Pterodroma phaeopygia

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	AVES	PROCELLARIIFORMES	PROCELLARIIDAE

Scientific Name:

Pterodroma phaeopygia

Species Authority:

(Salvin, 1876)

Common Name/s:

English

–

Dark-rumped Petrel, Galapagos Petrel, Galápagos Petrel

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Critically Endangered A2bce ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2010

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Calvert, R., Butchart, S., Bird, J.

Contributor/s:

Hennessey, A., Wiedenfeld, D., Cruz, F., Allport, G., Vargas, H., Brooke, M.

Justification:
This species has undergone extremely rapid declines in the past three generations (60 years) and is therefore classified as Critically Endangered.

History:

2009	–	Critically Endangered
2008	–	Critically Endangered
2007	–	Critically Endangered
2006	–	Critically Endangered
2004	–	Critically Endangered
2000	–	Critically Endangered
1996	–	Critically Endangered
1994	–	Critically Endangered

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Pterodroma phaeopygia is endemic to the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador, breeding on Santa Cruz, Floreana, Santiago, San Cristóbal, Isabela and possibly other islands in the archipelago^5,9. Between 1978 and 1980, populations on the islands were estimated at 9,000 pairs on Santa Cruz¹, c.11,250 on Santiago, and c.6,750 on Floreana and San Cristóbal⁸. By 1985, the Santa Cruz population had plummeted to 1,000 pairs, on Santiago to less than 500 pairs⁵, and numbers on Floreana and presumably San Cristóbal were estimated to have declined to c. 2,000 pairs⁴. An extensive survey of Santa Cruz in 2005 located c.300 previously unknown nests, but the island population totalled just 700 pairs¹³. Estimates for 2008 suggested a total of 4,500-5,000 active nests on all five islands¹⁹. Birds forage around the islands, but also disperse east and north towards South America and up to 2,000 km south⁷.
Countries:	Native: Colombia; Costa Rica; Ecuador; Mexico; Nicaragua; Peru Vagrant: Panama; Philippines Present - origin uncertain: El Salvador; French Southern Territories (the); Guatemala
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	The global population estimate is best placed in the range of 10,000-19,999 individuals, based on an estimate of 4,500-5,000 active nests in 2008 (I. Guzmán in litt. 2008).
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It breeds in the humid highlands between 300-900 m, in burrows or natural cavities, on slopes, in craters, sinkholes, lava tunnels and gullies usually in close proximity to Miconia plants^1,5,6. It feeds mostly on squid, fish and crustaceans³. On San Cristóbalnests were primarily located along ravines in areas of dense Miconia robinsoniana and native fern cover, with the majority of egg-laying taking place between May and October, peaking in August²².
Systems:	Terrestrial; Marine

Habitat and Ecology:

It breeds in the humid highlands between 300-900 m, in burrows or natural cavities, on slopes, in craters, sinkholes, lava tunnels and gullies usually in close proximity to Miconia plants^1,5,6. It feeds mostly on squid, fish and crustaceans³. On San Cristóbalnests were primarily located along ravines in areas of dense Miconia robinsoniana and native fern cover, with the majority of egg-laying taking place between May and October, peaking in August²².

Systems:

Terrestrial; Marine

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Introduced dogs, cats and pigs take eggs, young and adults, and black rats and brown rats eat chicks. Predation by rats was found to be the primary cause of nest failure (72%) in a study of colonies on San Cristóbal in 2002-2003²². Galápagos Hawk Buteo galapagoensis⁶ and Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus may take adult birds. Nest-site destruction by goats, donkeys, cattle and horses is a major threat^5,6,13. Clearance of vegetation for agriculture and intensive grazing has severely restricted the breeding area on Santa Cruz, Floreana and San Cristóbal^1,5,6,8,13, and at least half the breeding range is still farmed on Santa Cruz^1,13. Invasive plants such as Rubus spp. and Cinchona are a further threat to breeding habitat¹⁵. Adult mortality occurs when birds are caught on barbed wire fences on agricultural land⁵, and collide with power lines and radio towers and guy wires¹⁴. Development of a wind power project on Santa Cruz was a potential threat to many of the breeding colonies on that island, but the development plan aims to minimise effects on the species, and following construction an evaluation of collision risk suggested the turbines will be no more detrimental than other existing man-made structures²³. Further development of buildings and other structures in the highlands of the islands threaten nesting colonies¹³. Long-line fishing in the eastern Pacific is a threat, but long-lining in the Galápagos Marine Reserve is particularly likely to affect foraging birds. El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events seem to have a detrimental impact on nesting and productivity. Having a distribution on relatively low-lying islands, this species is potentially susceptible to climate change through sea-level rise and shifts in suitable climatic conditions²¹.

