This thread is now closed. Please use the ALBATROSS NEWS ARTICLES 2 thread.

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WOW, the short tailed Albatross is very beautiful with it's yellow colouring.  Thank you for sharing this.

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CALIFORNIA SHORT-TAILED ALBATROSSES
    a summary at the turn of the 21st century

Calif Short-tail Albatross

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Hi Joanna, glad to hear they are from your area.  This is great indeed.  Thank you for keeping us posted.

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This is god news!!! Again the word is spreading to help these beautiful birds.  Thank you for posting this!

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Monterey Bay Aquairum

http://www.mbayaq.org/cr/oceanissues/plastics_albatross/

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Thank you for sharing this!

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Mary,

I have always believed that "spreading the word" would be the savaltion for these birds and you are absolutley correct, the world is starting to take notice.

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You know Geoff, I was wondering if this is a sign of things to come? With more people, orgs. and depts. realizing the plight of the Albatross if this will bring around the numbers in their population.  I have noticed just with your posts and others more people around the world are starting to understand how endangered they really are! 

Thank you Geoff for posting these articles.  This brings great happiness to me to read postive news for the beautiful birds.

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The latest news on the campaign. Also news on Albatross Task Force and developments in albatross conservation.

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Uruguay now has its own Albatross Task Force Team

22 May 2008

The Albatross Task Force is lucky to have instructors Sebastián Jiménezand Martín Abreu based in Uruguay and the in-country coordination of Andrés Domingo.

Their work is mainly focused on the longline fleet, which targets swordfish, tuna and shark species off the coast of Uruguay. The Uruguayan waters are rich in nutrients from the freshwater discharges of the Rio de la Plata estuary and sit at the confluence of the warm Brazil Current and the cold Falklands-Malvinas current from the south.

Because of this influx of nutrients and mix of waters, the area is a huge feeding ground for several endangered and critically endangered species of seabird, including the spectacled petrel, yellow-nosed albatross and black-browed albatross.

Proyecto Albatros y Petreles - Uruguay has found a high level of mortality related with the the longline fishery, especially inside the Uruguayan Exclusive Economic Zone and the Albatross Task Force (ATF) instructors will be working with the captains and crew to reduce this mortality.

The longline fishery normally gives licenses to 12 vessels, all between 15 and 35 m total length. The ATF in Uruguay will also be working to investigate the mortality associated with trawl vessels that are known to be a cause of high seabird mortality in other fisheries.

The team work for Proyecto Albatros y Petreles - Uruguay (PAP) and in close collaboration with the National Programme of Observers Onboard the Tuna Fleet (programa Nacional de Observadores a Bordo de la Flota Atunera Uruguaya - PNOFA) of the Pelagic Resources Department (Departamento de Recursos Pelágicos) of the National Direction of Aquatic Resources (Dirección Nacional de Recursos Acuáticos).

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Pam, you could not have said it better. We are the worst enemy to the Albatross and to all wildlife.  Were just to ignorant to see it...

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Pam, you could not have said it better. We are the worst enemy to the Albatrossand to all wildlife.  Were just to ignorant to see it...

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An excellent (but AWFUL ) article!

5

What Have the Albatross Ever Done to Us

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Animals  (tags: albatross, north pacific gyre, plastic )

Lily
- 14 minutes ago - ethicsandanimals.com

For the past 60 years, our discarded water bottles and plastic junk have been collecting in this slow moving vortex. While some of it was cargo dumped or lost off boats, much of it comes from land, from municipal water systems that make it out to the ocea

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hot!!!  |  add a comment  |  visit site  |  problem?

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Dear all

Another month... another series of exciting developments to Save the Albatross. Maybe I've already used that opener, but it's true so let's go with it for now!

Early in the month I returned to the UK for a week to spend some time with the campaign team. This coincided with the April 1 launch of the Albatross Task Force (ATF) team in Namibia, which went off brilliantly, with a workshop on coastal/marine conservation issues being held in Swakopmund (this is where the team members, John and Melba, are based).

Working closely with Namibian Nature Foundation (NNF), one of our key ATF partners in Namibia, we had the opportunity to give two presentations on our work, which was the perfect way to arrive!

Oli Yates (ATF Coordinator) who was there came back with glowing reports about the new team and our partners NNF and the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources. So, after a lot of ground work to get things up and going in Namibia, it's great to be fully operational in the important longline and trawl fisheries that work the Benguela Current. It's one of the key regions for albatross and petrel bycatch and conservation.

Check out the following BirdLife/WWF report to get a flavour of the issues in the region: http://panda.org/about_wwf/what_we_do/species/publications/index.cfm?uNewsID=99180

Since getting back from the UK, I've been flat out working on the National Plan Of Action - Seabird Best Practice Guidelines in preparation for the UN Food and Agriculture Organization Expert Consultation, which is confirmed for September 2008. Things are progressing on this front and we think we have an opportunity to take some big steps to strengthening bycatch reduction measures in both longline and trawl fisheries.

To all in the north, enjoy the beginnings of summer and to my fellow antipodeans, batten down the hatches for winter!

Cheers

Ben Sullivan

Dr. Ben Sullivan, BirdLife Global Seabird Programme Coordinator

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So Argentina is fnally getting it together. This is good news. I feel so sad for those beautiful birds that are caught in the nets. I thought these terrible bottom trawls were banned! I was wrong.  I can't imagine how many more souls are killed in these things that live under ther water!  At least there is finally a voice now in the area and hopefully not too late. 

Thanks Geoff. 

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Leo Tamini's diary

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23 April 2008

Award-winning wildlife photographer Akos Hivekovics has launched a new project to raise awareness and funds for albatross conservation through a wildlife photography book.

All profits from the book, Antarctica Through a Photographer's Eyes, will go directly to the Save the Albatross campaign.

The stunning book includes images of the wildlife of the Antarctic and images of the spectacular landscapes there. It costs 99 US dollars plus shipping fees.

Akos recently received Hungary's photographer of the year award and has won first place in the BBC's 'behaviour of birds' category. Ben Sullivan, BirdLife's Global Seabird Programme Co-ordinator, has provided the foreword.

The book serves as a unique reminder of one of the earth's most untouched areas and the importance behind conserving these lands. For those who have managed a trip to this spectacular continent, it also makes a perfect souvenir or gift.

To date, Bioszfera has donated over 6,000 US dollars to the Save the Albatross Campaign.

