Barau's Petrel
A species of Gadfly Petrels Scientific name : Pterodroma baraui Genus : Gadfly Petrels
Barau's Petrel, A species of Gadfly Petrels
Botanical name: Pterodroma baraui
Genus: Gadfly Petrels
Content
Description General Info
Photo By Don Roberson 
Description
Barau's petrel is around 40 cm long, and has white undersides and forehead. Its bill is black and its upper parts are dark, with a moderately distinct "M" pattern across the wings and back. 
Size
38 cm
Feeding Habits
Barau's Petrel predominantly feeds on small fish, caught through surface-seizing and plunge diving. It often feeds in groups, associating with other species.
Habitat
Barau's Petrel primarily inhabits marine and pelagic environments, preferring to forage offshore, away from the continental shelf. These birds are frequently found in areas with warm sea surface temperatures and low productivity, influenced by persistent easterly winds and ocean currents. They only come ashore to breed, favoring montane forests, inaccessible cliffs, and volcanic peaks. They have a proclivity for nesting in remote and elevated regions, highlighting their preference for isolated and undisturbed habitats.
Dite type
Piscivorous
General Info
Distribution Area
Barau's petrel ranges across the Indian Ocean from Réunion to Western Australia and Indonesia. With the exception of a single nest found on the island of Rodrigues the bulk of the population is thought to nest on Réunion.
Species Status
Barau's petrel is considered to be an endangered species. It has a highly restricted breeding range and has suffered hunting pressure in the past. While the shooting of the species has now been stopped, and the population seems to have recovered, it is currently threatened by introduced species and light pollution. Young birds, particularly fledglings, are disorientated by artificial lights such as streetlights or the floodlights of sporting venues, which they mistake for bioluminescent squid, and lead them to fail reach the sea. It is estimated that as much as 40% of each breeding season's fledglings get confused in this fashion. Conservation organisations work with local people to catch disorientated chicks and release them back at sea, a program that is thought to rescue most of the lost chicks. Measures are also underway to reduce light pollution by shielding light sources so that they don't attract young birds, a method that has been used to help Newell's shearwaters in Hawaii.
Photo By Don Roberson 
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Order
Albatrosses and Petrels Family
Shearwaters and petrels Genus
Gadfly Petrels Species
Barau's Petrel 
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