Major Threat(s):

Introduced dogs, cats and pigs take eggs, young and adults, and black rats and brown rats eat chicks. Predation by rats was found to be the primary cause of nest failure (72%) in a study of colonies on San Cristóbal in 2002-2003²². Galápagos Hawk Buteo galapagoensis⁶ and Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus may take adult birds. Nest-site destruction by goats, donkeys, cattle and horses is a major threat^5,6,13. Clearance of vegetation for agriculture and intensive grazing has severely restricted the breeding area on Santa Cruz, Floreana and San Cristóbal^1,5,6,8,13, and at least half the breeding range is still farmed on Santa Cruz^1,13. Invasive plants such as Rubus spp. and Cinchona are a further threat to breeding habitat¹⁵. Adult mortality occurs when birds are caught on barbed wire fences on agricultural land⁵, and collide with power lines and radio towers and guy wires¹⁴. Development of a wind power project on Santa Cruz was a potential threat to many of the breeding colonies on that island, but the development plan aims to minimise effects on the species, and following construction an evaluation of collision risk suggested the turbines will be no more detrimental than other existing man-made structures²³. Further development of buildings and other structures in the highlands of the islands threaten nesting colonies¹³. Long-line fishing in the eastern Pacific is a threat, but long-lining in the Galápagos Marine Reserve is particularly likely to affect foraging birds. El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events seem to have a detrimental impact on nesting and productivity. Having a distribution on relatively low-lying islands, this species is potentially susceptible to climate change through sea-level rise and shifts in suitable climatic conditions²¹.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway CMS Appendix I. In 1982, predator control commenced in the Cerro Pajas colony (c.2,000 pairs), Floreana⁶. Predator control involving intensive rat baiting around known colonies and petrel monitoring currently continues on Floreana, Santa Cruz and Santiago⁹. In early 2009, it was confirmed that goats have been successfully eradicated from Santiago²⁰. A small number of burrows have recently been discovered on Alcedo, Isabela¹². The islands are a national park and, in 1979, were declared a World Heritage Site. World Heritage Site designation encourages Ecuador to work carefully to enact suitable conservation laws and implement existing laws to protect the unique fauna and flora of the Galápagos Islands. There were plans to hold a workshop for fundraising for rat eradication on Santiago in April 2007¹⁰. There are proposals to protect more marine key biodiversity areas within the Galápagos Marine Reserve by amending the existing marine zoning scheme to reduce the impact from fishing¹⁶. The wind turbine development includes a series of mitigation and enhancement measures that will be instituted during implementation, many focusing on the petrel, and it intended that these measures will not only act to minimise impacts but may actually help increase the population. A long-term monitoring programme is included as part of the project activity and ongoing operations¹⁷. Conservation Actions Proposed Monitor breeding success under various predator control regimes to determine most appropriate management². Continue searching for nesting grounds in agricultural areas which are not protected through the park system on Santa Cruz and Isabela¹⁸. Conduct a full census for the species as the last comprehensive surveys were in the 1980s and late 1990s (not complete). Ensure wind-power plants are situated so that they do not affect nesting areas or sites with Miconia, and that power lines are buried to prevent aerial collisions as the birds return to their colonies at night. Implement a post-construction monitoring program on San Cristóbal to assess long-term effects of the turbines²³. Determine potential effects of long-line fishing in the Galápagos Marine Reserve and elsewhere in the eastern Pacific and assess how to avoid them. Create an education program in the agricultural areas to motivate local conservation groups in areas outside of the park¹⁸. Conduct a Galapagos Petrel pride campaign with the Galapagos National Park¹⁸. Create a Species Action Plan involving local stakeholders¹⁸. Conduct rodent control campaigns around colonies on San Cristóbal²². Remove invasive plants such as blackberry and guava and reforest with native plants, particularly Miconia robinsoniana²².

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
CMS Appendix I. In 1982, predator control commenced in the Cerro Pajas colony (c.2,000 pairs), Floreana⁶. Predator control involving intensive rat baiting around known colonies and petrel monitoring currently continues on Floreana, Santa Cruz and Santiago⁹. In early 2009, it was confirmed that goats have been successfully eradicated from Santiago²⁰. A small number of burrows have recently been discovered on Alcedo, Isabela¹². The islands are a national park and, in 1979, were declared a World Heritage Site. World Heritage Site designation encourages Ecuador to work carefully to enact suitable conservation laws and implement existing laws to protect the unique fauna and flora of the Galápagos Islands. There were plans to hold a workshop for fundraising for rat eradication on Santiago in April 2007¹⁰. There are proposals to protect more marine key biodiversity areas within the Galápagos Marine Reserve by amending the existing marine zoning scheme to reduce the impact from fishing¹⁶. The wind turbine development includes a series of mitigation and enhancement measures that will be instituted during implementation, many focusing on the petrel, and it intended that these measures will not only act to minimise impacts but may actually help increase the population. A long-term monitoring programme is included as part of the project activity and ongoing operations¹⁷.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Monitor breeding success under various predator control regimes to determine most appropriate management². Continue searching for nesting grounds in agricultural areas which are not protected through the park system on Santa Cruz and Isabela¹⁸. Conduct a full census for the species as the last comprehensive surveys were in the 1980s and late 1990s (not complete). Ensure wind-power plants are situated so that they do not affect nesting areas or sites with Miconia, and that power lines are buried to prevent aerial collisions as the birds return to their colonies at night. Implement a post-construction monitoring program on San Cristóbal to assess long-term effects of the turbines²³. Determine potential effects of long-line fishing in the Galápagos Marine Reserve and elsewhere in the eastern Pacific and assess how to avoid them. Create an education program in the agricultural areas to motivate local conservation groups in areas outside of the park¹⁸. Conduct a Galapagos Petrel pride campaign with the Galapagos National Park¹⁸. Create a Species Action Plan involving local stakeholders¹⁸. Conduct rodent control campaigns around colonies on San Cristóbal²². Remove invasive plants such as blackberry and guava and reforest with native plants, particularly Miconia robinsoniana²².

Citation:	BirdLife International 2010. Pterodroma phaeopygia. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 04 February 2012.
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