South Georgian diving-petrel

South Georgian diving-petrel (Pelecanoides georgicus) are extremely similar to common diving-petrel in most aspects of their plumage and morphology.

Their distribution at sea is not well known because the it is difficult to separate South Georgian diving-petrel and the common diving-petrel species at sea. However, it is believed that South Georgian diving-petrel do not move very far from their breeding colonies.

South Georgian diving-petrel breed on many subantarctic islands, including Codfish Island and Auckland Island close to New Zealand, Marion Island, Iles Crozet, Heard Island and South Georgia.

South Georgian diving-petrel return to their colonies in September-October and lay one egg. After 44-52 days of incubation, chicks hatch and are brooded by both parents. Chicks are fed mostly at night, and the nestling periods is between 45-55 days.

South Georgian diving-petrel feed mainly on marine crustaceans with some small fish and cephalopods. Breeding birds deliver meals to chicks, that are almost 20% of adult mass.

Hatching and fledging success fluctuate depending on the predator species present and their abundances. Brown Rats and feral cats have serious impacts on the breeding status of South Georgian diving-petrel at South Georgia.

Links

Taxonomic information on the South Georgian diving-petrel

Australian Antarctic Science (AAS) projects relating to South Georgian diving-petrel

Australian Antarctic Magazine - Heard Island's seabirds under scrutiny

Monitoring for long-term or cumulative impacts in Southern Ocean seabirds

See more information on the Australian Antarctic scientific research program