International Black-capped Petrel
Conservation Group
The Black-capped Petrel (Pterodroma hasitata), known as Diablotin (“the little devil”) in the Caribbean countries where it nests, is an endangered seabird present in the Caribbean Sea, western North Atlantic, and Gulf of Mexico. Its declining population is estimated at ~1,000 breeding pairs.
News
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November 2024: The Dominican newspaper Diario Libre published an article on recent satellite tracking in Valle Nuevo and Loma del Toro: https://www.diariolibre.com/planeta/medioambiente/2024/11/06/el-ultimo-refugio-del-diablotin/2899949
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October 2024: Yvan Satgé and colleagues published an article suggesting links between the diet of the Diablotin and the levels of mercury measured in feathers. Read the article here: http://www.marineornithology.org/article?rn=1591
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July 2024: We are very sorry to hear of the sudden passing of Boukan Chat's youth educator Jonatas. Jonatas was not working directly with Black-capped Petrels but, as the organizer of the village's soccer club, he was a key figure in the Boukan Chat community. Jonatas, who was in his early thirties, had great motivation and will to improve the life of all those who live near the petrel's breeding grounds in Morne Vincent, Haiti.
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April 2024: Kate Sutherland's Master's thesis is available at this link: https://libcat.uncw.edu/record=b3987127. Kate investigated the trophic position and foraging areas of light, dark and intermediate forms of Black-capped Petrels using stable isotope and mercury analyses of petrel feathers archived at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.
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January 2024: The 2023 annual update on Diablotin activities is available at this link: Diablotin 2023 Annual Update.pdf (prepared by Jennifer Wheeler). A lot has been happening, thanks to the many individuals and organizations that support the study and conservation of this unique species!
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January 2024: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has made the final decision to list the Black-capped Petrel as Endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. For the last 15 years, we have been working hard to conserve this species so it is very motivating to know that the U.S. FWS is now fully by our side. If you are interested in the USFWS's decision, you can find the full text of the regulation here: https://www.regulations.gov/document/FWS-R4-ES-2018-0043-0039. The updated Species Status Assessment that informed the decision can be found here: https://www.regulations.gov/document/FWS-R4-ES-2018-0043-0042
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December 2024: Our European colleague Peter Stronach shares his recent observations of Black-capped Petrels in Cabo Verde and his insight on the question on everyone's mind: Is Black-capped Petrel breeding in the Western Palearctic?
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July 2023: Yvan Satgé and colleagues published an article showing differences in the non-breeding distributions of dark and light Black-capped Petrels in the western North Atlantic. They also highlighted overlap with marine threats. Read the article here: https://www.int-res.com/abstracts/esr/v51/p183-201/
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May 2023: The Birds of the World account for the Black-capped Petrel has been updated! Access it here https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/bkcpet or contact us for a pdf copy.
Resources
Below is a selection of resources. Annual updates, conservation reports, research articles, as well as educational resources can be found at this link: https://www.birdscaribbean.org/our-work/working-groups/black-capped-petrel-wg/
Conservation Plan
Conserving the Diablotin: Black-capped Petrel Conservation Update and Plan, 2021 (click to open; 13 MB) This document reviews relevant information gathered on the species over the previous decade and lays out strategies for its conservation.
A 4-page Plan Brochure (Executive Summary; click to open) is also available.
Species Summaries
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Birds of the World Account account for the Diablotin / Black-capped Petrel. This revised account provides detailed, up-to-date information on diablotin, including (among others) a revision of its range map, measurements, and discussions of taxonomy, distribution, and conservation status.
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Black-capped Petrel Species Status Assessment Report Version 1.3. December 2023. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service conducted a species status assessment to support all functions of the U.S. Endangered Species Act program, including listing decisions.
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Black-capped Petrel – BirdLife International: 2018 Species Factsheet at Birdlife Datazone.
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The monograph “Diablotin Pterodroma hasitata: a biography of the endangered Black-capped Petrel. Marine Ornithology Vol 41 (special issue ISSN 1018-3337): S3-S43 by T. Simons, D. S. Lee and J. C. Haney” is now available at no cost online at http://www.marineornithology.org.
Films
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“The Diablotin Festival” A 9-minute film in Kreyol (English subtitles) about an annual celebration in a Haitian community. Released February 2020.
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“Haiti, My Love, My Home” A 9-minute film in Kreyol (English subtitles) about the common needs of petrels and humans in Haiti. Released May 2018.
Recent expeditions
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Dominican Republic: March 2024
Ernst Rupp and Grupo Jaragua hosted Yvan Satgé (Clemson University) during a visit to Valle Nuevo. The team deployed satellite transmitters on three breeding Black-capped Petrels (one dark, and two light) and Yvan trained Grupo Jaragua technicians to deploy three more, in Valle Nuevo or Loma Quemada. The data will help understand the connections between breeding areas on land and foraging and wintering areas at sea. The team also located five new petrel nests! Click on the gallery to seen the map.
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Beata Ridge Expedition: January-February 2024
Our partners from the Dominican Republic Ministry of the Environment and Caribbean Cetacean Society surveyed the megafauna of the large underwater Beata Ridge, south of the Dominican Republic. This area is used by Black-capped Petrels for foraging and commuting to the southern Caribbean Sea and expedition researchers recorded over 80 sightings of petrels!
More information at this link: https://dominicantoday.com/dr/local/2024/02/16/diablotin-beata-mountain-range-expedition-logs-80-oceanic-sightings/
About the International Black-capped Petrel Conservation Group
The International Black-capped Petrel Conservation Group is a collaborative association of organizations and individuals with a shared interest in the conservation of the species across its range. The working group coalesced in 2008 as a forum for members to share information and generate a comprehensive and cooperative conservation plan.
The working group operates under the auspices of the regional organization, BirdsCaribbean, to take advantage of its international reach and influence.
Contact Co-Chair Jennifer Wheeler (jennifer.wheeler@birdscaribbean.org) for more information on the group and its activities. Visit BirdsCaribbean.groups.io/g/Diablotin to subscribe to our discussion group for all persons interested in Black-capped Petrel conservation.
This site is under construction: you can learn more about the Diablotin Black-capped Petrel at birdscaribbean.org/our-work/working-groups/black-capped-petrel-wg/