Life on the Edge

Sooty Albatrosses (or 'Peeoos' to the Tristanians).....slightly manic looking or stunning? I definitely think the latter. Actually, perhaps a combination of the two. It is estimated that Gough is home to around 5,000 pairs of sootys which equates to about a third of the global population; this makes the island the most important site for the species in the world!

A very striking profile (© David Kinchin-Smith)

On Gough the sootys nest on the sea cliffs and inland crags up to heights of 400-500m. On Tristan they can be found nesting well above 1000m! Each year the pairs nesting along the sea cliffs to the south of base are monitored for productivity, and this year I’m very fortunate to be continuing this research. Nests are remarkable structures, constructed with the bill and resembling a muddy chimney pot. Pairs of birds are highly affectionate, knocking their bills together and preening each other on a regular basis. Paired birds will also fly alongside, matching the other’s movements in perfect synchrony. It is possible to see the birds watching each other very closely during these beautiful flights in order to mirror each other exactly.

Pairs flying in perfect synchrony (© David Kinchin-Smith)

Sootys on Gough are busy incubating for now and they will continue to do so until sometime in the middle of December when hatching begins. A single egg is laid in October and it is incubated for around 10 weeks, with parents sharing the responsibility; adults may have shifts lasting close to two weeks whilst the other bird heads out to sea to feed up. At the moment I am visiting my nests each week and I record which bird is incubating (as they possess a unique number on a leg ring) and if there have been any nest failures. December is going to be very exciting month when chicks start appearing!

A monitored nest and what a view! (© David Kinchin-Smith)

Eggs now, chicks in December (© David Kinchin-Smith)

Chicks will remain on their chimney pot nests for around 5 months, until they fledge in May. Fortunately, Sootys do not suffer from the horrendous mouse predation on Gough that the Tristan Albatrosses do. However, the species is Endangered, mainly from birds drowning from long-line fishing practices; they mistake baited hooks for live prey and are dragged under. A fairly hard-hitting statistic is that the population on Gough has halved in the last 30 years. But something is being done! Marine Protected Areas are going somewhere towards combating such declines, amongst other things. Please find out more at: https://acap.aq/

David

Reference.

Cuthbert, R. & Sommer, E. (2004) Gough Island Bird Monitoring Manual Research Report. Published by the RSPB Conservation Science Department - RSPB Research Report No. 5

Ryan, P. et al. (2007) Field Guide to the Animals and Plants of Tristan da Cunha and Gough Island