#pseudobulweria

[all-bird-creechur]

Mascarene Petrel Pseudobulweria aterrima

It is known to breed in very small numbers in the Grand Bassin – Le Dimitile Important Bird Area in the mountains of Réunion. The species is classified as critically endangered as it is inferred from the number of records that there is an extremely small population threatened by introduced species, such as feral cats and house rats, and light pollution. Public awareness campaigns resulted in the finding of 58 Mascarene petrels between 1996 and 2021. Réunion scientists reported this as part of their work to locate breeding colonies using acoustic surveys.

image by FabKacau

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Pseudobulweria petrel

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[alonglistofbirds]

[724/10,977] Beck's Petrel - Pseudobulweria becki

Order: Procellariiformes (tubenoses) Family: Procellariidae (petrels, prions and shearwaters)

Photo credit: Hadoram Shirihai

[dendroica]

Critically endangered Mascarene Petrel discovered at sea and unique image captured of bird with its egg

An expedition to find the Critically Endangered Mascarene Petrel at sea has returned with new information on one of the world’s least-known seabirds. Incredibly they have photographed a female bird where the egg is an obvious protrusion in the contour of her underbody.

This is thought to be the first record of any bird photographed in flight with an obvious egg inside the body.

The sighting has given new insight into the timing of the breeding season of the species which will help with future searches for its breeding grounds on Réunion Island, the only known place for the species in the world.

The search for the elusive petrel is described in a paper in the latest Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club. Thirty-three Mascarene Petrels were observed, and 12 of them photographed. The species’ flight, behaviour and detailed comparison to other species are also described for the first time.

(via BirdLife)