Population assessment of White-capped Albatrosses Thalassarche steadi in New Zealand

A population assessment of the White-capped Albatross (Thalassarche steadi), conducted over 12 years (2006–2017) using aerial photography, estimated an average of 89,846 breeding pairs in New Zealand’s Auckland Islands. Despite high inter-annual variability, the population showed a non-significant negative trend, though TRIM classification suggested stability. Given the species' biennial breeding frequency and estimated annual bycatch mortality (8,000 birds), fisheries impacts are likely unsustainable. Annual monitoring is recommended to refine trend estimates and assess long-term sustainability.

Baker, G. B., Jensz, K., Cunningham, R., Robertson, G., Sagar, P., Thompson, D. R., & Double, M. C. (2023). Population assessment of White-capped Albatrosses Thalassarche steadi in New Zealand. Emu - Austral Ornithology, 123(1), 60–70. https://doi.org/10.1080/01584197.2022.2161915