petrel Pterodroma defilippiana; with the organisation and co-leadership of Ross Wanless (and Hadoram Shirihai for the work on petrels at sea). We will also endeavour to see the landbird endemics. For further information please contact Ross (rosswanless@gmail.com).

Eastern Tropical Pacific off Peru: To study storm petrels (tentatively Jan 2011), with Hadoram Shirihai, and with the organisation of Gunnar Engblom (Kolibri Expeditions). For further information please contact Gunnar (kolibriexp@gmail.com).

Off Reunion, Indian Ocean: Seeking field knowledge on the poorly known Mascarene Petrel Pseudobulweria aterrima with Tony Pym and Hadoram Shirihai (expedition dates to be announced).

Regular updates on these expeditions will be posted on Seabird-News (Angus Wilson and/or Tony Pym) and the website of Kolibri Expeditions (Gunnar Engblom).

Fiji Petrel Expedition - Participants Needed

Fiji Petrel Expedition, Fiji Islands 08, on its way - looking for two more keen participants

Hadoram Shirihai and Dick Watling (the former is responsible for the rediscovery of Beck's Petrel and the latter the Fiji Petrels) are just about one month before starting the at sea Fiji Petrel Expedition, 16 to 26 July 2008. The goal of the voyage is to document the continued survival of Fiji Petrel, one of the World's least known seabirds, and survey the Fijian waters for other poorly known petrels and cetaceans.

Dick and Hadoram have now chartered a larger vessel, the 'Summer Spirit', and are looking for two additional participants. In this unique expedition the number of participants (beside Dick and Hadoram) is limited to five participants only. If you like to join this unique pelagic expedition please contact Hadoram at albatross_shirihai[at symbol]hotmail.com

Read all about it! - Recent Seabirding Articles

Where possible PFTCS will briefly review articles in the popular and scientific birding literature relating to seabirds and other marine wildlife.

Here are four highly rewarding articles dealing with field identification and the rediscovery of very poorly known tubenoses. Seabird enthusiasts will enjoy reading each of them.

Greg Gillson (2008) Field Separation of Sooty and Short-tailed Shearwaters off the West Coast of North America. BIRDING March/April 2008 40(2):34-40. Click here for article as PDF.

Identification of Sooty and Short-tailed Shearwaters at sea or from land-based seawatches can be challenging and is covered that well by most field guides. This article visits the problem from the perspective of birders on the west coast of North America where Sooty Shearwaters are abundant and Short-tailed Shearwaters - apparently mostly juveniles - are present in smaller numbers. The article discusses salient field marks including a detailed discussion of differences in structure, flight style and behavior. My one niggle about the article is the layout and number of photos. Key comparison of the two species, either in flight or on the water, are not presented side-by-side and an ID article of this type really needs more photographs to properly convey the differences. I would like to have seen a close-up of the heads to illustrate the differences in bill length/depth and forehead shape. The painting comparing the two shearwaters in parallel flight is a little too stylized for my taste and over-emphasizes the differences. I appreciate that these things are usually beyond the authors control. Otherwise, this is a useful article that identifies a glaring gap in the popular birding literature. Gillson is one of the best known names in Oregon birding and has been running pelagic trips from Newport, Oregon, for a number of years.

Chris Harbard (2008) Beck from the Dead. BIRDWATCH April 2008 issue 190:28-29.

A concise and accessible account of the recent rediscovery of Beck's Petrel (Pseudobulweria becki) in the waters off New Ireland, Papua New Guinea. The tale begins with Rollo Beck - an ornithological collector of extraordinary talent - who took the first specimens in the late 1920's and picks up again in 2003 with Hadoram Shirihai who glimpsed three candidates during research visit to the Bismark Archipelago for his upcoming seabird books. Another tantalizing candidate was studied by birders on the 2007 WPO. Finally the dream came true in July/Aug 2007 when Hadoram mounted a one-man expedition to the area, successfully chumming in small flocks of fresh juveniles and a lesser number of adults. Armed with this new information, the 2008 WPO got excellent views of this pelagic jewel. The piece includes two spectacular flight shots of the gorgeous petrel (there's a larger version of the dorsal shot on the contents page) and an amusing action shot of Admiral Shirihai firing a fusillade of pixels aboard his skiff with a crew of local boatmen serving as helmsman and chummer respectively. Harbard is a regular columnist for Birdwatch and was assisted in this piece by well-traveled seabird fan Tony Pym.

