Pterodroma sandwichensis

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 sandwichensis

Species Authority:

(Ridgway, 1884)

Common Name/s:

English

–

Hawaiian Petrel

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Vulnerable B2ab(iv,v) ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2008

Assessor/s

BirdLife International

Evaluator/s:

Butchart, S. & Taylor, J. (BirdLife International Red List Authority)

Justification:
This species qualifies as Vulnerable because it has a very small breeding range. It is known from five locations in the main Hawaiian islands, and the future of at least two are in jeopardy (Mauna Loa and West Maui). Its limited distribution and declines primarily result from predation by introduced mammals and urbanisation.

History:

2007	–	Vulnerable
2006	–	Vulnerable
2004	–	Vulnerable
2000	–	Vulnerable
1994	–	Vulnerable
1988	–	Lower Risk/least concern

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Pterodroma sandwichensis ranges in the central Pacific and breeds on the Hawaiian Islands (USA), where a recent estimate, supported by pelagic surveys, put the total population at 19,000 including 4,500-5,000 pairs^1,10. On Maui, c.550 pairs nest in the Haleakala National Park¹. On Hawai`i, small numbers breed on Mauna Kea and 40-50 pairs were present on Mauna Loa prior to 1995^1,9. On Kaua`i, 1,600 pairs are indicated by observations of birds at a rafting site¹. On Lana`i, a breeding population may occur but has not been confirmed, while on Moloka`i, 5-10 birds were heard calling in 1980, suggesting small numbers⁹.
Countries:	Native: French Polynesia; United States Vagrant: Indonesia; Japan; Philippines
FAO Marine Fishing Areas:	Native: Pacific – eastern central
Range Map:	(click map to view full version)

Population [top]

Population:	Spear et al. (1995) give a best estimate of 3,750-4,500 breeding pairs based on at-sea surveys. However, the discovery of possibly several thousand birds breeding on Lâna`i during terrestrial surveys in 2006-2007 and two small colonies on West Maui (J. Penniman in litt. 2007), probably in the tens or low hundreds of birds (D. Ainley in litt. 2007), brings the estimated breeding population close to the upper estimate of 6,500-8,300 pairs calculated by Spear et al. (1995).
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Population:

Spear et al. (1995) give a best estimate of 3,750-4,500 breeding pairs based on at-sea surveys. However, the discovery of possibly several thousand birds breeding on Lâna`i during terrestrial surveys in 2006-2007 and two small colonies on West Maui (J. Penniman in litt. 2007), probably in the tens or low hundreds of birds (D. Ainley in litt. 2007), brings the estimated breeding population close to the upper estimate of 6,500-8,300 pairs calculated by Spear et al. (1995).

Population Trend:

Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	On Maui and Hawai`i, nesting takes place mainly between 2,000 and 3,000 m (lower elsewhere), on bare ground with sparse shrubs or ferns, or in native grasslands with bracken^1,3,9. Pairs build nests in cavities in the volcanic terrain or in burrows beneath rocks, and at lower altitudes excavate burrows or nest in cavities at the base of trees^3,9. The diet comprises fish, molluscs and crustaceans, with squid constituting c.50-75% of the food ingested⁹.
Systems:	Marine

Habitat and Ecology:

On Maui and Hawai`i, nesting takes place mainly between 2,000 and 3,000 m (lower elsewhere), on bare ground with sparse shrubs or ferns, or in native grasslands with bracken^1,3,9. Pairs build nests in cavities in the volcanic terrain or in burrows beneath rocks, and at lower altitudes excavate burrows or nest in cavities at the base of trees^3,9. The diet comprises fish, molluscs and crustaceans, with squid constituting c.50-75% of the food ingested⁹.

Systems:

Marine

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	The most serious threat is predation by introduced mammals including feral cats and small Indian mongoose Herpestes auropunctatus (although the latter is not yet established on Kaua`i or Lana`i). The population on Hawai`i is probably declining as a result, and the south-east Mauna Loa colony may soon be lost⁹. Fledglings occasionally become grounded after colliding with lights⁸. Mortality sometimes results from collisions with fences and powerlines^4,9.

Major Threat(s):

The most serious threat is predation by introduced mammals including feral cats and small Indian mongoose Herpestes auropunctatus (although the latter is not yet established on Kaua`i or Lana`i). The population on Hawai`i is probably declining as a result, and the south-east Mauna Loa colony may soon be lost⁹. Fledglings occasionally become grounded after colliding with lights⁸. Mortality sometimes results from collisions with fences and powerlines^4,9.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation actions underway: CMS Appendix I. On Maui, there is a long-term monitoring programme in the Haleakala National Park⁹ and efforts are made to control introduced mammals. On Maui and Kaua`i, grounded fledglings are collected and released, and fencing erected for forest conservation has been modified to reduce collisions⁹. On Kaua`i, street lighting is shielded in critical areas and lighting on some buildings has been modified to reduce collisions^2,9. Conservation actions proposed: Reduce collisions with powerlines by making them more visible, burying them or moving them further inland where birds fly higher^{4. Ensure lighting does not attract petrels2. Control predators in known colonies5 especially at the declining colony on Mauna Loa.}

Conservation Actions:

Conservation actions underway:

CMS Appendix I. On Maui, there is a long-term monitoring programme in the Haleakala National Park⁹ and efforts are made to control introduced mammals. On Maui and Kaua`i, grounded fledglings are collected and released, and fencing erected for forest conservation has been modified to reduce collisions⁹. On Kaua`i, street lighting is shielded in critical areas and lighting on some buildings has been modified to reduce collisions^2,9.

Conservation actions proposed:

Reduce collisions with powerlines by making them more visible, burying them or moving them further inland where birds fly higher^{4. Ensure lighting does not attract petrels2. Control predators in known colonies5 especially at the declining colony on Mauna Loa.}

Citation:	BirdLife International 2008. Pterodroma sandwichensis. In: IUCN 2010. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2010.1. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 18 March 2010.
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