We describe the results of a survey of breeding seabirds carried out between 2000 and 2002 in the northern islets of Lanzarote, Canary Islands, with particular emphasis on their status and distribution. For White-faced Stormpetrel Pelagodroma marina, Madeiran Storm-petrel Oceanodroma Castro, Lesser Blackbacked Gull Larus [fuscus] graellsii and Yellow-legged Gull Larus cachinnans atlantis, some new colonies were discovered on different islets. All species have maintained their numbers over the last 15 years, with the exception of the Yellow-legged Gull, which has undergone a well-documented increase; in 1987, about 400 breeding pairs were estimated but during the present study, almost 1000 pairs were counted. In addition, some comments on threats to these seabird populations are presented. On La Graciosa, feral cats are a major predator of the European Storm-petrel population, killing more than 50 birds during this study alone.

Atlantic seabirds

CC BY 3.0 NL ("Naamsvermelding")

Nederlandse Zeevogelgroep

Beneharo Rodríguez, Leandro de León, Aurelio Martín, Jesús Alonso, & Manuel Nogales. (2003). Status and distribution of breeding seabirds in the northern islets of Lanzarote, Canary Islands. Atlantic seabirds, 5(2), 41–56.