Above Picture:  The Grey-headed Albatross infographic co-published by ACAP and the Australian Antarctic Division

In support of World Albatross Day on 19 June 2021 the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP) released three infographics for the Critically Endangered Tristan Albatross Diomedea dabbenena, the Critically Endangered Waved Albatross Phoebastria irrorata and the Vulnerable Wandering Albatross D. exulans.  The last species, which breeds on Marion Island where it is at risk to the introduced mice, was co-published with the Mouse-Free Marion (MFM) Project, with the support of the NGO, BirdLife South Africa.  All three infographics were designed and illustrated by Namasri ‘Namo’ Niumim.

Two more infographics in the growing series have now been produced this year for the Endangered Grey-headed Albatross Thalassarche chrysostoma and Australia’s Near Threatened Shy Albatross T. cauta (click here).  They have been co-published with and sponsored by the Australian Antarctic Division.  The Grey-headed Albatross, like the Wandering, is a Marion Island breeder whose chicks are attacked and scalped by mice, leading to a reduction in breeding success, as illustrated by the infographic, which also mentions the MFM Project’s aim to eradicate the island’s mice in 2024.

The Wandering Albatross infographic co-published by ACAP and the Mouse-Free Marion Project

 

The vision of ACAP is, in time, to produce infographics for all 31 ACAP-listed species; efforts are currently being directed at producing infographics for the 22 species of albatrosses, primarily in support of future World Albatross Days.  Towards this, the MFM Project is once more collaborating with ACAP to produce an infographic; this time for the Endangered Sooty Albatross Phoebetria fusca, intended to be released to mark World Albatross Day 2022 on 19 June.  As for Grey-headed and Wandering Albatrosses, the Sooty Albatross also falls prey to Marion Island’s ‘killer’ mice.

With thanks to the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels and the Australian Antarctic Division.

John Cooper, Mouse-Free Marion News Correspondent, 24 May 2022