SEACHANGE The newsletter of the Global Programme

ISSUE 4 AUGUST 2008

The Albatross Task Force’s expansion will help to quantify albatross bycatch in Patagonian Shelf fisheries.

Welcome to the fourth issue of Sea Change, the BirdLife eradication covering 18 islands. Steve Cranwell gives a Global Seabird Programme’s newsletter. Since the last first-hand account of this work and explains how it will issue in November 2007, the Albatross Task Force (ATF) aid the conservation of many seabird species. Ivan Ramirez has expanded considerably and now operates in six describes the work SPEA and the Madeira National Park countries. Oli Yates, the ATF Co-ordinator, fills us in on are undertaking with Fea’s on Bugio Island. all the details. Writers’ Corner has pulled off a bit of a scoop this issue. Alien eradications make an appearance in two of the The RSPB’s Grahame Madge talks to world-renowned articles in this issue. Unlike albatrosses and many of the photographer Frans Lanting and gets a unique insight into larger whose chief threat comes from fisheries, his experiences of working with albatrosses. small petrels and other are threatened by habitat loss and introduced predators at their traditional breeding Along with a round-up of seabird-related news from across sites. BirdLife projects in the Pacific and Madeira are the BirdLife partnership, we hope there is something to addressing some of these problems. BirdLife’s Pacific interest everyone. Partnership is engaged in a massive programme of rat ALBATROSS TASK FORCE

Phase II extends protection

BirdLife International’s Albatross Task Force (ATF) is the Chile and South Africa, we now cover many seabird first international team of instructors dedicated to bycatch hotspots off the coasts of South America and providing and promoting mitigation measures in seabird southern Africa. bycatch hotspots. The team is focused on international collaboration that is critical to reducing the impact of In Argentina and Uruguay, the warm Brazil current fisheries on species that pass through fishery converges with the cool Falklands/Malvinas Current management boundaries with grace and ease. and primary production in this area is catalysed by the nutrient outflow of the Rio de la Plata. The resulting The ATF has grown considerably since March 2006 when nutrient-rich waters are an extremely important foraging the initial team of instructors started work in South Africa, area for many species of albatross and petrel, including as part of BirdLife South Africa’s Marine Programme. the Critically Endangered Tristan albatross. They were closely followed by the formation of the Brazilian ATF, who work in association with the established The team in Uruguay forms part of the local NGO, Projeto Albatroz team, working closely with Save Brazil Proyecto Albatros y Petreles, in collaboration with the (BirdLife affiliate). Phase I of the project was completed BirdLife affiliate, Aves Uruguay. Two instructors are with the formation of the ATF Chile team in association employed and will focus their attention on the pelagic with the Universidad Austral de Chile and Centro Ballena longline fleet, which is composed of around 12 vessels Azul. All these teams are now well established and and is known to interact with seabirds year-round. The showing tangible results (further details can be found Proyecto Albatros y Petreles is well established in in the ATF Annual Report 2007, which is available at Uruguay and the team has excellent relations with the www.savethealbatross.net/campaign_progress.asp). fishing fleet. Recent work has also started to identify issues with the trawl fishery, including mortality from In late 2007 and early 2008, Phase II of the project saw warp strikes and net entanglements. Key species in this the launch of ATF teams in Uruguay, Argentina and area are Tristan, wandering, Atlantic yellow-nosed and Namibia. Along with the existing ATF teams in Brazil, black-browed albatrosses along with spectacled petrel. Leo Tamini

