New colony of Europe’s rarest breeding bird discovered
A new colony of Europe’s rarest breeding bird, Zino’s Petrel Pterodroma madeira, has been found in the central mountains of the island of Madeira, Portugal. The colony, with 20 potential chicks and at least 9 occupied nests, is also potentially the largest for this Critically Endangered bird, which was previously thought to number only 20-30 individuals.
The colony was discovered in the Pico do Areeiro area of the Madeira Natural Park by the park authorities who have now closed off access to the breeding site until the exact size of the colony and potential risks from visitors are assessed. The site is located quite a distance from the only other three previously known colonies, all on inaccessible mountain ledges.
"This recent discovery reinforces the importance of the IBA for the conservation of this highly threatened species and moreover, it shows that more research is needed to protect the breeding grounds of the species." —Helder Costa, President, SPEA
Paulo Oliveira, head of the conservation division at the park said that he believes that further colonies may be found and that work was continuing to locate them.
The bird’s continued survival has been jeopardised by introduced black rats and feral cats, as well as humans, predating eggs and chicks, and by its habitat of well-vegetated ledges being reduced by grazing and trampling by goats and sheep.
The critically endangered Zino's Petrel Pterodroma madeira
T Maul/BirdLife International
A new colony of Europe’s rarest breeding bird, Zino’s Petrel Pterodroma madeira, has been found in the central mountains of the island of Madeira, Portugal. The colony, with 20 potential chicks and at least 9 occupied nests, is also potentially the largest for this Critically Endangered bird, which was previously thought to number only 20-30 individuals.
The colony was discovered in the Pico do Areeiro area of the Madeira Natural Park by the park authorities who have now closed off access to the breeding site until the exact size of the colony and potential risks from visitors are assessed. The site is located quite a distance from the only other three previously known colonies, all on inaccessible mountain ledges.
"This recent discovery reinforces the importance of the IBA for the conservation of this highly threatened species and moreover, it shows that more research is needed to protect the breeding grounds of the species." —Helder Costa, President, SPEA
Paulo Oliveira, head of the conservation division at the park said that he believes that further colonies may be found and that work was continuing to locate them.
The bird’s continued survival has been jeopardised by introduced black rats and feral cats, as well as humans, predating eggs and chicks, and by its habitat of well-vegetated ledges being reduced by grazing and trampling by goats and sheep.
The critically endangered Zino's Petrel Pterodroma madeira
T Maul/BirdLife International