There will be a very limited edition of this special book, which is only available for order until 15 May, so be quick to secure your copy. To order your book, go to http://www.hivekovics.com and click on 'Conservation Fund'.

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WOW!! Namibia getting it's own task force. This is great! It's really good to know more areas are being covered fort he birds. And it's a long time coming for sure.

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The latest news on the campaign.

Namibia, here we come

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Great news elena! And most appropriate to. "Spreading It's Wings". I truly hope they will teach all far and wide the importance of saving this beautiful species.

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A stencilled military sign warns that anyone too obviously intoxicated will be refused service.

Another notice, overlooking the sea, recalls how Midway, just a hundred miles or so east of the International Date Line, used to be the last to host a service on Easter Sundays.

Conflict zone

This island is still shaped by its role in conflict.

Two large guns flank a memorial to the epic battle in 1942 in the waters nearby when Japan's superior fleet was suddenly, crushingly stopped in its tracks - a turning point in the entire war.

In those times, Midway was a vital military asset. A channel was blasted through the coral reef, the island was enlarged to carry a longer runway, and many of the birds were killed to keep the flight paths clear.

Now Matt Brown, deputy manager of the Midway Atoll Wildlife Refuge, says we are the guests on the birds' island.

When darkness falls, we're urged to keep the lights down because the petrels here are nocturnal and I've heard at least one of the confused birds slam into a brightly-lit window.

The albatrosses are settling for the night now, and everyone is careful to avoid them.

But from beyond these shores, mankind is the source of a very modern threat to these birds - plastic waste surging in with the tide.

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On the face of it this might look off topic but read on--

Our environment correspondent David Shukman is on the remote Pacific island of Midway to report on the threat of plastic rubbish drifting in the ocean.

Plastic debris collects around the island, scene of a seminal World War II battle, with serious consequences for its wildlife. David will be reporting on the issue this week for the BBC website, radio and TV.

WEDNESDAY 26 MARCH - THE PLASTIC LEGACY

Anyone missing this little toy, some kind of futuristic space warrior? I found it on a beach during a clean-up operation.

On an island far, far away...

New 'battle of Midway'

It has a lot of miles under its belt - it must have travelled across a great tract of the Pacific Ocean to get here.

How do I know? Well, for one thing there are no children on Midway and haven't been for years.

Also, it was buried amid a vast tangle of fishing nets, bottles, computers, crates and baskets, all of which had drifted here on one of the world's great ocean currents, the North Pacific Gyre.

Like something out of the film Toy Story, this little figure must have spent months at sea, surviving storms and maybe even being swallowed by an albatross and fed to a chick that then died.

Who knows? Maybe a child dropped it overboard during a holiday cruise. Or it was chucked into the rubbish and somehow got swept into the sea.

Maybe a household in Japan or California was having a spring-clean and, with the children growing up, the toys were no longer wanted.

Any ideas? Please let me know.

We talk about "throwing away" but in reality "away" can mean a place like Midway.

And the cost is grisly. The island is littered with the bodies of albatrosses that haven't made it. Their stomachs are brimming with plastic.

Brightly coloured, and similarly shaped to the birds' much-loved diet of squid, the tiny plastic items we use every day often prove lethal.

Disposable cigarette lighters are a favourite. Without even trying too hard, we collected 62 in a short stroll along the shore littered with dead birds.

I'm not a smoker so I don't know how long those lighters last before the fuel runs out. A week or two? Well, their legacy is far, far longer.

Midway is stunningly beautiful and about as remote as you can get. But look more closely at what's lying in the sand and the outside world feels very close indeed.

TUESDAY MARCH 25 - LULLABY OF BIRDS' LAND

You could set a great thriller on Midway; Hitchcock would have loved it.

Chicks and adult birds live among the relics of World War II

Incredibly isolated, thousands of miles from the nearest continent, this precious but tiny speck of land not only carries eerie reminders of the horrible costs of war, but also there's one life-form that clearly dominates - the bird.

Count the Laysan albatrosses, for example, and you reach nearly two million.

By contrast, count the human beings here and you don't get much past 60 or 70.

My arrival, with producer Mark Georgiou and cameraman Rob Magee, has added three more.

Everywhere we go, we are massively outnumbered. There are albatrosses on every patch of grass, in every gap in the concrete laid in World War Two, even in the dusty potholes of the roads.

No surprise, but when the wind drops the air is heavy with a mild but unmistakeable whiff.

Spice of life

The sounds of Midway are more welcome. In addition to the whistling and cries, there's a loud rattling as the adolescent albatrosses clatter their beaks in play.

It's a wonderful avian concert - though, being totally frank, to have any chance of sleeping through the rising volume of dawn I do need ear-plugs.

We humans are quiet by comparison. Apart from the weekly flight from Honolulu, there's only the odd rumble of the golf-buggies used to get around and the occasional crackle of a walkie-talkie.

Life here is gently paced, and exceptionally friendly.

The US Fish and Wildlife Service runs things - long gone are the more muscular military days.

Albatrosses outnumber humans on the island of Midway

Now, no one passes without a wave or greeting.

We stay in the old officers' quarters in a Cold War building, clean if austere, and our footsteps echo in the long whitewashed corridors.

Up a short path is a canteen where Thai contract staff serve up three good meals a day. The head chef, Pong, urges me to try his spicy soups.

A little bar overlooking a beach opens most evenings.

Sunday night is bowling night in an alley left by the US Navy when it pulled out in the 1990s

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Noted.

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Some say it all starts with the kids.  And the fact that they are learning this in school says a lot.  It's nice to hear good news about what the school's are teaching the kids and what they are doing in the process of learning.

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Dame Ellen helps schoolchildren learn about the albatross

10 March 2008

Dame Ellen MacArthur, the Royal Navy and the University of Portsmouth are joining forces to make lessons for 7-11 year-olds more fun this week, with a series of lesson plans all about albatrosses.

This week, 7-16 March, is National Science and Engineering Week. Pupils will get the opportunity to find out about Antarctica and albatrosses in a series of easy-to-use, downloadable worksheets as part of the project named Big Freeze: Science From Antarctica.

The RSPB, the UK BirdLife International Partner of the Save the Albatross Campaign, is delighted that the albatross features so strongly in the lessons plans. It is a great opportunity for schoolchildren to learn about the amazing albatross which lives in the extreme environment of the Antarctic.