Leo Tamini, one of the ATF Argentina team investigating the impact of trawl fisheries on seabird populations. In association with the local BirdLife partner, Aves attention had been directed at seabird bycatch research Argentinas, we have launched the ATF in Argentina. in this region, but the recently published Benguela Current Initially, our aim is to identify and quantify the mortality Large Marine Ecosystem report (WWF and BirdLife), associated with the country’s demersal trawl fisheries. indicates very high levels of seabird mortality associated The continental shelf off Argentina is enormous and with the demersal longline fishery. Initially, the role of the provides a huge area for foraging seabirds, especially ATF in Namibia will principally be to obtain reliable species such as black-browed albatross that have large baseline data on these fisheries, concentrating on the trawl breeding populations in the south west Atlantic. A huge and demersal longline at first, then moving to work with fleet of trawlers operate within Argentinian waters, with fishermen to identify suitable mitigation measures. around 200 “freshy” vessels and approximately 100 “freezer” vessels. These trawlers are typified by short With ATF teams in six countries, currently employing and long trips respectively, depending whether the catch 14 instructors, our capability to promote the use of proven is stored on ice or frozen. Both types could potentially mitigation measures is greatly enhanced. The ATF is cause significant seabird bycatch, and our main objective having an effect across the teams, and each day that for the first year will be to gain a firm idea of exactly passes sees another vessel adopting mitigation measures what the situation is in these fisheries. where before there were none. This in itself is a huge improvement, and the direct contact the instructors The Benguela Current, running in a northerly direction have with fishermen at sea and in the ports constantly up the west coast of southern Africa, is associated with reinforces the importance of the seabirds and raises large numbers of threatened species and productive awareness within fishing communities that these longline and trawl fisheries. In April 2008, ATF Namibia may not survive if we do not act now. joined the team and are working together with the Namibian Nature Foundation and the Ministry of Fisheries To follow the progress of the ATF through online diaries and Marine Resources to begin seabird conservation visit our website: www.savethealbatross.net work in three important fisheries. Until recently, little Leo Tamini Leo Tamini

Black-browed albatrosses that attempt to seize from trawl nets can easily become entangled. MARINE IBAS

IBAs update

Overview of criteria and development

The concept of marine Important Areas (IBAs) was born in Europe when it was recognised by the European Union (EU) that Member States had an obligation to identify Special Protected Areas under the Birds Directive within their Exclusive Economic Zones. Extending the Andy Black (Global Seabird Programme) IBA programme to the oceans is a logical and significant development, but one that poses both conceptual and practical challenges. The term “marine IBA” is used here as shorthand for those IBAs that can be regarded as marine in nature because of the seabird populations they contain, but this is not intended to imply that they are fundamentally distinct from other IBAs.

There was therefore recognition that the IBA selection criteria needed to be reviewed and, as necessary, adapted, with guidelines established, in to be able to identify marine IBAs. In 2004, a review of all relevant work within the EU to that date was conducted and four “types” of marine IBAs were recognised (see below). This has formed the basis for subsequent studies – which are continuing – into how the existing criteria and boundary delimitation guidelines need to be adapted to accommodate these aspects of seabird life-cycles to assess the extent to which they are amenable to site-based conservation. Sooty shearwaters

The four ”types” of marine IBA recognised by Osieck (2004) that need to be captured by site selection criteria.

Type 1. Seaward extensions of breeding colonies. Type 3. Areas for pelagic species. These extensions, which are used for feeding, These sites comprise marine areas remote from land maintenance behaviour and social interactions, at which pelagic seabirds regularly gather in large are limited by the foraging range and depth of the numbers, whether to feed or for other purposes. species concerned. The breeding colonies themselves These areas usually coincide with specific will have, in most cases, already been identified oceanographic features, such as shelf-breaks, as IBAs, which will therefore require their boundaries upwellings and eddies, and their biological to be extended into the marine environment. The productivity is invariably high. seaward boundary would, as far as possible, be colony and/or species-specific, based on known or estimated foraging and maintenance ranges.

Type 2. Non-breeding (coastal) concentrations. Type 4. Migratory bottlenecks. These include sites, usually in coastal areas, which These are sites where, because of their geographic hold feeding and moulting concentrations of position, seabirds fly over or round in the course waterbirds, such as divers, grebes and diving ducks. of regular migration. These sites are normally determined by topographic features, such as headlands and straits. N.B. The datasets for some regions (eg Americas, Oceania and Australasia) are not yet complete so it Showing marine IBAs by BirdLife region, as of May 2008. has not been possible to conduct a full analysis as yet.

