Calonectris diomedea -- (Scopoli, 1769)ANIMALIA -- CHORDATA -- AVES -- PROCELLARIIFORMES -- PROCELLARIIDAECommon names: Scopoli's Shearwater;

European Red List AssessmentEuropean Red List Status

LC -- Least Concern, (IUCN version 3.1)

Assessment InformationYear published: 2015Date assessed: 2015-03-31Assessor(s): BirdLife InternationalReviewer(s): Symes, A.Compiler(s): Ashpole, J., Burfield, I., Ieronymidou, C., Pople, R., Wheatley, H. & Wright, L.Assessment RationaleEuropean regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)EU27 regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)

At both European and EU27 scales the range size has not been quantified, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). The population size is very large, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). Despite the fact that the population trend appears to be decreasing, the decline is not believed to be sufficiently rapid to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (30% decline over ten years or three generations).

For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern within both Europe and the EU27.

OccurrenceCountries/Territories of OccurrenceNative:Albania; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Croatia; Cyprus; France; Greece; Italy; Malta; Portugal; Slovenia; Spain; Canary Is. (to ES); Turkey; Gibraltar (to UK)Origin Uncertain:Belgium; Czech Republic; Denmark; Faroe Islands (to DK); Germany; Ireland, Rep. of; Netherlands; Norway; Poland; Sweden; Switzerland; United KingdomVagrant:Austria; Bulgaria; Montenegro; Serbia

PopulationThe European population is estimated at 30,500-48,100 pairs, which equates to 60,900-96,100 mature individuals. The population in the EU27 is estimated at 29,300-46,200 pairs, which equates to 58,500-92,300 mature individuals. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF.

TrendIn Europe and the EU27 the population size is estimated to be decreasing by less than 25% in 57.9 years (three generations). For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF.

Habitats and EcologyThe species is marine and pelagic usually keeping well away from land, except at colonies (Carboneras et al. 2014). It breeds on barren offshore islands, occupying cliffs, caves and boulder fields; sometimes inland on rocky slopes, up to 435 m above sea-level (Thibault et al. 1997). Birds return to colonies in February and breeding starts April (Carboneras et al. 2014). It is colonial, nesting in burrows (c. 2 m long) (Fernandez 1995) rock crevices, natural hollows or cracks, sometimes in caves up to c. 20 m deep (Carboneras et al. 2014). Clutch size a single egg (Thibault et al. 1997). It feeds mainly on fish, squid, crustaceans, other

zooplankton and offal at least during the breeding season (Brooke 2004). The species is migratory, generally departing the breeding grounds in mid to late October (Carboneras et al. 2014). It is known to winter mainly in the Canary Current (Navarro et al. 2009). Mediterranean birds exit into the Atlantic, where they move rapidly south, but also uncommon to rare off eastern North America (mainly May-October) (Howell 2012), and some birds occasionally range northwards in the north-east Atlantic, to British Isles (Fisher & Flood 2004, 2010) and Sweden (Erterius 2005), with other accidental records from Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland and Ukraine (Thibault et al. 1997). It was previously thought to occur off South Africa in November-May but recent work found that Calonectris borealis is far more abundant over the continental shelf and in offshore areas than C. diomedea (Camphuysen & van der Meer 2001) and the two species appear well-segregated during northern winter (Navarro et al. 2009).Habitats & Altitude

Habitat (level 1 - level 2) Importance OccurrenceCaves and Subterranean Habitats (non-aquatic) - Caves suitable breedingMarine Coastal/Supratidal - Sea Cliffs and Rocky Offshore Islands major breedingMarine Intertidal - Rocky Shoreline major breedingMarine Neritic - Macroalgal/Kelp suitable non-breedingMarine Neritic - Macroalgal/Kelp major breedingMarine Neritic - Pelagic major breedingMarine Neritic - Pelagic major non-breedingMarine Neritic - Seagrass (Submerged) suitable non-breedingMarine Neritic - Seagrass (Submerged) major breedingMarine Neritic - Subtidal Loose Rock/pebble/gravel suitable non-breedingMarine Neritic - Subtidal Loose Rock/pebble/gravel major breedingMarine Neritic - Subtidal Rock and Rocky Reefs suitable non-breedingMarine Neritic - Subtidal Rock and Rocky Reefs major breedingMarine Neritic - Subtidal Sandy suitable non-breedingMarine Neritic - Subtidal Sandy major breedingMarine Neritic - Subtidal Sandy-Mud suitable non-breedingMarine Neritic - Subtidal Sandy-Mud major breedingMarine Oceanic - Epipelagic (m) major breedingMarine Oceanic - Epipelagic (m) major non-breedingRocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks) major breedingRocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks) major breedingAltitude max. 435 m Occasional altitudinal limits

