The expeditions listed below are non-commercial pelagic voyages with
all participants, including the organisers, equally sharing the costs
of chartering the vessels. The expeditions will be conducted in a
similar manner to recent voyages that led to the rediscovery of Beck’s
Petrel Pterodroma becki in 2007 in the Bismarck archipelago (Shirihai
2008), and the first pelagic observations of Zino’s Petrel Pterodroma
madeira in April 2009, off Madeira (Shirihai 2009), and Fiji Petrel
Pseudobulweria macgillivrayi, off Gau Island, Fiji (Shirihai et al.
2009).

Up-coming expeditions (2009):

(1) Search for the Jamaican Petrel (presumed extinct) off Jamaica:
This voyage will run from 17th November to 1st December 2009, using a
fast ocean-going boat. Depending on the weather conditions, we will
spend 7 to 10 days at sea off Jamaica.

The Jamaican Petrel had been described to science, when it promptly
disappeared; its last confirmed record was in 1891, almost two decades
after mongooses were believed introduced onto the main island of
Jamaica. Hopes remain that a tiny population of Jamaican Petrels still
survive in the extensive tracts of suitable forest habitat. Moreover,
mongooses have not prevented Black-capped Petrels from breeding in the
Dominican Republic and Haiti. Several attempts have been made over the
last decades to find the Jamaican Petrel on land, specifically in the
Blue Mountains, without success.  None of these expeditions have
searched at sea, a proven strategy as described above.

In preparation for this expedition, HS visited Jamaica (March-April
2009) to see habitats that might support a population of breeding
petrels, and also viewed the breeding habitat of Black-capped Petrels
in the Dominican Republic. HS and Vincent Bretagnolle have made a
geographical survey (using satellite image maps and marine charts) and
have analysed meteorological data for the region; parameters that
contributed to the successful studies of Beck’s, Zino’s and Fiji
Petrels at sea. From this analysis, a very specific oceanic corridor
has been proposed that might be used by any Jamaican Petrels
travelling to and from the island.

The plan is to intensively search this area and to use 1.5 tons of
chum that will be prepared by our ground team and a local fish
factory. The material will be kept aboard ship in dedicated freezers.

For logistical reasons, there is room for only 4 expedition members
and currently there is only one spot available; the expedition share
is US$7000.

Please contact HS at albatross_shiri...@hotmail.com to sign on, or for
further information about the voyage, its plans and conditions.

(2) Search for the recently rediscovered Vanuatu Petrel in the remote
Banks Group: This two-week voyage, 13th to the 28th December 2009,
will use a 72ft. expedition research vessel sailing out of the port of
Santo, Vanuatu.

The Vanuatu Petrel Pterodroma occulta was collected in January 1927,
by Rollo Beck (Whitney South Sea Expedition), though it was overlooked
as a White-necked Petrel P. cervicalis until Imber and Tennyson (2001)
drew attention to the fact that the specimens were distinctly smaller
and represented an unrecognised species. Since then an additional
specimen was found ashore in eastern Australia in 1983. The first at-
sea record was of a bird observed by HS in January 2006 between New
Caledonia and Vanuatu. Then in 2007, two/three birds were sighted off
southern Vanuatu. There is recent evidence (still unpublished) that
suggests a breeding population on at least one island in Vanuatu.

In December 2009 we shall try to obtain further data on this
population, both at sea and on several islands in the remote Banks
group. Dr. Vincent Bretagnolle, Dr. Orian Shirihai and HS are the
organisers of this expedition. Besides studying petrels and other
seabirds, the expedition will seek out some of the landbirds of the
islands and also study tribal customs of the indigenous islanders,
including the use of alternative medicines.

Only 7 expedition members can be accommodated on the vessel, the
remaining space will be occupied by a set of huge freezers that will
store two tons of chum for use during the planned mass chumming
operations.

To date there are 5 on board, and two more are welcome, at US$7000 per
person. This rate will be discounted for students and those from
conservation bodies to US$5000 per person.

Please contact directly HS at albatross_shiri...@hotmail.com to sign
up, or for further information about the voyage plans and conditions.

Expeditions planned for 2010 & 2011 (further information will be
posted nearer the times):

2010:

Off Madeira: To study Zino’s Petrel at sea, 20th-30th June (with
Hadoram Shirihai & Tony Pym, and the organisation of Madeira Wind
Birds).

Guadalupe Islands, Mexico: In search of the (believed extinct)
Guadalupe Storm Petrel, March 2010 or 2011, with Hadoram Shirihai.

2011-12:

Chatham Islands: In search of the Magenta Pterodroma magentae and
Chatham Island Petrel P. axillaris (tentatively scheduled for Dec),
and most of the local land-bird endemics. With Tony Pym & Hadoram
Shirihai. For further information please contact Tony
(tony_...@hotmail.com).

Juan Fernández archipelago, Chile: For the three endemic eastern
tropical Pterodroma (during Nov-Dec), namely Juan Fernandez Petrel
Pterodroma externa, Stejneger's Petrel Pterodroma longirostris and
Defilippi’s Petrel Pterodroma defilippiana; with the organisation and
co-leadership of Ross Wanless (and Hadoram Shirihai for the work on
petrels at sea). We will also endeavour to see the landbird endemics.
For further information please contact Ross (rosswanl...@gmail.com).

Eastern Tropical Pacific off Peru: To study storm petrels (tentatively
Jan 2011), with Hadoram Shirihai, and with the organisation of Gunnar
Engblom (Kolibri Expeditions). For further information please contact
Gunnar (kolibri...@gmail.com).

Off Reunion, Indian Ocean: Seeking field knowledge on the poorly known
Mascarene Petrel Pseudobulweria aterrima with Tony Pym and Hadoram
Shirihai (expedition dates to be announced).