No. countries Total marine No. countries with marine BirdLife Region IBAs Type 1 Type 2 Type 3 Type 4 with coastline IBAs

Caribbean 137 137 8 0 0 27 25

Middle East 81 49 55 0 0 14 10

Africa 176 114 101 0 1 45 39

Europe 842 638 314 0 6 38 33

Mexico and C. America 38 25 21 0 0 8 7

South America 160 105 20 1 0 12 10

Antarctica 101 23 0 0 0 6 6

Australasia 81 80 2 0 0 8 3

Oceania 11 11 0 0 0 19 4

Asia 197 75 61 0 0 25 18

North America 282 110 51 3 2 3 3

TOTAL 2106 1367 633 4 9 205 158

Overview of global candidate marine IBAs

An analysis has been made of existing IBA datasets to identify all IBAs that may already be considered as marine IBAs on the basis of the seabird breeding colonies they hold. This was updated in May 2008 and found that of 205 countries/territories with coastline, 158 had identified a total of 2,106 candidate marine IBAs.

Challenges and opportunities for conservation of marine IBAs

With an increasing number of activities occurring in the marine environment (eg shipping, windfarms, ocean resource exploration, fishing activities), pressure on marine Project, A & C Black© Hadoram Shirihai, Tubenose resources is being felt the world over. As a result, an expanding number of BirdLife Partners are working to identify marine IBAs to feed into maritime planning and management initiatives with the goal of gaining protection for key sites for seabirds.

The identification and subsequent protection of marine IBAs will make a vital contribution to global initiatives to gain greater protection and sustainable management of the oceans, including working towards the identification of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).

Kerguelen petrel PARTNER NEWS

Restoration of globally important seabird colonies in the Pacific

BirdLife’s Pacific Partnership is in the midst of an ambitious many thousand gogo (black and brown noddies, and project to restore up to 18 spectacular and internationally hundreds of toro (brown and red-footed boobies) and important seabird islands in the Pacific, through the Manumanu ni cagi (lesser frigatebirds).” Also present were eradication of invasive alien species. masked boobies, black-naped terns and white terns.

The Pacific Partnership consists of eight Partner Rats were found on seven of the eight islands surveyed. organisations (in Australia, French Polynesia, New On six islands the rat population was found to be “medium Caledonia, New Zealand, Palau, Samoa and the Cook to high”. Steve Cranwell, who took part in the survey, Islands), as well as one country programme run by the explained: “Where numbers were deemed to be high, rats Secretariat at the request of the regional Partnership (Fiji). were seen frequently during the day and at night the forest floor was crawling with them. Having set a trap, you would The project will focus on the removal of introduced walk 10 metres only to hear it snap shut on the next victim. predators (principally rats) threatening the future of seabird Medium densities weren’t visibly that dissimilar, other than breeding colonies. In doing so, it will raise awareness rats, which were less visible during the day and not quite among communities, stakeholders and the wider public. the seething mass at night. The forest would still chorus Developing the technical capacity of participating to the snap of traps.” On the seventh island, the presence organisations in achieving and sustaining pest and predator of a feral cat was thought to be both suppressing the free islands will also be a significant outcome of the number of rats, and also responsible for the reduced project. Together, these approaches will enhance the seabird population. prospects of long-term security for these and other seabird colonies in the region. “The information collected from the survey will be used to determine whether these introduced predators can be The sites earmarked for eradication cover a vast area of the eradicated, which, in addition to technical considerations, Pacific and lie in four countries: requires the full support of the islands’ owners and • Mabualau and the Ringgold Islands in Fiji communities, and the ability to prevent future re-invasion,” • the Tuamotu and Gambier Islands in French Polynesia said Vilikesa. Local communities and landowners have • Islets within the Great Reef of Koumac, and Cap Bayes already pledged their support for rat eradication, which Channel, New Caledonia is vital to ensure that once rats are eradicated they are • the island of Fana in the Sonsorol Archipelago, Palau not re-introduced in the future.

