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POP2025-05 Salvin's albatross population size at the Snares Western Chain (PDF, 1,444K)

Summary

Salvin’s albatross is listed as Nationally Critical and is the second most at-risk species in the New Zealand fisheries risk assessment. There have been declines in estimated numbers of breeding pairs at the main population on the Bounty Islands. However, the population on Tini Heke / Snares Western Chain has not been surveyed since 2015. Here we provide an updated estimate of the population size of Salvin’s albatross at Toru Islet, Western Chain. On 1 Nov 2025 we found 420 active Salvin’s albatross nests (bird with an egg/chick) on Toru Islet. Correcting for nest failures prior to survey, we estimate that there were 710 pairs of Salvin’s albatrosses breeding on Toru Islet in the 2025–26 season. Previous counts were conducted 25 to 45 days before this year’s effort, so for ease of comparison counts in 1996, 2009–11 and 2015 were also corrected for nest failures before the survey. Extrapolating to Rima based on historic proportions, the total Salvin’s albatross population on the Western Chain was estimated at 1,060 annual breeding pairs. The estimated number of Salvin’s albatrosses breeding on the Western Chain has decreased progressively since the mid-1990s to a current low. Given past counts varied substantially from year to year, we suggest repeating ground counts next season.

Publication information

Rexer-Huber, K., Ellenberg, U., Mattern, T., Parker, G.C., Sagar, P.M. 2026. Salvin's albatross population size at the Snares Western Chain. Conservation Services Programme, Department of Conservation, Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand. 15 p.