Rev. biol. mar. oceanogr. 48(3): 623-628

Research Note

A population estimate of the Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus in the Wollaston and Hermite Island Groups, Cape Horn Archipelago, Chile, and concerns over conservation in the area

R. Paul Scofield^1,2 and Ronnie Reyes-Arriagada³

¹Zoology Department, University of Otago, Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand

²Present address: Canterbury Museum, Rolleston Avenue, Christchurch, New Zealand

³Instituto de Ciencias Marinas y Limnológicas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Casilla 567, Valdivia, Chile

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We documented the population size of Sooty Shearwater on the Wollaston and Hermite Island Groups. A population of at least 100,000 pairs were found on Wollaston and there may be as many as 300,000 pairs in the Wollaston and Hermite Island Groups. We also confirmed the presence of Magellanic Diving-petrel and Fuegian Storm-petrel in the Island Group and discussed the status of these taxa in southern Chile. The status of the mammals found on these islands is also summarised and concerns are raised over the possibility that introduced mammals, especially beavers, muskrats, minks and feral cats may reach these pristine islands affecting seabird populations.

Key words:  Cape Horn, Pelecanoides magellani, Oceanites oceanicus chilensis, introduced species