Over the years, many non-native species have been The Tui Laucala (chief or king of Laucula), whose introduced to these islands. Evidence is mounting that the jurisdiction includes the Ringgold Isles, said that the isles combined effect of introduced rats and a range of other are the ancestral lands of his people, and home to ancient alien invasive species (feral cats, pigs, goats and rabbits) villages and burial grounds of great importance. “As are gradually destroying an increasing number of seabird guardians of the land, it is our responsibility to protect colonies throughout the Pacific. It is widely recognised that these islands. With the support of BirdLife this is an alien eradication, particularly of rats, makes a significant opportunity for us to ensure the islands’ birds and other contribution to the preservation of tropical seabird natural resources will be there for our ‘ira na gone’ (our populations, and of island biodiversity in general. children and their children).”

The first phase of the project has involved extensive Full-scale eradication is due to take place on these islands planning, including surveys to establish the diversity and between June and August 2008. We hope to bring you an density of seabirds, other wildlife and invasive predators on update of progress in the next issue of Sea Change. the islands. This information provides the basis for decisions to be made on the feasibility of conducting an eradication and the techniques required whereby chances of success can be optimised and risks prevented. BirdLife staff of the Fiji Programme completed one such study in August 2007, on the Ringgold Islands, to the north of Fiji.

“The survey has confirmed that these islands are among Fiji’s most important for seabirds,” said Vilikesa Masibalavu, Senior Conservation Officer for BirdLife’s Fiji BirdLife Fiji Programme programme, “and once the data has been analysed, some islands will also meet criteria for internationally Important Bird Areas (IBAs). The large seabird populations include Black noddy PARTNER NEWS

International action plan set to reduce incidental seabird catches

The European Commission is now The initiative applies to EU (Community) urgent then ever. As a first step, the assessing the scientific information Waters only, and does not yet extend to Commission approached ICES needed to develop a Community Plan external waters where longline vessels (International Council for the of Action for reducing incidental catch flagged to EC Member States contribute Exploration of the Sea) to provide of seabirds in longline and other to the bycatch of globally threatened advice on the interactions between fisheries, with a view to completion of albatrosses. We regret that the vision longline fisheries and seabirds in EU the plan by 2009. did not extend beyond EU Waters from waters. Our own assessment identified the outset, but the Commission has told major longline impacts in the

Pep Arcos (SEO) us that they intend to address the Mediterranean and west of Ireland. international dimension of the plan once something is in place for EU waters. In the coming months we will be working closely with the European In response to the FAO’s IPOA- institution to make sure that this plan Seabirds initiative in 1999, the is developed, executed both European Community presented a domestically and internationally, and “preliminary draft” proposal for a backed up with binding regulation. Community Plan to the 2001 FAO Committee on Fisheries (COFI). Euan Dunn, RSPB Head of Marine However, little progress was made Policy, [email protected] until BirdLife published a report1 in Balearic 2007 presenting the evidence for why 1 www.birdlife.org/action/science/species/seabirds/ shearwater a Community Plan was now more community_action_plan.pdf

Fishermen collaborate in Maltese project

It’s not often that we are thankful for on interviews rather than direct data. as setting from the side to avoid bad weather, but for the EU LIFE It is hoped that the new work being bycatch of seabirds, so their Yelkouan Shearwater Project in Malta, undertaken with observers will help willingness to go further augurs well high winds could not have come at a to improve our knowledge of bycatch for bycatch reduction work in Maltese better time. It brought the fishermen by the Maltese fleet. waters in the future. back into harbour in May this year so that Ray Caruana (from project The response of the fishermen to the To find out more about the project and partner, the Malta Centre for Fisheries project has been very positive, with read the paper on bycatch in Maltese Sciences – MCFS) was able to track 58% keen to use mitigation measures waters, visit our project website at them down to talk about the project. and 36% keen to be involved in the www.lifeshearwaterproject.org.mt/ LIFE project. Maltese fishermen publications Ray is signing up 10 fishermen who already use mitigation methods such will collect data on bycatch of seabirds from surface and bottom longliners in Andy Black (Global Seabird Programme) Maltese waters. The fishermen will be working on the project for the next two years. To verify this data, independent observers are also being placed on longliners to collect bycatch data.

