Pterodroma lessonii (White-Headed Petrel)

IUCN Status: Least Concern

This medium sized pelagic birds nest of the Australian and New Zealand sub Antarctic islands. Once they leave the nest the will traverse the immense and wild Southern Ocean, only coming back to land to bread.

While not listed as endangered, white-headed petrel numbers are in decline. This is particularly concerning given the ravaging of oceanic birds by the recent mutation of the H5N1 bird flu. It was inevitable that the constantly in motion pelagic birds would bring it to Antarctica and the surround breeding colonies.

It is a tragedy that we can do little more than hope that they remain a visible wonder at sea for ages to come.