ThreatsThe main threats to this species include the impacts of invasive, non-native mammals and mortality from fisheries bycatch (Derhé 2012, Carboneras et al. 2013). Recent studies have highlighted the pressures imposed by introduced mammal species, and colonies have shown marked increases in breeding success during mammal control measures (e.g. Igual et al. 2006, Pascal et al. 2008). This species is one of the most frequent seabird species to occur in bycatch in the Mediterranean (Valeiras and Caminas 2003, García-Barcelona et al. 2010, Laneri et al. 2010), with estimates of the number of individuals killed annually by Spanish fleets ranging from 200 (García-Barcelona et al. 2010) to 467-1,867 (estimated 4-6% of the local breeding population; Belda and Sanchez 2001). There have been fewer assessments of the impacts of long-line and other national fisheries on this species. Results from a questionnaire suggest an annual bycatch of up to 1,220 individuals of this species by Maltese fleets (8.5-10% of the breeding population), although this is likely to be an over-estimate skewed by high bycatch in a small number of vessels (Dimech et al. unpubl. per Derhé 2012). The species may also suffer significant bycatch in its non-breeding range (e.g. Granadeiro et al. 2006).Threats & Impacts

Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and StressesBiological resource use

Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources (unintentional effects: (large scale) [harvest])

Timing Scope Severity ImpactOngoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant

DeclinesMedium Impact

StressesSpecies mortality

Threats & ImpactsThreat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses

Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases

Unspecified species Timing Scope Severity ImpactOngoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant

DeclinesMedium Impact

StressesSpecies mortality

ConservationConservation Actions UnderwayEU Birds Directive Annex I. Bern Convention Appendix II. In most areas human exploitation has ceased or is only occasional and some breeding islands have been declared reserves. Feasibility of eradicating Rattus rattus from Italian islands with breeding seabirds has been evaluated, but would apparently be of much greater benefit to Puffinus yelkouan than the present species, while an intensive rat-control programme was successfully initiated at two subcolonies on Chafarinas Is (Spain) in 1999-2004 (Carboneras et al. 2014). In addition, censuses, monitoring, creation of protected areas and studies of the species's biology and ecology have all taken place. At colonies mammal control, provision of artificial nest sites and management to reduce disturbance have also been implemented (Anselme & Durand 2012).

Conservation Actions ProposedRat control programmes appear to deliver only a small increase in the population growth rate whereas change in adult survival has a much larger impact. Therefore increasing adult survival is of greater importance and rat eradication programmes can only be used to 'buy' time (Igual et al. 2009). Further research and monitoring is required and the continuation of measures to reduce disturbance. Actions to reduce the impact of L. michahellis where appropriate should be implemented. An international network with the aim to prioritize conservation actions and monitoring programmes should be developed. Mortality in longline fishing should be monitored and measures such as setting longlines only at certain times of the day to reduce the accidental catch should be followed (Belda and Sanchez 2001).

