Skuas Archives - Seabird Tracking Database hello

Progressing delineations of key biodiversity areas for seabirds, and their application to management of coastal seas

Decision-making products that support effective marine spatial planning are essential for guiding efforts that enable conservation of biodiversity facing increasing pressures. Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) are a product recently agreed upon by an international network of organizations for identifying globally important areas. Utilizing the KBA framework, and by developing a conservative protocol to identify sites, we identify globally importants places for breeding seabirds throughout the coastal seas of a national territory. We inform marine spatial planning by evaluating potential activities that may impact species and how a proposed network of Marine Management Areas (MMAs) overlap with important sites.

Skuas

Seabird Species These smart, predatory seabirds are notoriously aggressive The seven species of Skuas (genus Stercorarius) spread across both hemispheres – all of which, except the Chilean Skua, are migratory. These large birds have an

Multispecies tracking reveals a major seabird hotspot in the North Atlantic

The conservation of migratory marine species, including pelagic seabirds, is challenging because their movements span vast distances frequently beyond national jurisdictions. Here, we aim to identify important aggregations of seabirds in the North Atlantic to inform ongoing regional conservation efforts. Using tracking, phenology, and population data, we mapped the abundance and diversity of 21 seabird species. This revealed a major hotspot associated with a discrete area of the subpolar frontal zone, used annually by 2.9–5 million seabirds from ≥56 colonies in the Atlantic: the first time this magnitude of seabird concentrations has been documented in the high seas. The hotspot is temporally stable and amenable to site-based conservation and is under consideration as a marine protected area by the OSPAR Commission. Protection could help mitigate current and future threats facing species in the area. Overall, our approach provides an exemplar data-driven pathway for future conservation efforts on the high seas.

High Seas – Out of sight, but on track

The high seas occupy approximately half of the planet. Yet, we know much less about this vast part of the ocean than any other area of the globe. The high seas are also poorly protected because there is no global regulatory framework for conservation or even sustainable use of natural resources in his area.

IBAs & EBSAs – Describing important at-sea areas

BirdLife has been a key stakeholder in the Convention on Biological Diversity-led process to describe Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas (EBSAs). We have compiled seabird tracking data and provided information on relevant marine IBAs, to guide the description of EBSAs at the Regional Workshops.

Seabird migration – Tracking ocean wanderers

All migratory seabirds have one thing in common: on their incredible journeys, they connect different areas of the ocean that may be thousands of kilometers apart.

Multi-Species Tracking Reveals a Major Seabird Hotspot in the North Atlantic (NACES MPA)

A major hotspot for foraging seabirds in the North Atlantic estimated to be used by more than 5 million seabirds from 21 species throughout the year, with birds coming from at least 56 colonies in 16 different countries is being considered by the OSPAR Convention for designation as a marine protected area called the North Atlantic Current and Evlanov Seamount (NACES) MPA.

Species: Skuas