South Georgia diving-petrel (Pelecanoides georgicus)

Description

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South Georgia diving-petrel fact file

• Description
• Biology
• Range
• Habitat
• Status
• Threats
• Conservation
• Find out more
• Glossary
• References
• Print factsheet

South Georgia diving-petrel description

A tiny, puffin-like bird that flies low and fast over the water with whirring wingbeats, the South Georgia diving-petrel (Pelecanoides georgicus) is a stocky, short-necked seabird with small legs ^{(3) (4)}. The stubby, hooked bill has a short nasal tube with upward-facing nostrils, and the small, paddle-like wings are adapted for underwater propulsion ^{(5) (6)}. The South Georgia diving-petrel has typical diving-petrel plumage, with black upperparts and dull white underparts, and it is virtually indistinguishable from the common diving-petrel (Pelecanoides urinatrix) ^{(3) (7)}.

Also known as

Georgean diving petrel, Georgian diving petrel, Georgian diving-petrel, South Georgia diving petrel, South Georgian diving petrel, South Georgian diving-petrel.

Size

Length: 18 - 21 cm ⁽²⁾

Wingspan: 30 - 33 cm ⁽²⁾

Weight

90 - 150 g ⁽²⁾

South Georgia diving-petrel biology

Unlike many other petrels, the South Georgia diving-petrel does not stray far from its nesting islands, even outside of the breeding season ^{(2) (5)}. It is highly adapted to swimming, and catches its fish or crustacean prey after a short underwater pursuit. Its flight often appears heavy, and when confronted by a high wave, it flies straight through the wave rather than over it. This species is also more heavily boned than land birds, which helps to combat its natural buoyancy. When foraging, it dives headlong into water, expelling air from its lungs and compressing its plumage by muscle contraction. Most dives last less than a minute, and captured prey is carried back to the nest in a throat pouch ⁽³⁾. 

The South Georgia diving-petrel breeds from October to February each year. It nests in burrows that are around 80 centimetres long, with a nest chamber at the end ⁽²⁾. It is nocturnal around the colonies to avoid predation by gulls and skuas. The South Georgia diving-petrel calls at night from inside the burrow to attract a mate, but as these calls have the undesirable side-effect of attracting predators, the South Georgia diving-petrel also produces a background noise that scrambles its calls and makes it difficult for predators to locate the bird ⁽⁵⁾. A single egg is laid, and is incubated for 44 to 52 days. The chick is brooded for six days and then fed at night by both adults ⁽²⁾. The South Georgia diving-petrel is thought to breed for the first time in its second year ⁽³⁾.

South Georgia diving-petrel range

A widespread species in the Southern Ocean, the South Georgia diving-petrel breeds on scattered oceanic volcanic islands in the sub-Antarctic region, from South Georgia in the south Atlantic and the Prince Edward Islands off South Africa, through Crozet, Kerguelen and Heard Islands in the southern Indian Ocean, to Codfish Island off New Zealand ^{(3) (8)}.

South Georgia diving-petrel habitat

Outside of the breeding season, the South Georgia diving-petrel is typically found offshore over cool, deep waters. It uses coastal habitats whilst breeding, when it nests in burrows in cooled lava or under sand dunes on relatively flat land ^{(5) (8)}.

South Georgia diving-petrel status

The South Georgia diving-petrel is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List ⁽¹⁾.

South Georgia diving-petrel threats

A widespread species with an extremely large population, estimated at over 15 million individuals in 2004 ⁽⁹⁾, the South Georgia diving-petrel is not currently considered at risk of extinction. However, its populations are in decline as a result of predation by introduced mammals and habitat degradation ⁽⁸⁾. 

Brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) were introduced to South Georgia by sealers and whalers in the early 1800s and remain one of the greatest threats to its wildlife, predating ground-nesting birds and their eggs and chicks ^{(10) (11)}. It is likely that predation by brown rats has seriously affected this species on South Georgia. Furthermore, the South Georgia diving-petrel became extinct on Marion Island as a result of predation by introduced cats. It is also extinct on the Auckland Islands, due to habitat loss caused by the large Hooker’s sea lion (Phocarctos hookeri) population, which has destroyed the South Georgia diving-petrel’s burrows ^{(2) (3) (7)}.

South Georgia diving-petrel conservation

The South Georgia diving-petrel has not been the target of any known specific conservation measures. However, a high priority for conservation on South Georgia is to eradicate rats from the island. The South Georgia Heritage Trust is planning an eradication programme to start in 2011, as part of a Habitat Restoration Project to remove rats and restore the island to its status as one of the most important seabird islands in the world. Precautions are also being taken to prevent rats from reaching offshore islands, although the remote location makes this difficult to regulate in practice ^{(10) (11)}.

ARKive is supported by OTEP, a joint programme of funding from the UK FCO and DFID which provides support to address priority environmental issues in the Overseas Territories, and Defra

Find out more

Find out more about the South Georgia diving petrel and other birds:

• BirdLife International:
  http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/speciesfactsheet.php?id=3950

Find out more about conservation on South Georgia:

• South Georgia Heritage Trust:
  http://www.sght.org/
• South Georgia Association:
  http://www.southgeorgiaassociation.org/
• South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands:
  http://www.sgisland.gs/
• UK Overseas Territories Conservation Forum - South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands:
  http://www.ukotcf.org/territories/sgssi.htm

Find out more about the conservation of albatrosses and petrels:

• Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels:
  http://www.acap.aq/

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Glossary

Crustaceans

Diverse group of animals with jointed limbs and a hard chitinous exoskeleton characterised by the possession of two pairs of antennae, one pair of mandibles (mouthparts used for handling and processing food) and two pairs of maxillae (appendages used in eating, which are located behind the mandibles). Includes crabs, lobsters, shrimps, woodlice and barnacles.

Incubate

To keep eggs warm so that development is possible.

Nocturnal

Active at night.

References

1. IUCN Red List (March, 2011)
   http://www.iucnredlist.org/
2. del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A. and Sargatal, J. (1992) Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 1: Ostrich to Ducks. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.
3. Soper, T. (2008) Antarctic: A Guide to the Wildlife. Fifth Edition. Bradt Travel Guides, England.
4. Sinclair, I. (1994) Ian Sinclair's Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa. Struik Publishers, Cape Town.
5. Perrins, C. (2003) The Encyclopedia of Birds. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
6. Chester, C.R. (2008) A Wildlife Guide to Chile: Continental Chile, Chilean Antarctica, Easter Island, Juan Fernández Archipelago. Princeton University Press, New Jersey.
7. Polar Conservation Organisation - Georgian diving petrel (March, 2011)
   http://www.polarconservation.org/education/antarctic-animals/antarctic-birds/georgiandivingpetrel
8. BirdLife International (March, 2011)
   http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/speciesfactsheet.php?id=3950
9. Brooke, M. (2004) Albatrosses and Petrels across the World. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
10. South Georgia Heritage Trust (March, 2011)
    http://www.sght.org/
11. South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands (March, 2011)
    http://www.sgisland.gs/