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Oppel S, Clark BL, Risi MM, Horswill C, Converse SJ, Jones CW, Osborne AM, Stevens K, Perold V, Bond AL, Wanless RM, Cuthbert R, Cooper J, Ryan PG. Cryptic population decrease due to invasive species predation in a long‐lived seabird supports need for eradication. J Appl Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.14218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Steffen Oppel
- RSPB Centre for Conservation Science Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, The David Attenborough Building Cambridge UK
| | - Bethany L. Clark
- BirdLife International The David Attenborough Building Cambridge UK
| | - Michelle M. Risi
- RSPB Centre for Conservation Science Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, The David Attenborough Building Cambridge UK
| | - Catharine Horswill
- ZSL Institute of Zoology, Regent's Park London UK
- Centre for Biodiversity and Environmental Research, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment University College London London UK
- Department of Zoology University of Cambridge Cambridge UK
| | - Sarah J. Converse
- U.S. Geological Survey, Washington Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, School of Environmental and Forest Sciences & School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences University of Washington Seattle WA USA
| | - Christopher W. Jones
- RSPB Centre for Conservation Science Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, The David Attenborough Building Cambridge UK
| | - Alexis M. Osborne
- RSPB Centre for Conservation Science Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, The David Attenborough Building Cambridge UK
| | - Kim Stevens
- RSPB Centre for Conservation Science Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, The David Attenborough Building Cambridge UK
| | - Vonica Perold
- RSPB Centre for Conservation Science Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, The David Attenborough Building Cambridge UK
| | - Alexander L. Bond
- RSPB Centre for Conservation Science Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, The David Attenborough Building Cambridge UK
- Bird Group, Department of Life Sciences The Natural History Museum Tring Hertfordshire UK
| | - Ross M. Wanless
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology University of Cape Town Rondebosch South Africa
| | - Richard Cuthbert
- RSPB Centre for Conservation Science Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, The David Attenborough Building Cambridge UK
- World Land Trust Halesworth UK
| | - John Cooper
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology University of Cape Town Rondebosch South Africa
| | - Peter G. Ryan
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology University of Cape Town Rondebosch South Africa
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Blinded by the light: Seabird collision events in South Georgia. Polar Biol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-022-03045-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
AbstractLight-induced bird strikes on vessels occur frequently in association with areas of high seabird density, often resulting in bird mortalities. These incidents are poorly understood and likely under-reported by vessels. Here we present the details of four separate bird strike events (899, 206, 50 and 47 birds), which took place whilst vessels (two fishing trawlers and one tourist expedition ship) were navigating along the south coast of South Georgia, and discuss possible contributing factors. All species encountered in these events were burrowing petrel species in the family Procellariidae, with diving-petrel species (Pelecanoides spp.) being most commonly reported. All four events took place during the night in similar meteorological conditions, with poor visibility due to fog, light precipitation and low wind speeds. We identify the waters off the south coast, between King Haakon Bay and Drygalski Fjord, which have remained rat free and are of exceptional importance to breeding seabirds, as high risk for collisions and propose other high-risk areas. The different mortality rates recorded during these events are likely attributed to the varying actions taken by ship crew and persons on board. We propose actions that will help reduce the occurrence of events and mitigate the impact of bird strikes, including the avoidance of high-risk areas in certain night-time conditions. We give recommendations on what to do when birds land on board and stress the importance of reporting of events. Given the expected increase of both fishing and tourist ship activity in South Georgia waters, there is an increasing need to understand and mitigate this threat to seabirds.
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