This work follows research by MCFS in which fishermen were interviewed about bycatch on their vessels. The results show that bottom-longliners were responsible for the majority of bycatch and that Cory’s shearwater are considerably more at risk of bycatch than Yelkouan shearwater. The Many small, wooden estimates of bycatch levels obtained artisanal vessels fish the are provisional since they are based waters around Malta. PARTNER NEWS

Tracking ocean wanderers: the global distribution of 27 species of albatrosses and petrels. Each colour represents Birdlife 2004 a different species. Results from the Global Procellariiform Tracking Workshop, 1–5 September 2003, Gordon’s Bay, South Africa. BirdLife International, Cambridge, UK.

Scientific conservation tool goes from strength to strength

In 2003, the BirdLife Global Seabird Programme established enhancing the scope of the database to include new data the “Global Procellariiform Tracking Database”, a database types and seabird groups, as well as the encouragement that includes over 90% of the world’s remote tracking of new collaborative projects using results generated from data for albatrosses and petrels. Crucially, the database the database. was made possible by the collaboration of scientists from around the world. For further details, please contact Cleo Small [email protected] In the five years since it began, the database has proven a vital conservation tool. It has been used to identify the key foraging areas and migration routes used by Map showing the overlap in the distribution of seven species albatrosses and petrels, and the spatial and temporal of albatross and petrel breeding in the south-west Atlantic, overlap between these threatened species and fisheries. Source: Tracking Ocean Wanderers, BirdLife International 2004

Analyses have been prepared for the world’s five tuna commissions, the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), the Sea & Sky project on the Patagonian Shelf, New Zealand, USA and Argentina, among others, and have proven an important input in management decision-making.

The database has also continued to grow. Many new datasets have been added, and the database now includes over 4,200 tracks, covering 27 species. As tracking devices have become smaller, new data include those on shearwater species as well as albatrosses and petrels.

Data holders will meet during the Fourth International Albatross and Petrel Conference (11–15 August 2008, Cape Town) to review success so far and identify future work. Envisaged developments include a web-based front-end, which will allow dataholders to submit their data online, PARTNER NEWS Ivan Ramirez

Bugio Island, home to 120–150 breeding pairs of Fea’s petrel. Ivan Ramirez

Fea’s petrel

Thought you knew about Fea’s petrel? It’s time to think again

Fea’s petrel (Pterodroma feae desertas), securing regular access by helicopter, and rarely visit the plateau. The native also known as the Bugio’s petrel or by usually the only option with rough plants are recovering slowly, which its Portuguese name “Freira do Bugio”, seas. Once access was secured, we helps to secure the soil. Other than this, is one of those birds that we thought started the surveys to gather sufficient breeding habitat is further enhanced we knew quite well, but recent research baseline information on the species’ with artificial nests. Although several carried out by the Madeira Natural Park main threats and current status. have been tested, we are still far from and SPEA (BirdLife Portugal) proves mastering the petrels’ preferences. there is still a lot to learn. Results are starting to appear, and some of them are quite surprising. Finally, and following the momentum The SOS Freira do Bugio Project, The population size has now been created by SPEA’s Marine IBA funded by the LIFE Programme, confirmed at 120–150 breeding pairs identification project, we are spending started in 2006 and aims to guarantee (lower than previous estimates from quite a lot of time at sea, organising that the population of Fea’s petrel, and 2001), although breeding success boat surveys around the Desertas its nesting habitat attain a favourable seems to be quite high (up to 66% archipelagos that will provide crucial , stable and in 2006 and similar in 2007). Soil data for the species ecology. As most self-sustaining. Actions include rabbit erosion, caused by the strong winds of you know, both Madeiran eradication, native plant regeneration, and torrential rain on the southern Pterodroma species are almost goat control, marine ecology and a plateau, once increased the risk indistinguishable at sea, so we plan philogenetic comparison with the of Pterodroma burrow collapse, to combine the boat census with Cape Verde population. Here is an but is now controlled thanks to individual tracking of the species update on our work. biodegradable anti-erosion blankets. with geolocators. We fitted the first devices last year and hopefully we Bugio, a 7 km-long volcanic island The rabbit population, after a very will get our first results this year, south-east of Madeira, is almost intense bait-bombing campaign (with together with the genetic studies, so entirely rocky, with steep, nearly sheer helicopter support) and monitoring, maybe in just a few weeks we will escarpments, which make access seems to have been eradicated have a completely new picture of this practically impossible. The first (although it is still early to claim little known (but very nice) bird. challenge for the team was securing victory!). The population of mice was safe climbing access to the tiny also decimated. The introduced goat For additional information, please southern plateau (the only confirmed species, now extinct in their original visit http://programamarinho.spea.pt breeding area of the species), and also grounds at the Canaries, are monitored or e-mail [email protected] WRITERS’ CORNER © Frans Lanting/www.lanting.com © Frans Lanting/www.lanting.com