Dame Ellen is an Honorary Royal Navy Reservist and is passionately committed to raising awareness of the plight of the albatross in Antarctica. In 2005, she visited the Antarctic with Dr Ben Sullivan, BirdLife Global Seabird Programme Co-ordinator.

Dame Ellen said: 'I was lucky enough to spend time in Antarctica in 2005/2006. Spending time on Albatross Island was magical, and I felt hugely privileged to spend some time with these magnificent birds. It really made me aware that we need to work hard to save these graceful and incredible birds by raising awareness of the dangers of longline fishing.'

Pupils will get the chance to learn about the lifecycle of the albatross, the threats they now face, what the Save the Albatross Campaign is doing to help, and even get the chance to design their own albatross awareness campaign.

Download the albatross lesson plans and find out more about The Big Freeze

Read Dame Ellen MacArthur's diary of her time with albatrosses in the Antarctic

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It looks like 2008 is going to be just as mad as last year, which is good news... I guess!

Since our last update, I am pleased to announce that the Albatross Task Force (ATF) expansions that we have been planning for some time have all come together as planned, with new teams started in Uruguay in December, Argentina in January and just last week, two instructors were recruited in Namibia and will start work in April.

This has only been possible thanks to our in-country partners, so a special thanks to Proyecto Albatros y Petreles de Uruguay and Aves Uruguay, Aves Argentinas, the Namibian Nature Foundation and the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (Namibia). We look forward to working with them all.

On the mitigation research front, we are in the process of agreeing terms with a vessel owner in South Africa to conduct at-sea trials to test the effectiveness of Safe lead, which, as many of you will know, is a new mitigation measure developed by the Global Seabird Programme and Fishtek to increase the uptake of line weighting on pelagic longliners. Watch this space for results of these trials in May/June.

In September 2007, we appointed Oli Yates as ATF Coordinator, based in Chile. The entire ATF team has been working to establish new communication systems between each team, aimed at improving our effectiveness by exchanging skills and experiences.

We are also well on the way to finalising common data collection protocols across the teams which will facilitate a centralised database, which has been our goal since the start of the ATF.

As we speak, I am in the process of putting the final touches on a summary report of the progress of the ATF in 2007, and our objectives and challenges for 2008 and beyond, so next month I will provide you with a link where you can download the report.

In 2007, we had had some great achievements and also identified some issues that need addressing in the coming years - all part of the process. But in summary, the first full year of the ATF has been exciting and challenging and I am confident that we are meeting our main objective: to reduce seabird bycatch and help to halt the decline of albatross and petrel populations.

Cheers

Ben

Dr. Ben Sullivan, BirdLife Global Seabird Programme Coordinator

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Sorry,Mary - this should do the trick!

http://www.care2.com/news/member/285806679/651203

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Can't seem to click it? Do you have another link? looks like another great post.

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Albatross supporters drop a line to save seabirds

26 February 2008

Albatross fans writing to the New Zealand government have helped achieve a major breakthrough in the fight to save globally-threatened seabirds.

Following the deaths of a number of large numbers of albatrosses accidentally killed in New Zealand fisheries, the RSPB asked its members to express their concerns to the New Zealand government requesting trawling and longline fishing industries to operate in more seabird-friendly ways.

Last week, Jim Anderton - the New Zealand fisheries minister - announced a package of measures to reduce the number of seabirds killed in the nation's fisheries.

Minister Anderton had become reportedly 'frustrated' by recent incidents involving fishing crews ignoring voluntary codes of practice to protect seabirds, he also acknowledged that input from the public and sector groups, including the RSPB, had been useful in helping him decide about the most effective regulatory measures. Over 100 letters from members of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds contributed to these submissions.

The RSPB is the UK partner of BirdLife International and Forest & Bird is the BirdLife International partner in New Zealand. BirdLife International - which leads the Global Seabird Programme - Forest & Bird, and the RSPB have welcomed the major suite of regulations.

Over half of the world's 22 albatross species breed in New Zealand - recognised as the albatross capital of the world. Bycatch of albatrosses and petrels in trawl and longline fisheries is a major threat to these species, as they are attracted to fishing vessels to feed on scraps and discards, and can be hooked or tangled in nets and drown.

'We are delighted that New Zealand is bringing its fishing practice into line with internationally-recognised best practice. The New Zealand Minister of Fisheries should be congratulated on his decision,' said Professor John Croxall, head of the BirdLife Global Seabird Programme.

'The measures announced today strike at the heart of the problem, limiting waste discharge, and reducing the time that fishing hooks are accessible to birds by requiring them to be weighted and sink faster, or requiring them to be set at night when birds can't see them.'

The measures will come at little additional cost to the many good fishers who currently make great efforts to avoid seabird captures.

Recent examples of significant bycatch incidents have shown that a few poor operators can be responsible for the deaths of many seabirds facing extinction. In two recent examples, two longline vessels caught 51 Antipodean albatrosses, and 12 Chatham albatrosses. The Chatham albatross is one of the world's most imperiled seabirds.

BirdLife Global Seabird programme scientist Dr Susan Waugh, based at Forest & Bird, the BirdLife International Partner in New Zealand, praised the efforts of the New Zealand government in introducing these measures into regulation. She said: 'It is encouraging to see that these measures are being taken up in New Zealand, where the potential for the fishing mortality to adversely affect the global status of seabird species is so great.

'The work of the BirdLife Global Seabird Programme across fishing nations and in International Fisheries Commissions has identified streamer lines, line weighting, night setting and offal management as among the most effective measures known.'

Each year it is estimated that around 5,500 seabirds are caught in New Zealand trawl and longline fisheries, although the number of birds killed may be higher, as scientific observers do not monitor many fisheries, and a proportion of birds are injured or killed and are not recovered on vessels. Around 900 - 1,500 albatrosses are killed annually in New Zealand deepwater trawl fisheries for hoki and squid.

The Global Seabird Programme Coordinator, Dr Ben Sullivan, said the work of the programme and BirdLife Partners is achieving important conservation gains, with greater awareness among fishers of the need to fish with seabird conservation in mind. 'Experience shows that voluntary measures don't work at reducing seabird deaths, and we're enthusiastic about what New Zealand is putting in place to protect its vulnerable seabirds.'

