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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/

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
  • 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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  • 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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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.

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Species Summaries

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Films

  • The Diablotin Festival A 9-minute film in Kreyol (English subtitles) about an annual celebration in a Haitian community.  Released February 2020.

  • 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.

Conservation Plan
Species Summaries
Films
Recent expeditions
 
  • Valle Nuevo, 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! Maps of petrel movements will be shared soon.

  • 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/

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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.

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