The biology of an endangered species, the dark-rumped petrel (Pterodroma phaeopygia), in the Galapagos Islands

Author:

Harris, Michael P.

Title:

The biology of an endangered species, the dark-rumped petrel (Pterodroma phaeopygia), in the Galapagos Islands

Periodical:

Condor

Year:

1970

Volume:

72

Pages:

76-84

Subject:

Endangered species birds Galapagos Petrels

Summary:

The Dark-rumped Petrel (Pterodroma phaeopygia) is endemic to Hawaii, where it is rare, and to the moist highlands of several islands in the Galapagos. In all places it is endangered due to land clearance that is done by humans and/or by introduced mammals such as the feral pig, dogs, cats, at rats. A study of a small nesting colony in dense vegetation in the uplands of Santa Cruz in the Galapagos that was done during the breeding seasons of 1966 and 1967 showed that eggs were laid between 16 June and 10 August and that the last chicks left at the beginning of January. The breeding biology was similar to that of many Procellariiformes, with long incubation periods that lasted from 50-54 days, fledging periods that lasted approximately 110 days, and incubation spells that lasted approximately 12 days. The young were fed approximately every other night. The nesting success was extremely low in that only about four young fledged out of a minimum of 67 eggs that were laid and was almost certainly due to black rats (Rattus rattus). This loss of eggs in addition to the loss of adults that are often due to agricultural encroachments on the breeding areas causes concern for the future of the species.

Label:

Birds - Dark-Rumped Petrel

URL:

https://sora.unm.edu/node/101892

Date:

1970

Collection:

Periodicals