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Dear all

2007 has been amazing! We've been recruiting more Albatross Task Force staff and made progress in securing stronger protection for albatrosses. In fact, I'm returning to the office after some weeks on the road.

I'm happy to say that recently we have seen positive signs for the future. These are keeping us very busy as always. October started with a week-long meeting of the CCAMLR (Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources) Working Group on reducing albatross deaths.

With the exception of two sub-areas on the Indian Ocean where considerable effort is still required to reduce seabird bycatch (accidental deaths), all other longline fisheries had a bycatch of zero petrels and albatrosses. This is the result of outstanding effort by CCAMLR member states, and a shining example of what can be achieved with the right combination of political willpower and technical expertise.

The task now is to share the relevant lessons from CCAMLR and take them to other Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs) to achieve similar progress in the high-seas tuna and swordfish fisheries.

Following on from this, we had the biennial meeting of the BirdLife Seabird Programme. It was extremely inspiring to get a complete picture of the work that all the BirdLife Partners are doing to help seabird conservation.

The scope of the programme has expanded dramatically in the last 2-3 years. The core team has made very significant progress on seabird bycatch issues particularly in the context of the Albatross Task Force, and efforts to influence national fisheries management policy and regulations and national positions at RFMO meetings.

It was also fantastic to see the developments of the identification of marine Important Bird Areas (IBAs) in Europe, New Zealand and South America. Marine IBAs are one of the rapidly expanding stands of work for the Global Seabird Programme and will play an important role in the identification on Marine Protected Areas.

After much cajoling and a few unscheduled delays, I am pleased to announce that Oli Yates has now officially started work as the Co-ordinator of the Albatross Task Force. Oli is based in La Serena, Chile, and will greatly increase our ability to provide you with updates and information on the progress of the Task Force.

November saw the recruitment of a third member to the South African Albatross Task Force (ATF) team. Themba Nkuna will be supporting Barry Watkins and Meidad Goren and has already undertaken a training trip at sea.

In late November, the Atlantic tuna commission (ICCAT, which manages the tuna and swordfish fisheries in the Atlantic), began to require longline vessels in the South Atlantic to use seabird bycatch mitigation measures.

The Global Seabird Programme has been working with ICCAT over the last two years on seabird bycatch issues, and this represents a significant step towards reducing bycatch of albatrosses and petrels in the South Atlantic.

All tuna longline vessels are now required to use a tori (bird-scaring) line when fishing south of 20 degrees south - this is the area overlapping with albatross distribution. All swordfish vessels must set their lines at night and use weights on the line to make the lines sink more quickly, taking them out of reach of the birds.

These measures will be reviewed and - we hope - strengthened further, following results from the ongoing ICCAT seabird assessment, which BirdLife is involved with. We welcome this as a first step towards reducing seabird bycatch but would like to see more stringent measures adopted in the future.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Thank you for the support you've shown this year.

Cheers Ben

Dr. Ben Sullivan, BirdLife Global Seabird Programme Coordinator

Visit http://www.savethealbatross.net to find out more about the latest news.

If you want a quick and easy way to help, please forward this e-mail to your friends, family and colleagues.

Pass the message on - Save the Albatross!

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The latest news on the campaign.

6 December 2007

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Great article!!!

http://www.wildlifefoundation.info/Albatross.html

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I have raised a seperate thread for this but I'll put the link here incase anyone hasd missed it. If you haven't sent your email yet please do so now!

 http://www.rspb.org.uk/supporting/campaigns/campaignwithus/current/bycatch_regulation.asp

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The third issue of Sea Change, the newsletter of the Global Seabird Programme, is now available.

Since the last issue in July 2006, the project has moved on in leaps and bounds.

The Albatross Task Force (ATF) has expanded to eight members, three in South Africa, two in Brazil and three in Chile. It is expected that the ATF will continue expanding, into Uruguay, Argentina and Namibia in the near future.

Advocacy work with the major Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMO) responsible for the high seas pelagic longline fleets is showing dividends.

Representatives of the Programme have participated in the Commission meetings of the five major tuna fishing RFMOs. Progress is often slow and laborious but changes are slowly being implemented, resulting in improvements to the seabird mitigation measures employed in these fisheries.

Partner News brings a mixed bag this issue. Socieadade Portuguesa para o Estuda das Aves (SPEA), Sociedad Española de Ornitologia (SEO) and BirdLife Malta are all working on innovative projects to investigate shearwater distributions and evaluate the impact of interactions with fisheries. Falklands Conservation continue to reduce seabird bycatch in South Atlantic fisheries.

However, it's not all good news. Several incidents of high albatross bycatch have occurred in New Zealand waters over recent months. Importantly, these incidents were reported and BirdLife partner, Forest and Bird, are currently working with the government to tighten up the regulations.

Download a PDF (536 kb) of Sea Change. Get Adobe Reader if you don't have it already.

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Issue date: 24 Oct 2007
Number: 18/2007

An international team of scientists has overturned an ecological study on how some animals search for food. Previously it was believed that wandering albatrosses and other species forage using a Lévy flight strategy - a cluster of short moves connected by infrequent longer ones. Published this week in the journal Nature, the team discovered that further analyses and new data tell a different story for the albatrosses and possibly for other species too.

Biologists and physicists identified 'Lévy flights', named after the French mathematician Paul Lévy, as an efficient way for animals to search for sparse food. They have been attributed to a wide range of organisms, including zooplankton, grey seals, spider monkeys and even Peruvian fisherman.

The wandering albatross does not perform Levy flights as originally thought

The first attempt to demonstrate their existence in a natural biological system suggested that wandering albatrosses perform Lévy flights when searching for prey on the ocean surface - a finding followed by similar inferences about the search strategies of deer and bumblebees. However, this research shows this is not the case. Based on new high-resolution data collected from loggers attached to the legs of wandering albatrosses on the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia, the team show that the previous claims about the Lévy flight behaviour were unfounded. They also re-analysed the existing data sets for deer and bumblebees using new statistical methods, again finding that none exhibits evidence of Lévy flights.

"It now seems the albatrosses come across food at simpler random intervals", says lead author Dr Andrew Edwards from British Antarctic Survey (now at Fisheries and Oceans Canada). "Our work also questions whether other animals thought to exhibit Lévy flights really do all forage in the same way."

This research improves scientists' understanding of the foraging behaviour of the wandering albatross - an endangered species. It may also help develop a new theory for how animals forage - an essential piece in the wider ecological jigsaw puzzle.

