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).

More thoughts on Steve Wood's petrel image from Kermadec Islands, NZ

Hadoram Shirihai's response to the note published in Birdwatch magazine, concerning a petrel photographed off the Kermadec Islands by Steve Wood:

Fig. 1 & 2. Worn Black-winged Petrel, showing clear white collar due to wear and breaching; W Tropical Pacific; photo copyright of Tony Quinn.

It is correct that initially I speculated (as according to the note in Birdwatch, Michael Imber did as well) that the petrel photographed by Steve Wood (click here for link to photo) could be the poorly-known Vanuatu Petrel Pterodroma occulta. However, this was done before I had an opportunity to experience the two forms at sea and around the breeding grounds (i.e. White-necked Petrel Pterodroma cervicalis in the Kermadec Islands, and Vanuatu Petrel around Vanuatu), and also prior to examining the 6 specimens of occulta at the AMNH. In the future, I will be happy to share the results of these studies with others but not in this short response.

As posted on the 26 May (in Seabird News, run by Angus Wilson), and among other speculations, I indicated that Steve Wood's petrel appeared to have "an underwing pattern and overall shape reminiscent of Black-Winged Petrel, but that the black on the head/cap looks too extensive for the latter". But I also speculated "the apparent white collar is not conclusive, as this could possibly be an effect of wear."

Nevertheless, I checked images of the many Black-Winged Petrels that I photographed off the Kermadec Islands and found that some birds do appear to have slightly darker crown or even darker overall head (from certain angels and lights), and some even have a faint pale area on the hindneck. Furthermore, two of my friends, Robert Flood (UK) and Brent Stephenson (NZ), have contact me to say that they too have seen and documented 'white-collared' Black-Winged Petrel. Brent also kindly sent his images taken off northern NZ (during seabird pelagic voyages that he organizes on a regular basis), while Robert drew my attention to images of two such ‘white-collared’ Black-Winged Petrel taken on the Western Pacific Odyssey 2008 by Mike Danzenbaker and Tony Quinn.

In my note I also said "There is probably not much point in discussing the identity of this bird further until more examples are found, and that for me at least, Steve Wood's bird should remain as an unidentified Pterodroma". I will like to revised this statement too by saying that based on clear cut photographic evidences, the petrel photographed by Steve Wood's off Kermadec Islands is MOST LIKELY a 'white-collared' Black-Winged Petrel, at least until someone comes forward with new and well documented evidence to suggest that these could be a different species. I am adding "MOST LIKELY" since there are always caveats in trying to identify a petrel from a single image, and indeed Steve Wood's petrel still has what appears, at least superficially, to be distinctive black cap (see below).

Here is a brief summary of why the petrel photographed by Steve Wood off Kermadec Islands is MOST LIKELY a 'white-collared' Black-Winged Petrel:

1. Overall shape and proportions are most reminiscent of Black-Winged Petrel: it appears to be a rather compact small-sized Pterodroma, with rounded head and wings (the latter being relatively broad, and with short, rounded hand), and rather moderately/longish tail (i.e. resembling a medium-sized and quite heavy but compact cookilaria).

2. Diagnostic underwing pattern of Black-Winged Petrel: with conspicuous diagonal, bold and very broad black covert-band from bend of wing, extending well inward (almost to the armpit but not reaching body), and where narrows slightly, and with a broad black mark on the fore primary-coverts, the wing-tips and the trailing edge.

3. Rather bold dark breast-side patches: also characteristic of Black-Winged Petrel, but not conclusive.

Still one 'concession': the cap (combination of crown and eye-patch) seem to be too dark and solid compared to Black-Winged Petrels that I have seen and photographed. Conceivably, the capped appearance may be exaggerated in this one image by the harsh lighting, and this imaging artifact perhaps also contributes to the white-collared effect. Indeed, it seems that the eye-patch is slightly darker than the crown on Steve Wood's petrel.

Lastly, there is a strong match between Steve Wood’s petrel and the attached great images of Black-Winged Petrels by Mike Danzenbaker and Tony Quinn. These images shows that in a state of heavy wear, Black-Winged Petrels can develop a clear, but narrow, white collar on the hindneck.

