*F
Pterodroma phaeopygia        Dark-Rumped Petrel        Critically Endangered
                                            (also known as:
                                            Galapagos Petrel
                                             Hawaiian Petrel)

* -- From Galapagos Islands
*F -- From Floreana
*E -- From Hood (Espanola)

above information according to <http://www.iucnredlist.org>

 

Important Information/Details


-Threats:  Invasive Species(dogs, cats, rats, pigs -- eat eggs/chicks), Habitat loss (or disruption by humans, other species, natural disasters)
-Dark-Rumped Petrel is an endemic subspecies of the Galapagos Islands; there are four (five, according to Birdlife International) basic colonies one of which is on Floreana; generally "found well away from land during the day"  (Swashi pg. 40)  
-are pelagic, meaning they generally live/feed in open oceans versus water near shore
-populations decreased dramatically (I'm still trying to figure out why -- specific reasons that they know of) in 1980's; currently it is estimated to have between 20,000 to 60,000 individuals and the population seems to be decreasing (Birdlife International)
-basic information ecological information according to Birdlife International
    -"breeds in the humid highlands" (300-900 m)
     -lives/nests/breeds in natural burrows
     - diet consists of squid, fish and crustaceans
      -"On Santa Cruz in 1978-1979, the average adult life expectancy was only 6.2 years."


Possible Solutions:

-attempt to monitor populations (reproduction rates -- number of eggs hatched and raised versus number eaten, unhatched)
-try to exterminate invasive species, esp. black rat (eat eggs/ chicks -- black rats may also be contributing to the Galapagos penguin decline so it is a broad problem)


Sources:


BirdLife International 2000. Pterodroma phaeopygia. In: IUCN 2003. 2003 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. <www.redlist.org>. Downloaded on 16 October 2004

IUCN 2003. 2003 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. <www.redlist.org>. Downloaded on 2 October 2004.

Swashi, Andy and Rob Still.  Birds, Mammals, and Reptiles of the Galapagos Islands. Pica Press. East Sussex. 2000.


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