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Shy Albatross in California i know this artical is from 1999 yet good reading..

Calif Short-tail Albatross

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This is a PDF file. Downoad it from here to a folder on your computer and open it from there.

http://www.mediafire.com/?2xnemxdtybv

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Thanks to Clare for these great links

http://www.albatross.org.nz/colony.htm

http://www.kcc.org.nz/birds/albatross.asp

http://www.oceanwings.co.nz/albatross/

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1 November 2007

Grandmother Barbara Kemp has taken to the skies above the South Downs to help raise money for albatross conservation.

Barbara, 84, from West Sussex, is the first person to take part in the RSPB's gliding challenge, in which members of the public raise at least £250 in sponsorship to help the charity's national and international work, and in return get to take controls of a glider high over the RSPB's Pulborough Brooks nature reserve.

Barbara raised the money by dog-sitting for her neighbours. She said: 'I've always loved everything about planes and flying. It started when I was a young girl and I saw Amy Johnson - the first woman to fly solo to Australia - in her Gypsy Moth at an air show.

'As a girl, I used to help my friend's brothers with their gliders but I didn't get a chance to fly in one.

After the glider flight, which lasted 30 minutes at about 700 feet, Barbara said: 'It was exhilarating. I am assured that I flew the thing on my own for seven minutes, which is wonderful. I am shaken and stirred at the moment but it was well worth it.'

Kathy Flitton, the RSPB's Community Fundraising Officer in its South East England regional office said: 'We are thrilled that Barbara has risen to our challenge. Gliding is an amazingly liberating experience – you have to read the air through the wings, just as a bird does, and seek out thermals and updraughts to stay aloft.

'There is a clear connection between gliding and our massive international campaign to save one of the world's best natural gliders, the albatross, which soar over the world's oceans with barely a wing-flap.

'Around 100,000 albatrosses are currently killed each year by fishing practices which are driving them towards extinction, but it is through the efforts of people such as Barbara that we are able to put in place simple measures to protect them'.

If you live in south-east England, read more about our Gliding for Nature challenge.

Barbara's story is just one example of all the wonderful things you are doing all around the world to help albatrosses.

Feel inspired to do something? We've got plenty of ideas.

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Very interesting article --

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071024130445.htm

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I sincerely hope so, Mary. Campaign updates aren't that frequent but as soon as I receive them they will be posted here.

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The success of the Albatross Task Force and its projected expansion into Argentina, Uruguay and Namibia in the coming months has created the need for a dedicated Task Force co-ordinator. Oli Yates, an expatriate living in Chile, has been contracted to take up this post.

Throughout June, July and August representatives of the Save the Albatross Campaign attended the Scientific Committee meetings of four of the major tuna commissions. This allows us to directly influence the seabird mitigation measures used in these fisheries through the teams advocacy work.

The Save The Albatross Campaign featured prominently in the BBC's series Saving Planet Earth. A programme in the series was dedicated to the plight of the Falklands black-browed albatross and heavily featured the work of the Albatross Task Force in Brazil. Funds raised by the series will be ploughed back into the project.

The Australian and Tasmanian governments have agreed funding to eradicate rabbits, rats and mice from Macquarie Island. There are currently over 100,000 rabbits on the World Heritage site, causing erosion and loss of habitat, and endangering the small remaining populations of albatross such as the grey-headed albatross.

June saw the launch of The Albatross Task Force (ATF) in Chile. We now have three very experienced team members (one full time and two part time) working with Chilean fishermen to reduce seabird mortality in their fisheries. While in South America, Ben Sullivan met with BirdLife partners from Argentina and Uruguay to facilitate the expansion of the ATF into these countries.

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10 October 2007

" src="http://savethealbatross.net/img/the_latest/black_browed_chick.jpg" width="381" />

The RSPB and BirdLife International are pleased at the UK Government's decision to help fund a new job that will help albatross conservation.

The holder of the new position will coordinate the input of UK Overseas Territories into the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP), an international agreement that will help deliver the action required on land and at sea to save albatrosses and petrels.

The UK Overseas Territories are globally important areas for albatrosses. A third of the world's albatrosses nest in the UK Overseas Territories of the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and Tristan da Cunha. This includes 78 % of the world's black-browed albatross and 21 % of the wandering albatross populations.

The successful applicant will work for the UK's Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) but will be based in the Falkland Islands, where they will maintain close links with Overseas Territories.

'The post will ensure that the UK's obligations under ACAP are met and that the UK continues to play a leading role in albatross and petrel conservation', said Ben Sullivan, Coordinator of BirdLife's Global Seabird Programme.

For more information on the ACAP Coordinator post or to apply for the position, visit the JNCC website.

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Another month... another 8,000 birds killed!

I'm not sure what the impetus is for such a depressing start to this month's e-newsletter, but I guess it's due to a combination of things.

I was particularly concerned by the news coming from New Zealand last week that a single vessel was responsible for 36 albatross deaths, including 12 Critically Endangered Chatham albatrosses. This is clearly unacceptable, particularly in a country that has achieved so much innovation to reduce seabird by-catch.  Visit http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2007/09/chatham_albatross_slaughter.html for more information.

In addition to that, there have been some serious by-catch events by the foreign longline fleet operating in South Africa. The Albatross Task Force team of Meidad and Barry has been working with WWF and others and the fisheries management authorities to try and bring into force strict new regulations that will prevent such events.

This is a positive step, but it still requires enforcement to be an effective mechanism to tackle by-catch in one of the world's 'hotspots'.

As mentioned in last month's update, I am madly finalising preparations for the Global Seabird Partnership bi-annual Steering Committee meeting in mid-October; although it's a big task, this one is good fun.

In the second week of October, I will attend a week-long meeting of the working group of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) that oversees by-catch issues. Over the years, this group has helped the development of a suite of mitigation measures that has reduced seabird bycatch to zero across vast areas of the Southern Ocean.

This group - and CCAMLR generally - continues to lead the way not only in the technical knowledge required to make things work, but also in terms of the structures and processes required to turn knowledge into action.

A big part of reducing by-catch is securing the political will to make things happen! 'You can lead a horse to water, but can you make it drink?'

It's late in Australia, so until next month... that's all folks and thanks for tuning in!

