Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
Although current population trends are assumed to be stable, this species qualifies as Vulnerable because it has a very small range, breeding on four islands though largely confined to just one, with a fifth mainland population comprising only hybrid birds. It is therefore highly susceptible to stochastic effects and human impacts.
Population justification
The Campbell population is estimated at 7,800 breeding pairs between 2004-2008 (ACAP 2009). Sixty nine pairs were present on Enderby in 2001 (Childerhouse et al. 2003), and 54 and 63 nesting pairs were estimated in aerial survey in 2013 and 2014, respectively (Baker and Jensz 2013, Baker et al. 2014). Although c.20 pairs breed on Auckland and Adams Islands combined (Croxall and Gales 1998), aerial survey during the last 10 years seems to confirm that Southern Royal is not currently breeding in Auckland Island (B. Baker pers. comm. 2016). An estimate of c.7,900 annual breeding pairs is equivalent to c.27,200 mature individuals, based on the ratio used by Croxall and Gales (1998).
Trend justification
Whole island censuses on Campbell Island in 1994-1995 and study plot censuses in 1996-1997 indicate that the population is likely to be stable, or possibly increasing (Moore et al. 1997).
Diomedea epomophora breeds on Campbell Island (99% of the total population), on Adams, Enderby and Auckland Islands (Auckland Islands group), and on Taiaroa Head (Otago Peninsula, South Island), New Zealand. The Campbell population was estimated at 7,800 breeding pairs in 2004-2008 (ACAP 2009). Sixty nine pairs were present on Enderby in 2001 (Childerhouse et al. 2003), and 54 and 63 nesting pairs were estimated from aerial surveys in 2013 and 2014, respectively (Baker and Jensz 2013, Baker et al. 2014). Although c.20 pairs have previously been reported to breed on Auckland and Adams Islands combined (Croxall and Gales 1998), aerial surveys during the last 10 years appear to confirm that there are presently no breeding pairs on Auckland Island (B. Baker pers. comm. 2016). No pure-bred D. epomophora are present at Taiaroa Head (Heather and Robertson 1997, Taylor 2000). The species circumnavigates the Southern Ocean after breeding (Croxall and Gales 1998), but is most commonly recorded in New Zealand and South American waters (Marchant and Higgins 1990). Breeding adults forage from the South Island southwards to the Campbell Plateau (Waugh et al. 2002) and north to the Chatham Rise. Non-breeding birds forage on the west and east coast of South America (Moore and Bettany 2005), generally between 30-55°S (ACAP 2009). Whole island censuses on Campbell Island in 1994-1995 and study plot censuses in 1996-1997 indicate that the population is likely to be stable, or possibly increasing (Moore et al. 1997).
Behaviour Breeding is biennial if a chick is successfully reared. Birds return to colonies in October and eggs are laid from late November to late December. Chicks hatch from early February to early March, and fledge in early October to early December. Age of first return to colonies is at least 5 years and the age of first breeding is thought to be around 6-12 years old (ACAP 2009).
Habitat Breeding It nests on tussock grassland slopes, ridges, and plateaus (Marchant and Higgins 1990, Heather and Robertson 1997).
Diet It feeds primarily on squid and fish, supplemented by salps, crustacea and carrion (Imber 1999).
Foraging range During incubation, breeding birds from Campbell Island foraged mostly within 1,250 km of the colonies over shallow (<1500 m deep) shelf and shelf break waters of the Campbell Plateau north to southern New Zealand and over the Chatham Rise, commuting directly to locally productive sites (ACAP 2009).
A possible decrease in the population during the 1970s and early 1980s coincided with the peak in long-line fishing in the New Zealand region (Moore and Bettany 2005), suggesting that the species is negatively affected by intensification of fishery activities. The species is known to be caught as by-catch in longlines and trawls in the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic Oceans, and off the east and west coasts of South America (Taylor 2000, Moore and Bettany 2005, ACAP 2009). Although reported bycatch numbers in the New Zealand fleet have been relatively low, with 14 individuals observed killed in surface longlines and trawls between 1998 and 2004, observer coverage in this period was less than 5% of total fishing effort. Similarly, mortalities of this species observed in the Argentine longline fishery along the Patagonian Shelf between 1999 and 2001 comprised on average 1.4% (0-6.1%) of the 901 seabirds caught in total (BirdLife International 2017). Invasive non-native species (European Rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus, Domestic Cows, Pigs and Cats) have had negative impacts on the population in the past. Pigs and cats may have caused the local extinction of Southern Royal Albatross on Auckland Island and their continued presence may be responsible for preventing re-establishment (ACAP 2009, Phillips et al. 2016, I. Debski in litt. 2018).
Conservation Actions Underway
CMS Appendix II and ACAP Annex 1. Cattle and sheep have been removed from Campbell, and cattle, rabbits and mice have been eradicated from Enderby. Rats were eradicated from Campbell in 2001, and an expedition in 1993 found no evidence of them persisting (P. Moore in litt. 2003). Almost 36,000 birds have been banded on Campbell since the 1940s, but since 2006 bands are being removed, except in two study colonies. Two study areas on Campbell were monitored annually in the 1990s (P. Moore in litt. 2003). All islands are nature reserves and, in 1998, were declared a World Heritage Site.
115 cm. Huge white-and-black albatross. Juvenile with white head, neck, upper mantle, rump and underparts. White mantle flecked black. Dark black-brown upperwing with white flecks on coverts and white leading edge. White tail, tipped black-brown. White underwing with black tip. With maturity, back and tail become white. Starting at leading edge near shoulder, upperwing-coverts become increasingly white. All ages, light pink bill (darker pink when chick-rearing) with black cutting edge on upper mandible. Legs flesh. Similar spp. Adult males are the whitest albatrosses. Northern Royal Albatross D. sanfordi has different underwing pattern, no white on upperwing, and dark leading edge (C. J. R. Robertson in litt. 2008).
Text account compilers
Stuart, A., Sullivan, B., Anderson, O., Symes, A., Calvert, R., Fjagesund, T., Butchart, S., Hermes, C., Martin, R., Moreno, R., Small, C.
Contributors
Walker, K., Stahl, J.-C., Taylor, G.A., Moore, P., Robertson, C., Baker, B.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Southern Royal Albatross Diomedea epomophora. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/southern-royal-albatross-diomedea-epomophora on 23/12/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 23/12/2024.