BibliographyAnselme L. and Durand J.P. 2012. The Cory’s Shearwater Calonectris diomedea diomedea, Updated state of knowledge and conservation of the nesting populations of the small Mediterranean islands. Initiative PIM. 23p.Belda, E.J. and Sanchez, A. 2001. Seabird mortality on longline fisheries in the western Mediterranean: factors affecting bycatch and proposed mitigating measures. Biological Conservation 98: 357-363.Brooke, M. 2004. Albatrosses and petrels across the world. Oxford University Press, Oxford.Camphuysen, C.J. and van der Meer, J. 2001. Pelagic distribution, moult and (sub-)specific status of Cory’s Shearwaters Calonectris [d.] diomedea/borealis wintering off southern Africa. Marine Ornithology 29(2): 89–96.Carboneras, C., Jutglar, F. and Kirwan, G.M. 2014. Scopoli’s Shearwater (Calonectris diomedea). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. and de Juana, E. (eds.) 2014. Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from http://www.hbw.com/node/52564 on 23 December 2014).Carboneras, C., Derhé, M. and Ramirez, I. 2013. Update on the population status and distribution of Mediterranean shearwaters. Report to Seventh Meeting of the ACAP Advisory Committee, La Rochelle, France, 6-10 May 2013.Derhé, M. 2012. Developing a Population Assessment for Scopoli’s and Cory’s Shearwaters Calonectris diomedea/Calonectris borealis. In: Yésou, P., Baccetti, N., Sultana, J. (ed.), Ecology and Conservation of Mediterranean Seabirds and other bird species under the Barcelona Convention – Proceedings of the 13th Medmaravis Pan- Mediterranean Symposium. Alghero (Sardinia) 14-17 Oct. 2011, pp. 29–38. Medmaravis, Alghero.Erterius, D. 2005. A Scopoli’s Shearwater off Sweden. Birding World 18(6): 246.Fernandez, O. 1995. Observations et réflexions sur une nidification originale du Puffin cendré, Calonectris d. diomedea. Alauda 64(4): 454–455.Fisher, A. and Flood, B. 2004. A Scopoli’s Shearwater off the Isles of Scilly. Birding World 17(8): 334–336.

BibliographyFisher, E.A. and Flood, R.L. 2010. Scopoli’s Shearwater off Scilly: new to Britain. British Birds 103(12): 712–717.García-Barcelona, S., Ortiz de Urbina, J.M., de la Serna, J.M., Alot, E. and Macias, D. 2010. Seabird bycatch in Spanish Mediterranean large pelagic longline fisheries, 2000-2008. Aquatic Living Resources 23: 363–371.Granadeiro, J.P., Dias, M.P., Rebelo, R., Santos, C.D. and Catry, P. 2006. Numbers and population trends of Cory's Shearwater Calonectris diomedea at Selvagem Grande, Northeast Atlantic. Waterbirds 29: 56-60.Howell, S.N.G. 2012. Petrels, Albatrosses, and Storm-Petrels of North America: A Photographic Guide. Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey.Igual, J.M., Tavecchia, G., Jenouvrier, S., Forero, M.G. and Oro, D. 2009. Buying years to extinction: is compensatory mitigation for marine bycatch a sufficient conservation measure for long-lived seabirds?. PLoS One 4(3): e4826.Igual, J.M., Forero, M. G., Gomez, T., Orueta, J.F. and Oro, D. 2006. Rat control and breeding performance in Cory's Shearwater (Calonectris diomedea): effects of poisoning effort and habitat features. Animal Conservation 9(1): 59-65.Laneri K., Louzao M., Martinez-Abran A., Arcos J., Belda E., Guallart J., Sánchez A., Giménez M., Maestre R. and Oro D. 2010. Trawling regime influences longline seabird bycatch in the Mediterranean: new insights from a small-scale fishery. Marine Ecology Progress Series 420:241–252.Navarro, J., Forero, M.G., González-Solís, J.,Igual, J.M., Bécares, J. and Hobson, K.A. 2009. Foraging segregation between two closely related shearwaters breeding in sympatry. Biology Letters 5: 545–548.Pascal, M., Lorvelec, O., Bretagnolle, V., Culioli, J.M. 2008. Improving the breeding success of a colonial seabird: a cost-benefit comparison of the eradication and control of its rat predator. Endangered Species Research 4: 267-–276.Thibault, J.-C., Bretagnolle, V. and Rabouam, C. 1997 Calonectris diomedea Cory’s Shearwater. BWP Update 1(2): 75–98.Valeiras, J. and Caminas, J. A. 2003. The incidental capture of seabirds by Spanish drifting longline fisheries in the western Mediterranean Sea. Scientia Marina 67: 65–68.

Map (see overleaf)