Cheers

Ben

Dr. Ben Sullivan, BirdLife Global Seabird Programme Coordinator

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The latest news on the campaign. Also news on Albatross Task Force and developments in albatross conservation.

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Hi

Me again ... life has been a blur since my last update, there is so much happening, what country do I live in?  But, I can say that after two winters in a row (UK, then Tasmania) to have life warming up down here.. spring has arrived, is beautiful! 

I've been working with the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation to plan the Expert Consultation for best practice guidelines for National Plans of Action-Seabirds.  This is going really well and we have managed to secure further funding that has almost got over the line in terms of the money we need to make it happen.  More detail on this in late October when we should have things close to finalised. 

I have also been busy preparing an agenda and background documents for the bi-annual meeting of the Global Seabird Partnership (GSP) Steering Committee, which will be hosted by Birds Australia and held in mid-October in Melbourne. This is a really important opportunity for all the GSP partners to meet for a week and discuss the project's strategic development, wins and challenges and map out the future.  This time round we will have partners from Argentina, Australia, Portugal, Japan, New Zealand Taiwan, South Africa and the UK.

I have also been working closely with Esteban Frere (South American GSP Co-ordinator) to prepare for the fourth International Fishers Forum which will be held in Costa Rica in November (www.fishersforum.net).  The fishers forum is a very practically focused meeting that brings together fishermen with fisheries managers, government agencies, scientists and NGOs to exchange experiences and information to improve the sustainability of global fisheries, with a focus on reducing by-catch on non-target species. Although this was originally focused on seabird by-catch it has now grown to cover seabirds, turtles, sharks and marine mammals. This time around the meeting is focusing on artisinal fisheries (a type of fishing in which part of the catch is consumed by the fisher's family and the rest is sold locally). Esteban and I are running a seabird by-catch session that will look at cross over between artisinal fisheries in different countries so we can create information exchange between fishers and short-cut the steps required to reduce by-catch. We feel we have a good opportunity to deliver a real difference in a range of fisheries that are often overlooked and poorly understood in terms of their impact on non-target species, including seabirds.

That's all folks!

Ben

(Dr. Ben Sullivan, BirdLife Global Seabird Programme Coordinator)

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Good article on  albatross found in UK recently

http://www.burnham-on-sea.com/news/2007/albatros-brean-down-video-01-07-07.shtml

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16 August 2007

Meidad Goren, one of the first RSPB and BirdLife International Albatross Task Force (ATF) members, started work in South Africa in May last year. Since then, his diary readers have read about his rough sea trips, his efforts to make the fishing industry his ally to help the albatross, and his emotional feelings when repeatedly seeing beautiful albatrosses hauled up dead on deck.

It hasn't been in vain. A report produced this year shows what the Albatross Task Force in South Africa has achieved.

In South Africa, fishing permits are granted on the basis that certain seabird mitigation measures are put in place. For example: vessels should have a bird-scaring device (tori line); all birds and turtles caught alive on the haul should be released according to release instructions, and observers on board should bring back whole specimens of all seabirds killed during the longline fishing operations.

These measures were introduced approximately a decade ago. However, up until the commencement of the Albatross Task Force, compliance was extremely low.

Meidad works mainly with the pelagic longline fishing industry which fishes primarily for tuna and swordfish. In 2005, approximately, 5,000 seabirds were killed and only a handful of vessels had tori lines. This was predominantly due to poor awareness amongst fishermen who perceived the bycatch of seabirds to be too low to be of conservation concern. Also, there was a perception amongst some skippers that reporting of dead birds would result in a fine.

The new report shows that Meidad has visited over 17 vessels where he has spoken to fishermen and shown them how to use mitigation methods. He has given them all tori lines. They are using them and they are working. In Meidad's last sea trip, he said:

'Jose, the skipper, welcomed me with a big smile and a promise that we wouldn't catch any birds on this trip. I've heard these kind of promises before. But this time, Jose kept his promise and we returned back to shore with no dead albatrosses – which is always excellent'.

Meidad has also been running workshops and training courses for fishers, observers and compliance officers. He has attended every port, which the tuna and swordfish longline vessels use. He has helped collect data on how many birds are being caught. His research estimates that 0.34 birds are killed per 1,000 hooks in this industry.

Barry Watkins, another ATF worker in South Africa, has had similar success since beginning his work. He has been working with the trawling industry and the data collected has revealed how devastating this fishing method can be to albatross numbers.

In one year, 18,000 birds were found to have been killed. As a result, it is now mandatory for trawlers to use tori lines, which will greatly reduce the numbers of birds killed. Barry has produced an awareness brochure for the trawling industry and has so far distributed over 100 tori lines. He has also done preparation work for extending task force work into the Nambian fishing industry.

The challenges ahead are to meet the need for further education and awareness amongst the fishing industry. They will also be trying to enhance enforcement and encourage voluntary compliance.

Well done to the South African team!

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27 July 2007

Work has begun in Chile to work with fishermen to reduce albatross deaths in the swordfish industry. The swordfish fleet consists of around 17 vessels, which go to sea for a month at a time. It is estimated that these fleets set out 3.3 million fishing hooks each year.

Until now, very little work has been done with this industry. No studies or mitigation work with fishermen has been undertaken. However, there is circumstantial evidence that albatrosses are killed in this fishery, including black-browed and grey-headed albatrosses which breed in Chile.

The area is also used by non-breeding albatrosses from New Zealand, including northern and southern royal albatross, antipodean, Buller's, Chatham, Salvin's albatrosses, and also white-chinned petrels and wandering and grey-headed albatrosses from South Georgia.

The team

Professor Carlos Moreno is the head of the Chile Albatross Task Force. He has over thirty years experience in fisheries management. Since 2001, he and his team have been trying to reduce the seabird death rate in deep-sea (demersal) longline fisheries in Chile.

Through this work, the mortality of albatrosses and petrels has been reduced to almost zero. We are very pleased that he will be using his experience to work with the swordfish industry.

Humberto Flores is a fishing captain with experience in the Pacific and Atlantic Ocean. He has participated in research cruises to investigate swordfish biology and the testing of mitigation measures to prevent turtle deaths.

Rodrigo Vega is a fishery biologist and statistician. He has three years experience on board vessels of the European Community and Chilean industry that fish for swordfish. He has a passion for finding solutions to reduce albatross deaths within the swordfish industry.