The lesson I learned over the years in thinking about such cases is that the simplest explanations are most possibly the correct ones. That said, it is always a benefit to share ideas or to learn from others, and there is value in being flexible until more is known. Thus, Robert Flood and Brent Stephenson should be credited for their important input in considering the identity of the petrel photographed by Steve Wood's off Kermadec Islands, which as I have argue here, is MOST LIKELY an 'white-collared' Black-Winged Petrel. Thanks also to Mike Danzenbaker, Tony Quinn and Brent Stephenson for use of their excellent images.

Hadoram Shirihai, May 2008

Vanuatu Petrel - first live sighting?

I noticed a short note to the letter page of Birdwatch magazine (June 2008 issue) from Steve Wood (New Zealand) drawing attention to a gadfly petrel he'd photographed in March 2006 near the Kermadec Islands, New Zealand, that is suggestive of Vanuatu Petrel Pterodroma occulta. The photo is reproduced on the Wrybill Birding Tours web site. It is not clear if there is a series of photographs and whether the bird struck him as unusual (e.g. small) in the field.

This very poorly known seabird was first described by Imber and Tennyson in 2001. Six specimens were obtained by the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) Whitney South Sea Expedition in January 1927, near the Banks Islands but until more recently, not recognized as different from the very similar White-necked Petrel P. cervicalis. In 1983, an additional specimen was taken in northern New South Wales, Australia.

They are significantly smaller than White-necked and show a more expansive area of gray on the underside of the primaries and a broader dark leading edge to the underwing. White-necked Petrels typically show a less dark underprimaries (e.g. photo (Fig. 15) by Chris Collins on OceanWanderers taken on the 2006 WPO recce). However, a number of seasoned field observers have commented that the presence of darker primaries is not unique to the smaller form, a point that is also made from analysis of specimens in the Imber and Tennyson paper. Indeed, check out this wonderful shot taken by B Whylie on a Wollongong pelagic in March 2008. One interesting but tangential point is the repeated occurrence of pairs of very similar looking seabirds (often found together at sea) that differ markedly in size (Tahiti/Beck's, Fea's/Zino, Greater/Lesser Snow Petrel). What's up with that?

Some authors (e.g. Michael Brooke 2004) treat Vanuatu and White-necked as conspecific, at least until more is known, but the split has been acknowledged in the new Australian Checklist (Christidis and Boles 2008). An alternative name in the literature is Falla's Petrel in honor of the renowned ornithologist Sir Robert Alexander Falla. Obviously, seabirders in Australia and New Zealand are looking carefully at 'White-necked/Vanuatu' Petrels and I imagine more information will emerge, especially from birders visiting the waters around the Vanuatu islands. A dedicated chumming expedition, mirroring Hadoram Shirihai's rediscovery of Beck's Petrel in the Bismark Archipelago off Papua New Guinea, may be highly rewarding. I've seen it rumored on the web that Hadoram has photographed candidate Vanuatu's Petrels but have no other information. Perhaps he can chime in here?

The location of Wood's new sighting seems puzzling. The Kermadec Islands (specifically Macauley Island) are the world stronghold for White-necked Petrel with 50,000 nesting pairs, and relatively distant from the locations of the Vanuatuan and Australian specimens. Onley and Scofield (2007) speculate that the birds might breed on Mera Lava (where the types were collected in 1927) and other islands in the northern part of the Vanuatu archipelago. Mere Lava (sometimes spelled Mera Lava) is a small volcanic island 52 km southeast of Gaua in the Banks Group (-14.4629°, 168.042°).

Literature Citations:

Christidis, L. and Walter E Boles (2008) Systematics and Taxonomy of Australian Birds. CSIRO Publishing.

Imber, M. J. and A.J.D. Tennyson (2001) A new petrel species (Procellariidae) from the south-west Pacific. Emu 101 (2): 123-127.

Wood, S. (2008) Another 'lost' petrel found? Birdwatch June 2008 Issue 192, p21.

UPDATE (25 May 2008): See Comments tab (below) for a response from Hadoram Shirihai.