At-sea sightings of banded Tristan Albatrosses off the Western Cape and a review of records in southern African waters

A rare glimpse into the at-sea behavior of the Critically Endangered Tristan Albatross (Diomedea dabbenena) reveals new insights about its movements and threats off southern Africa. The study, which analyzed banded individuals sighted near the Western Cape, provides critical data on this species' distribution outside its breeding grounds in Gough and Inaccessible Islands. It highlights the vulnerability of Tristan Albatrosses to fisheries bycatch—a major at-sea threat—while also underscoring the compounded pressures from invasive house mice on their breeding islands. By synthesizing historical records with recent observations, the research offers a broader understanding of this species' conservation challenges, emphasizing the need for targeted protection measures both at sea and on land.

Rollinson, D. P. (2016). At-sea sightings of banded Tristan Albatrosses off the Western Cape and a review of records in southern African waters. Biodiversity Observations, 1–4. https://doi.org/10.15641/bo.359