Jorge Ruiz has a degree in veterinary medicine. He has worked in different wildlife research projects. He has drawing and painting abilities and has illustrated many books, posters and other publications. His role in the team will be to work with fishermen on shore and at sea. His scientific background, field experience, artistic abilities and knowledge of his native country will be used to prepare educational material for fishing crews.

What the Chile Task Force will be doing:

1. Working with and educating swordfish skippers - getting to know them personally and inviting them to courses.
2. Producing educational materials, so crews can identify albatross species and stimulate them to fulfil their legal responsibilities to protect seabirds.
3. Identifying and creating leaders and training observers within the fleet. These fishermen will develop and pass on their skills in reducing albatross deaths.

Welcome Chile, we look forward to hearing your stories. Be safe at sea!

Don't forget to check the field diary pages, where we will be adding our new Chile Task Force members' diaries soon.

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As for the vid Mary I'm afraid I haven't another venue. If I find out there is one I'll let you know. There have been a lot of arrests here over the attempted bombings and thank God noone was hurt. A number of the suspects are doctors!! I find that unbelievable too!

The irony of this is that one of the two who were arrested at Glasgow airport poured petrol over himself and is now in hospital with terrible burns. Now other doctors are fighting to save his life. There must be a moral in that somewhere!

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Hi Mary,

It is ok from here. I connected using the windows media player option and had no problems at all. Treat yourself to a weekend in the uk and watch it from this end LOL!!!

On second thoughts -with all the attempted Bombings this week you are better off staying where you are!

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Friends,

your wish is my command. Click below and then on the watch again link. Hope it works for you!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/savingplanetearth/albatross.shtml

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Thank you for the beautiful videos, Geoff and for sharing the BBC program with us.  As Mary stated..I too wish I could have watched it.  

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Thank you Geoff for letting us know.   It really is sad that more people are not aware of the plight of the beautiful Albatross.  I wish we had that show on here in Niagara FAlls I would have really liked to watch it.

And for the record, I don't think they are clumsy.  It is us our naked skin that is odd??

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For the benefit of those not living in the UK.

I watched the albatross programme on the BBC Planet Earth series last night. Carol Thatcher, the daughter of the former prime minister Margaret Thatcher hosted 30 mins of albatross  filled prime time television that can only have done lots of good for the campaign.

She visited the Falklands and explained what we already new-that one albatross dies every five minutes due to long line fishing--that the albatross only lays one egg and if one partner dies the chick is doomed.

Eventually time was alocated to the simple solutions  that have already been adopted by some of the fishermen in that area and it ended with a plea for donations.

My only criticism is that I personally did not think it showed the albatross to be the majestic bird we all know it is, instead giving large footage to the flocks of albatross at their breeding ground. A small point but one that may have caused a casual observer to switch over tho another channnel before seeing the real message. Pity they didn't show my vid LOL!!!

Having said that there must be thousands of people who until last night were blissfully unaware of the plight of these birds and for that alone we owe the BBC a big debt of gratitude.     

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An estimated 100,000 albatrosses die annually in the longline fishing industry, but recent research has highlighted that large numbers of albatrosses are also dying in trawl fisheries. In one recent study, 12,000 albatrosses are estimated to have died in the South African trawl fishery in one year.

As new threats for albatrosses emerge -heightening their risk of extinction- BirdLife International, in partnership with the RSPB (BirdLife in the UK) and working with collaborators across the world, are committing to raise £2 million over the next five years, doubling the capacity of its Albatross Task Force programme.

Albatross Task Force members crucially advise fishing crews on the simple and cost-effective ways to avoid catching albatrosses that steal bait from the longline hooks. Measures such as weighting the lines, so they sink more quickly, or attaching streamer (bird-scaring) lines to the stern of the vessels have proved highly effective and have gained international recognition.

In the trawl fisheries, research has shown that albatrosses, and other seabirds, can become entangled and drowned in fishing gear. A vital part of the Albatross Task Force's work is to encourage crews to use effective mitigation measures, such as the bird-scaring lines.

"...continued support for the Save the Albatross campaign is vital.” —Dr Ben Sullivan, BirdLife’s Global Seabird Programme Coordinator

Dr Ben Sullivan, BirdLife’s Global Seabird Programme Coordinator said:  “The Albatross Task Force members are doing incredible things working with the fishing industry in the Southern Hemisphere – advising and supporting mitigation techniques, raising awareness and ultimately, reducing seabird casualties.”

“But there are so many vessels and so many fisheries that we have yet to tackle, where seabirds are dying right this minute,” he said. “By expanding the programme we will be able to double the number of task force instructors and reach several new countries.”  

The expansion of the task force should benefit a number of albatross hotspots, especially those along the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of South America.

“To fully make the most of this expansion, continued support for the Save the Albatross campaign is vital,” finished Sullivan.

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opps, sorry just read the "for UK residents"

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Do you know what station this would be on Canadian Satellite?

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Albatrosses: on a television near you
We're delighted that albatrosses will be featured on the BBC's Saving Planet Earth series this month. Tune in to BBC One at 7 pm on 28 June to see a 30-minute programme highlighting their plight. Then, on 6 July at 7 pm, BBC One will screen a live fundraising event in aid of the conservation causes shown in the series.
How the Saving Planet Earth series will help albatrosses

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Consenting Albatrosses!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2XyDF4cdpA

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Please takem time to watch this albatross video. Unfortunately the commentary is not in English but it shows nature exactly as it is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXMdQJwjuWE

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Please take time to watch this wonderful albatross video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2XyDF4cdpA

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In response to some emails I have had regarding my Prince Charles post I would like to add the following. The Royal Family have and do remarkable work in aid of many charities. They are also great ambassadors for Great Britain. I am not anti-Royal but I am against any form of crueltly to animals.

Members of the Royal Family  shoot birds, and until recent legistation were actively involved in fox hunts. I rest my case.

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This would be fine apart from that we all know he and his cronies will then  go off for the weekend blowing innocent birds out of the sky in the name of sport! The word hypocrite comes to mind. No doubt I will end up in the tower of London for saying that but at my age I'm past caring!  

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I think that anyone who speaks about the planet or any thing relating to helping it great to Eliza. Thanks for posting!

