LIFE IP AZORES NATURA continues the survey of seabirds on Topo Islet, São Jorge

Aug. 16, 2023

Within the scope of actions C6.1 – “Restoration of habitats for seabirds on the islets” and D5.1 “Monitoring of terrestrial habitats, species and conservation problems” of the LIFE IP AZORES NATURA project, a team from the Portuguese Society for the Study of Birds (SPEA) and the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Change installed 103 artificial nests, made of clay, on Topo Islet, choosing the most promising area of ​​the islet to increase the probability of occupation of the nests.

A passive acoustic nocturnal survey was also carried out, with detection of Cory's Shearwater (Calonectris borealis), Manx Shearwater (Puffinus puffinus) and Monteiro's Storm-petrel (Hydrobates monteiroi), as well as the prospection of nests in the nesting area of ​​procellariiformes, which was determined through acoustic prospection. In this way, it was possible to confirm the nesting of Cory's Shearwaters and Monteiro's Storm-petrels on the islet, georeferencing several nests with adults and eggs. One of the Monteiro's Storm-petrel nests was occupied by an individual ringed on the Baixo Islet, Graciosa, by researcher Luís Monteiro in 1999, being at least 24 years old!

The São Jorge Environment and Climate Change Service team also confirmed the nesting of terns on the islet, identifying 25 nests, three of which with broods, and the rest with egg(s).

Learn more about this project at www.lifeazoresnatura.eu.