Frans Lanting at work with black-browed albatrosses, Steeple Jason Island, Falkland Islands.

Life through a lens

Since the time of Rembrandt, Dutch masters have “Photography is a wonderful medium to express the employed a mastery of light and shade, colour and form beauty of wildlife, and in a single image you can convey to convey emotions that words simply cannot. Today, the universe.” wildlife enthusiasts and art lovers have their own Dutch master in the form of wildlife photographer Frans Lanting However, Frans Lanting’s individual approach to his art who has been bringing stunning images of the natural is perhaps best explored in the sequences of photographs world to an appreciative audience across the world from he has produced for books and magazines where his Maastricht to Monterey. considered journalistic, almost essay, style helps the viewer achieve an insight into the life of his subject. With technical prowess and a unique style, Frans Lanting’s photographs have graced the pages of National It is perhaps as an albatross photographer that Frans Geographic and coffee table books the world over. Having Lanting is most renowned, with some of the latest been one of the many admirers’ of Lanting’s work for examples of his work appearing in last December’s many years, I was privileged to interview Frans at his National Geographic albatross feature. But it was over gallery in Santa Cruz, in California – his adopted home 25 years ago that he first encountered albatrosses when for the past 30 years. he spent four or five months on the island of Midway in Hawaii, sharing the tiny atoll with the birds and the Even on the phone, it was clear that three decades of US military. West-Coast living have not eroded a European modesty and quiet, considered outlook on the world that are clearly In the late 1980s Lanting spent time with more albatrosses, reflected in his photographs. this time in the southern hemisphere on South Georgia and the “Jasons: on the Falkland Islands – the largest Frans explained that he first fell in love with idea of albatross colony in the world. professional wildlife photography when he visited California on a research trip at a time he was studying Lanting said: “Here, in the company of seabird experts to become an environmental economist. like John Croxall, of the British Antarctic Survey, I learned how the lives of albatrosses are connected with the sea.” Still possessing a distinctive soft Dutch accent, Frans explained: “I have always been fascinated by the power His time in the South Atlantic also opened Frans’ eyes to of pictures, and confronted with the wildlife riches of the threats to albatrosses from fisheries. The conservation the West Coast I was filled with a desire to become a issues affecting species are an integral component of professional photographer. Lanting’s work. In 2007, National Geographic commissioned Lanting to Having photographed many species of wildlife, Frans would revisit albatross colonies on South Georgia and the not be drawn on which are his favourites. He wryly said: Falklands, and also New Zealand, to document the dramatic “I’ve never met an I haven’t liked.” But his passion changes taking place in albatross colonies in some of the for albatrosses has clearly been reinforced through a strong most remote parts of the world. relationship lasting three decades.