Hadoram Shirihai (2008) Rediscovery of Beck’s Petrel Pseudobulweria becki, and other observations of tubenoses from the Bismarck archipelago, Papua New Guinea. Bull. B.O.C. 2008 128(1):3-16.

A scientific and highly readable paper that breaks into two parts. The first summarizes the background to the rediscovery with discussion of previous sightings, speculation on likely breeding sites, field identification and future conservation challengs. The second part describes other notable seabirds observed by the author during visits to the region. Foremost are multiple birds observed in 2003 and 2007 at various spots in and around New Britain PNG and New Ireland PNG, that resemble descriptions of Fiji Petrels (Pseudobulweria macgillivrayi). So little is know about this taxa that it is possible these are something else. The type specimen was taken in 1855 on the island of Gau in Fiji's Lomaiviti Archipelago (decimal degrees -18.066667°, 179.333167°). It was not recorded again until 1895 when an adult and fledgling were found by Dick Watling, again on Gau. Using spotlights, there have been a few more sightings from the island. It is worth stressing that the sightings described by Shirihi in this article as well as a similar bird spotted by Howell and companions on the 2007 WPO are almost exactly 2,000 miles from Gau and so it's probably good to keep an open mind about the species involved at this point. Hadoram plans a repeat visit to document these birds and I can imagine the well advertized rediscovery of Beck's Petrel will draw other seabird enthusiasts to the area, not least the annual swing through by the WPO en route to Japan. Definitely the cutting edge of seabirds discovery!

Steve N. G. Howell and J. Brian Patteson (2008) Variation in Cory's and Scopoli's Shearwaters. ALULA 1-2008 Vol 14: 12-21.

This richly illustrated article discusses field identification of Cory's Shearwater (Diomedea [d.] borealis) and Scopoli's Shearwater (Diomedea [d.] diomedea) with emphasis on birds studied off North Carolina, USA supplemented by photographs from the breeding grounds in the northeastern Atlantic or Mediterranean. The authors are quite candid about the difficulties involved, due to the subtle nature of the characters (principally differences in bill proportions, extent of white tongues on undersides of the primary feathers and relative color of the head) and our limited knowledge about the extent of variation. With respect to bill size for example, the differences between males and females needs to be appreciated. The bill of a female Cory's for example is very similar to that of a male Scopoli's. Lighting and angle are also very significant. Photos are presented showing the same two birds (one of each) but the differences are more obvious in one shot compared to the other. They also discuss a number of birds that seem indeterminant as well as some fairly clear cut examples. Even with these uncertainties, Scopoli's may be more common outside of the Mediterranean (e.g. in North American or Northern European waters) than is generally appreciated but for many individuals, it may not be possible to firmly ascribe them to (sub)species without a comprehensive set of photographs. There are probably quite a few 'Cory's' specimens held by local museums that will not have been critically evaluated and these may give a better sense of relative abundance. Some of the lessons provided by this study (including the numerical scoring system) can be applied to discussion of other shearwaters and case in point, the authors include a photo of two skins of Macaronesian (Baroli's) Shearwaters to illustrate the variability in a feature that has been described as diagnostic. Obviously that is whole different story but underscores the need for considerable caution in over-interpreting these types of plumage differences. Brian Patteson is synonymous with pelagic birding out of Virginia and the Outer Banks of North Carolina and sees large numbers of Cory's-type shearwaters at close hand during the summer months. Steve Howell is a recognized authority on seabird identification and although based in California, has been working with Patteson as a guide for several spring seasons.

**********