A BirdLife International survey in southern New Ireland, Papua New Guinea, has encountered the largest single aggregation of Critically Endangered Beck’s Petrel ever recorded. Upwards of 100 birds were estimated to be present at one location. For a seabird species lost to science for 79 years until its rediscovery in 2007 these vital new data offer a glimmer of hope.

Beck’s Petrel

Beck’s Petrel, Pseudobulweria becki, is a small, tube-nosed seabird, which was first described by Rollo Beck, an ornithologist and collector of museum specimens. The petrel, which now bears his name, was previously only known from two specimens he collected in 1928 and 1929 during an expedition to the region.

Description

A small, rather atypical gadfly petrel. It is dark brown above and on the head and throat. It is dark underneath the wings with a fairly distinct white wingbar. The belly and breast are white, with a pale chin and throat. It flies with straight wings that are slightly bent back at the tips. Beck's Petrel is noticeably smaller than Tahiti Petrel.

Call

Unknown.

Food

Unkown.

Breeding

The breeding grounds are still undiscovered. They are believed to nest on small islands with tall mountains around Melanesia. Petrels, that are nocturnal at the nesting grounds are notoriously difficult to detect.

Conservation Status – Critically endangered.

This species is potentially threatened by predation from introduced cats and rats on its unknown breeding grounds.

Birdwatching

Ask Aves Birding Tours/Safaris/Adventures to create a tour for you to try to find these critically endangered Petrels.