He is particularly concerned about the threats to He added: “I will confess, I have a soft spot for albatrosses. albatrosses, especially from longline fisheries, but he is They’re fascinating and demanding subjects, with their also upbeat about some of the progress there’s been with amazing powers of flight and social interactions.” albatross conservation. Commenting on the current situation for albatrosses, Frans said: “It’s a really mixed He also spoke of the challenges of photographing birds scorecard at present. A lot of progress has been made on spending the majority of their lives in the harshness of the protecting places, ridding island of rodents and boosting open ocean. long-term survival.” He was particularly eager to stress the good work in fisheries. He added: “New Zealand is leading It was clear that his work with albatrosses is not over. the way in making fisheries sustainable.” He added confidently: “I’ll find more reasons to get back to albatrosses.” But he was swift to highlight his concerns about “rogue areas” where albatrosses are still dying in huge numbers If albatrosses ever need an obituary, then Frans Lanting because of vessels are not employing albatross-friendly would be the person to provide the finest image celebrating forms of fishing. their life. But as fine as Lanting’s photographs are, I’m sure even he would admit, that stunning photographs are not a Commenting on the work of the Albatross Task Force, he suitable replacement for the real thing. said: “The RSPB and BirdLife International have been really effective in getting the issue [of albatross bycatch] to Grahame Madge people’s attention.” © Frans Lanting/www.lanting.com

Courting southern royal albatrosses, Campbell Island, New Zealand. WILDLIFE EXPLORERS APPEAL UPDATE

UK children raise Brazil ATF money for new Albatross Task Force member in Brazil

In 2007, the RSPB’s junior member club, Wildlife Explorers (WEX), launched a Save the Albatross fundraising appeal. The goal of the appeal was to raise sufficient funds to pay for a new Albatross Task Force (ATF) member. By the end of the appeal in February 2008, the children had raised just over £47,000, smashing all expectations.

They raised money in many different ways such as sponsored silences, pet cuddles and jelly welly walks. A big thank you to all the children who contributed to the appeal.

As a result of the children’s efforts, Caio Azevedo Marques was recently employed to join the Albatross Task Force team of instructors in Brazil. Regular updates and diary entries from Caio can be found on the Save The Albatross Employing local ATF instructors helps to build strong Campaign website, www.savethealbatross.net relationships with fishing communities. Here, Caio (left) is welcomed aboard by the skipper of a longline vessel.

THANKS TO FUNDRAISERS

The second edition of Hadoram Shirihai’s book, A complete We would like to take the opportunity to thank Hadoram guide to Antarctic wildlife, has recently been published. The for his remarkably generous support. book is packed with stunning photographs and illustrations covering all the birds and mammals found in the region and Since its inception, the Global Seabird Programme has is by far the most comprehensive guide to the wildlife of received generous support from a number of funding Antarctica and the Southern Ocean.This is a must-read for bodies. We would like to take the opportunity to thank anyone intent on visiting, or with an interest in, Antarctica. The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, the Wallace Research Foundation, Restore UK and the RSPB, along All author royalties from the sale of the book are kindly with the many individuals who regularly donate to the being donated to the Save The Albatross Campaign. Albatross Task Force fund, for their continued support.

End notes BirdLife International, Wellbrook Court, Girton Road, Cambridge CB3 0NA, England. Tel: +44 (0)1223 277 318 The Global Seabird Programme is co-ordinated, on behalf of the BirdLife International Partnership, by the RSPB www.birdlife.org (BirdLife Partner in the UK).

Programme staff at the RSPB include Euan Dunn (Head of Marine Policy), Cleo Small (International Marine Policy Officer), Ben Sullivan (Global Seabird Programme Co-ordinator) and Andy Black (Technical Officer). Please This newsletter was produced by the Royal Society for the Protection of feel free to contact Andy by e-mail: [email protected] Birds (RSPB), registered charity England and Wales no. 207076, Scotland no. with comments and potential articles. SC037654. Cover: black-browed albatrosses by Leo Tamini 270-0454-07-08