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Albatross under threat from predatory mice

December 15th 2008

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Mice feeding on Tristan albatross chick

A recent RSPB survey of the Critically Endangered Tristan albatross has found that it has suffered the worst breeding season on record. The albatross, which is only found on Gough Island (a South Atlantic territory of the United Kingdom), is losing vast numbers of chicks to predation by the introduced house mouse (Mus musculus).

Believed to have been brought to Gough Island in the 19th century by sea-vessels, house mice have since become abundant. Despite their innocuous appearance, the mice are voracious predators and will feed on the defenseless albatross chicks while they are still alive. Attacking at night, singly or in groups, they bore into the chicks flesh, resulting in a slow death from blood loss or internal organ destruction.

This year, as a result of mouse predation, the number of Tristan albatross chicks that have gone on to fledge is five times lower than it should be.

Although researchers have been aware of the problem on Gough Island for some time, they have, so far, been unable to do anything to save its native birdlife. While trials by the RSPB have shown that removing the mice from the island is feasible, a lack of funding to support the initiative means that, for now, the Tristan albatross will remain on a path towards extinction.

The Tristan albatross is not the only species to be affected by the ravenous mice. Here are some of the other species found on Gough Island that are under threat:

Gough Bunting (Rowettia goughensis)

image: Gough bunting, front viewFound only on Gough Island, the Gough buntings population has been decimated by mice devouring its eggs and chicks. In 2007, its population was estimated to be a mere 400 to 500 breeding pairs.

Atlantic petrel (Pterodroma incerta)

image: Atlantic petrel chick having been attacked by miceDue to mouse predation, only two percent of all Atlantic petrel chicks produced in 2007 successfully fledged. While the Endangered Atlantic petrel is still relatively abundant at present, with so few birds reaching maturity, its population may soon show serious declines.

Grey petrel (Procellaria cinerea)

image: Grey petrel chickThe grey petrel's chicks face predation not only from the introduced mice on Gough Island, but also from invasive rats and cats on the other islands on which it breeds.

Visit MyARKive to see a selection of images and videos in the Threatened birds of Gough Island scrapbook.


Further information

The RSPB are currently appealing for stamps to help fund albatross conservation. To find out more visit:



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