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Here's a copy of the speech given by the  Prince of Wales for the RSPB Albatross Dinner.

 http://www.etoile.co.uk/Speech/050427POW.html

Why does everyone think Prince Charles is loopy because he speaks about the environmet, plants, etc.?!  I think he's

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Thanks very much for your kind comments. I have of course given permission for this. People all over the world are doing their bit to try to save these birds. All these little victories will one day  add up to the winning of the war against longlining.

What a wonderful day that will be and  thanks to each and every one of you for all you are doing to bring it closer.

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Geoff, that's fantastic.  Congratulations!

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OMG!!! Geoff this is wonderful Got for it!! Thank you for letting us know!

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Many of you will be aware that my albatross video has been on youtube for some time. Out of the blue I received the following email this morning

 Hi,
my name is Claire. I have choreographed a dance called Albatross Dreams for a modern dance company called Hurley & Dancers in Des Moines, Iowa. I was wondering if I could show some of your video in a performance we are having on May 24. I would like to talk about the threat of extinction and tell people what they can do to help protect this species. We are a non-profit, so the money earned for this performance will go to the cost of production and to pay the artists, but I could ask for donations to go to a fund of your choosing if you are interested. Let me know,
Thanks!

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Bless her heart. She is a true winner to me. A love can never die once in your heart or on your head.  Albie did very well. I'm very proud!!

Thank you for posting Geoff. I's nice to read happy news.

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30 April 2007

Albie ran his first marathon on Sunday 22 April and finished in 4 hours 25 minutes! Well, actually he was hitching a ride on the top of my hat, while I (Catherine Marriott, RSPB staff member) pounded round the London Marathon route in the heat of the day with 36,390 other runners.

That's one noticeable thing about 'the London', you are never alone. In fact, unless you are one of the elite runners, you are constantly avoiding the elbows and feet of the runners in your immediate vicinity and the hundreds of discarded water bottles and sports drink containers covering the road after each drinks station along the way.

So why the elaborate headgear? Three reasons, really:

1. My place in the marathon was courtesy of the RSPB Staff Association Running Club and I wanted to run in some sort of bird outfit

2. I wanted to be spotted amongst the thousands of other runners more easily (hello, Mum)

3. I have a soft spot for the Save The Albatross Campaign.

The weather forecast for race day dictated I should wear something that wasn't heavy or cumbersome. So, I tried to do something creative with the fluffy singing albatross I had recently purchased from the RSPB shop. I had the perfect platform for the bird, a cream-coloured Tilley hat which would also protect me from the sun. Add a shoelace and do a little needlework and hey presto.

No time to test the aerodynamics before the actual race but I felt sure it would be ok and I could always carry it if it was too awkward to wear. Albie did flop about somewhat but I kept the hat on for the duration, even when I ran through the very welcome cold showers provided along the course.

When the stop/start of the first couple of miles had eased into a slow jog and the crowd were able to see Albie, children squealed with laughter. All the way round I heard comments shouted from various quarters: some referred to seagulls, someone shouted penguin (?) and there were many shouts of 'come on, ducky'. However, a number of people did recognise the bird as an albatross.

Albie was obviously a crowd pleaser and attracted the interest of a media crew at about mile 21. I'm not sure what company it was for but I managed to babble something sensible into the microphone and flash my back to the camera, so they'd get a view of the A4 poster pinned to my vest showing an albatross picture with 'Save Me' and the website addresses of the Save The Albatross Campaign and the RSPB.

My favourite part of the marathon course is Tower Bridge, a world famous, scenic landmark and almost half way along the 26.2 miles route. Albie enjoyed it too; he ran the length of it with his wings outstretched, holding my raised hands. He also did this whenever he saw a TV camera and as he flew over the finishing line.

The calls of 'great hat!' continued as we made our way through the heaving mass of finishers to the bag collection, the family and friends meeting points, and even on the train home.

Albie completed his run without injury; I didn't do too badly either, just a couple of tender big toe nails rather than the thumping headache I anticipated. Albie is considering another marathon in September. Will this be the first spotting of an albatross on the slopes of the Jungfrau in Switzerland?

I ran with two other RSPB staff members and together raised awareness and money for bird conservation.

The RSPB is seeking more people to run in other events around the UK and we have booked places in the Great North Run and the Great South Run. To find out more, e-mail: communitymarketing@rspb.org.uk

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The latest news on the campaign. Also news on Albatross Task Force and developments in albatross conservation.

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I am well and truly back in the saddle since the last update.

The Global Seabird Programme has spent a lot of time preparing for two very important meetings in Feb and March. In early February the first joint meeting of the tuna RFMOs (Regional Fisheries Management Organisations) was held in Kobe, Japan. This provided us with an opportunity to talk about albatross deaths issues in a forum with all the key players responsible for managing high seas pelagic fisheries. We now need to work hard to turn some of these initiatives into concrete action that will save some birds!!

I'm writing this update from a hotel in Rome where I am attending the bi-annual United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Committee on Fisheries meeting (bit of a mouthful!). This is an important week, as the FAO is the body responsible for developing international fisheries policy, and successes made with this group of folk can have enormous impact. I've spent the last couple of months contacting key Member States of FAO.  I am trying to get their support for a BirdLife/RSPB proposal for a workshop that will give detailed information to longline and trawl fisheries about how to mitigate against albatross deaths. The issue of trawl fisheries is vitally important. Currently, mitigation is only required by longline fisheries, not trawl fisheries. This is a huge gap when it comes to seabird conservation.

But, the last month hasn't all been policy focused as I've been working with Fishtek, on the bait pod, which I've previously mentioned and also a new idea to make pelagic longline weights safe to use...which is critical because they are probably the single most important measure, if adopted correctly. But, due to health and safety concerns fishermen are loathed to use them. If this measure proves to be effective it could have a huge impact..so watch this space, and keep your eye on www.savethealbatross.net for a feature article on these developments.

Thanks for again for taking the time to keep up to date and I look forward to announcing some exciting Albatross Task Force news next month.

Cheers

Ben

(Dr. Ben Sullivan, BirdLife Global Seabird Programme Coordinator)

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This is the same news that Chris posted a few days ago  but I have put it here to keep all updates in the same place.

The latest news on the campaign. Also news on Albatross Task Force and developments in albatross conservation.

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The latest news on the campaign. Also news on Albatross Task Force and developments in albatross conservation.

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Model Jerry Hall's Albatross Wins the Big Bird Race:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/07/0713_040713_albatross.html

http://www.esri.com/news/arcnews/spring06articles/turning-the-tide.html

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