Pelecanoides garnotii

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	PELECANOIDIDAE

Scientific Name:

Pelecanoides garnotii

Species Authority:

(Lesson, 1828)

Common Name/s:

English

–

Peruvian Diving-petrel, Peruvian Diving Petrel, Peruvian Diving-Petrel

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Endangered B2ab(iii,v) ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2010

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

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

Contributor/s:

Howell, S., Brooke, M.

Justification:
This species has an extremely small occupied breeding range on four islands. All subpopulations are declining and some rapidly. It consequently qualifies as Endangered.

History:

2008	–	Endangered
2007	–	Endangered
2005	–	Endangered
2004	–	Endangered
2000	–	Endangered
1996	–	Endangered
1994	–	Endangered

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Pelecanoides garnotii formerly bred on offshore islands from Isla Lobos de Tierra, Peru, to Isla Chiloé, Chile. It was numerous (e.g. c.100,000 pairs, and perhaps more, on Isla Chañaral, Chile, in 1938⁷), but has declined significantly. In Peru, there were c.12,000-13,000 pairs on San Gallán and La Vieja Islands in 1995-1996⁴. This is considerably higher than the c.1,500 individuals estimated in the early 1990s, probably because of improved information rather than an actual increase. Two small colonies were found on Corcovado Island, Peru in 2005, extending the current breeding distriubtion c.700 km north of La Vieja, its main breeding centre⁹. A colony may also be present again on the Lobos de Afuera Islands where two individuals were sighted in 2003 and 2004¹¹. In Chile, 220 nests were found on Isla Pan de Azúcar in the late 1980s, where 500+ were seen offshore in November 1993³, and 300 nests were reported on Isla Choros in the late 1980s, which had increased to an estimated 1,550 active nests in 2001-2003⁸. It has been recorded throughout the year near Isla Chañaral, and may still breed there or on small islands to the south⁷.
Countries:	Native: Chile; Peru; United States Present - origin uncertain: Ecuador
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	In Peru, there were c.12,000-13,000 pairs on San Gallán and La Vieja Islands in 1995-1996 Jahncke and Goya (1998); these numbers are supplemented by additional, though small, colonies off Chile.
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Population:

In Peru, there were c.12,000-13,000 pairs on San Gallán and La Vieja Islands in 1995-1996 Jahncke and Goya (1998); these numbers are supplemented by additional, though small, colonies off Chile.

Population Trend:

Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It excavates deep burrows in thick guano for nesting, but may also burrow in sandy soils or use natural rock-crevices. Breeding has been recorded throughout the year^4,6, with least activity in November. There are two breeding periods, with some evidence that individual birds breed twice annually^2,4,6. In the non-breeding season, it occurs close to breeding islands in the rich upwelling waters of the Humboldt Current. In Peru, it feeds, even in heavily fished areas, on small crustaceans and small fish (mostly larvae)⁵. At La Vieja Island, Peru, Peruvian anchovy Engraulis ringens (33.9%), the small krill Euphausia mucronata (26.8%) and squat lobster Pleuroncodes monodon (24.3%) were the most important prey species¹⁰. High monthly variability in the main prey suggests an opportunistic feeding behaviour associated with prey avaliability¹⁰.
Systems:	Terrestrial; Marine

Habitat and Ecology:

It excavates deep burrows in thick guano for nesting, but may also burrow in sandy soils or use natural rock-crevices. Breeding has been recorded throughout the year^4,6, with least activity in November. There are two breeding periods, with some evidence that individual birds breed twice annually^2,4,6. In the non-breeding season, it occurs close to breeding islands in the rich upwelling waters of the Humboldt Current. In Peru, it feeds, even in heavily fished areas, on small crustaceans and small fish (mostly larvae)⁵. At La Vieja Island, Peru, Peruvian anchovy Engraulis ringens (33.9%), the small krill Euphausia mucronata (26.8%) and squat lobster Pleuroncodes monodon (24.3%) were the most important prey species¹⁰. High monthly variability in the main prey suggests an opportunistic feeding behaviour associated with prey avaliability¹⁰.

Systems:

Terrestrial; Marine

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Guano extraction is probably responsible for the massive historical declines. La Vieja is still harvested every 5-7 years, when the species is also exploited for food, but extraction and hunting are probably most significant on San Gallán¹. It has been extirpated by introduced predators on Chañaral (foxes)⁷, and probably San Lorenzo and El Frontón (rats and cats)⁵. There are dogs on San Gallán and possibly rats on the Chilean breeding islands. Such predators probably prevent recolonisations. Heavy commercial fishing reduces food availability and causes mortality through incidental bycatch. These threats magnify the detrimental effects of natural predation and the increasingly frequent El Niño Southern Oscillation. At Choros, fishermen hunted European rabbits Oryctolagus cunniculus, usually by chasing them, potentially damaging burrows⁸. Disturbance from tourism and illegal landings is a problem at Choros⁸.

Major Threat(s):

Guano extraction is probably responsible for the massive historical declines. La Vieja is still harvested every 5-7 years, when the species is also exploited for food, but extraction and hunting are probably most significant on San Gallán¹. It has been extirpated by introduced predators on Chañaral (foxes)⁷, and probably San Lorenzo and El Frontón (rats and cats)⁵. There are dogs on San Gallán and possibly rats on the Chilean breeding islands. Such predators probably prevent recolonisations. Heavy commercial fishing reduces food availability and causes mortality through incidental bycatch. These threats magnify the detrimental effects of natural predation and the increasingly frequent El Niño Southern Oscillation. At Choros, fishermen hunted European rabbits Oryctolagus cunniculus, usually by chasing them, potentially damaging burrows⁸. Disturbance from tourism and illegal landings is a problem at Choros⁸.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway All colonies are in reserves but only La Vieja has trained guards⁵. There have been searches for additional colonies in Chile⁷. Conservation Actions Proposed Address the complex issue of guano extraction¹. Provide artificial burrows¹. Control predators on breeding islands. Survey islands close to Corcovado Island, Peru with similar characterisitics for breeding sites⁹. Establish permanent monitoring of the largest colony at La Vieja Island¹⁰.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
All colonies are in reserves but only La Vieja has trained guards⁵. There have been searches for additional colonies in Chile⁷.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Address the complex issue of guano extraction¹. Provide artificial burrows¹. Control predators on breeding islands. Survey islands close to Corcovado Island, Peru with similar characterisitics for breeding sites⁹. Establish permanent monitoring of the largest colony at La Vieja Island¹⁰.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2010. Pelecanoides garnotii. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 07 February 2012.
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