not so Giant Petrels

Em and I have just returned from a trip to Low Hump on the South West side of the island. This is the home of our main study colony of Southern Giant Petrels. We’ve been visiting the colony every couple of weeks for the last few months to monitor the productivity of these nesting petrels.

As their name would suggest, Southern Giant Petrels are large. With some birds having wingspans of over 2m and big males weighing over 5kg, they are like stocky albatrosses. The bill must be one of the most impressive in the seabird world, as I hope the image below conveys.

What a bill! And eye! (David Kinchin-Smith)

Our adults returned to Gough in August. At Low Hump the birds nest amongst grassy tussocks, and often under bogferns and Phylica trees to shelter from the elements. The first eggs were discovered early in September and our first chicks towards the end of October. Incubation is shared by both adults and lasts around 8-9 weeks; shifts can sometimes be up to 10 days!

It’s a long walk to Low Hump, but we must visit fairly frequently in order to record both partners of a pair on the nest. Every adult is uniquely marked with a numbered ring, allowing us to identify individuals from year to year.

Rewarded with stunning views.....(David Kinchin-Smith)

.....and birds (David Kinchin-Smith) 

Almost all the eggs have now hatched in our study colony and our chicks will remain with us until around April when they fledge. Our nest checks this time brought the rather unusual sight of an adult brooding two chicks where previously there had been one. All we can think is that a chick from a nearby nest had been abandoned and has now been adopted by the super parent from nest 37!

Where there had previously been one..... (David Kinchin-Smith)

A larger chick, no longer brooded (David Kinchin-Smith)

Gough is likened to Jurassic Park, and our Giant Petrels certainly support that comparison. Ryan et al. (2007) describes the birds often having “fierce physical contests over food” where they may “charge with wings spread, neck and chin feathers raised and tail cocked and fanned to look as intimidating as possible”. For me, this behaviour combined with their remarkable rumbling call makes them Gough’s dinosaurs.

Southern Giant Petrels are another species that fall foul to long line fisheries, and are listed as Vulnerable because of it. They are an incredible, prehistoric seabird that we must protect; not to mention excellent parents!

Very attentive parents (David Kinchin-Smith)

David

Reference.

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