Bounty shag
| Bounty shag | |
|---|---|
| |
| Leucocarbo ranfurlyiphotographed on Proclamation Island,Bounty Islands. | |
Scientific classification
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Suliformes |
| Family: | Phalacrocoracidae |
| Genus: | Leucocarbo |
| Species: | L. ranfurlyi
|
| Binomial name | |
| Leucocarbo ranfurlyi (Ogilvie-Grant,1901)
| |
| Synonyms | |
|
Phalacrocorax ranfurlyi | |
TheBounty shag(Leucocarbo ranfurlyi), also known as theBounty Island shag,is a species ofcormorantof the familyPhalacrocoracidae.They are found only on the tiny and remote SubantarcticBounty Islands,670 km (420 mi) southeast ofNew Zealand.Its naturalhabitatsare open seas and rocky shores. In 2022, a fullUnmanned aerial vehiclesurvey of the Bounty archipelago found a total of 573 breeding pairs and estimates the population to consist of approximately 1,733 birds.[2]These recent estimates are consistent with the only other comparable study from 1978[3]and suggest that the species' population has remained stable over the past 45 years.
Some taxonomic authorities, including theInternational Ornithologists' Union,place this species in the genusLeucocarbo.Others place it in the genusPhalacrocorax.
They construct nests on cliff ledges usingbrown seaweed,and breed during October, with chicks hatching from late November to early December.[4]
Description
[edit]Size; 71 cm (28 in). Large, black-and-white cormorant. Black head, hind neck, lower back, rump, uppertail-coverts, all with metallic blue sheen. White underparts. Pink feet. White patches on wings appear as bar when folded.Carunclesabsent. Voice: Male makes call during displays only.
IUCNclassifies this species asVulnerablebecause its very small population and breeding range renders it susceptible tostochasticevents and human impacts. However, some data indicates that its population is presently stable.[2]The Bounty Islands are a nature reserve and are free of introduced predators. In 1998, they were declared part of aUNESCO World Heritage Site.[1]The islands are uninhabited and are seldom visited, so human interference is minimal.
References
[edit]- ^abBirdLife International(2018)."Leucocarbo ranfurlyi".IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.2018:e.T22696876A133557244.Retrieved12 November2021.
- ^abMattern, Thomas; Pütz, Klemens; Mattern, Hannah; Houston, David; Long, Robin; Keys, Bianca; White, Jeff; Ellenberg, Ursula; Garcia-Borboroglu, Pablo (2023)."Accurate abundance estimation of cliff-breeding Bounty Island shags using drone-based 2D and 3D photogrammetry".Avian Conservation and Ecology.18(2).doi:10.5751/ace-02496-180206.ISSN1712-6568.
- ^Robertson, C.J.R; van Tets, G.F. (1982)."The status of birds at the Bounty Islands".Notornis.29(4).
- ^Michaux, B. (2013)."Bounty Island shag".New Zealand Birds Online.
External links
[edit]- Species factsheet- BirdLife International