Feasibility of using very high-resolution satellite imagery to monitor Tristan albatrosses Diomedea dabbenena on Gough Island

A study assessing the feasibility of using very high-resolution satellite imagery to monitor Tristan albatrosses (Diomedea dabbenena), a Critically Endangered species, on Gough Island found that current methods are unreliable due to persistent cloud cover and incomplete detection. Despite analyzing 31 cm resolution images over eight seasons, only one cloud-free image was obtained, limiting the ability to accurately count nests. While specialists detected birds at 67.8% of active nests in cloud-free regions, challenges like orographic clouds and limited imagery availability hinder effective monitoring. The research concludes that on-the-ground monitoring remains essential for accurate population tracking, especially as commercial satellites may offer future improvements.

Attard, M., Phillips, R., Oppel, S., Bowler, E., & Fretwell, P. (2025). Feasibility of using very high-resolution satellite imagery to monitor Tristan albatrosses Diomedea dabbenena on Gough Island. Endangered Species Research, 56, 187–199. https://doi.org/10.3354/esr01396