Albatross taxonomy has been the subject of controversial debate for several
years. The camps are divided between recognising the 14 traditional species of
the old days and 28 or more species of the new regime. The answer depends on
your opinion. The birds Chris saw off Tas are White-capped Albatross T. cauta
cauta. Whether you treat these as the same species as T (c) steadi, T(c)
salvini and/or T.(c) eremitta is unsettled, though steadi is barely
differentiated.
The broader subject has been discussed on birding-aus many times. I take
opportunity to gratuitously copy a great b-a posting from the archives by the
redoubtable Glen Ingram in 1998 that garnished some more stern debate:
Subject:
Betty and Harry Albatross
From:
m("hyder-con.com.au","Glen.Ingram");
Date:
Tue, 11 Aug 1998 12:16:34 +1000
Three cheers for David! What an excellent summary of the confusing
kaleidoscope of albatross species. However, I do respect Peter Milburn's
arguments.
As for fiddling with nomenclature to enhance conservation, someone is going
to eventually mount a legal challenge that will burst asunder any
credibility the conservation of species ever had. That will be a sad day.
It is fine for the moment as a grant enhancer and work funder within the
government and conservation industries (more species more urgent and
expensive work needed in an important, popular group).
But the dangers loom. And while money is channelled into this sort of work,
habitat is being cleared everywhere. I think there is a good argument for
stopping all grants and work on species, closing down the conservation
industry and channelling all their moneys into land acquisition.
Even so, the rush for Evolutionary Terminal Taxa, Operational Taxonomic
Units, or Cultural Terminal Taxa of ethnosystematics, tends to forget the
range of clients for nomenclature. It is useless producing classifications
if these cannot be used by most of them. We are getting to the level of
Betty and Harry Albatross. This is your future:
Tony Palliser's Pelagic Report for 12 July, 1999, Sydney Boat Trip.
A great day was had by all even if the numbers of birds were down on last
trip. Only 334,000 species were seen but that was because of the calm seas.
Please use an unzipping file to access the list.
1. Betty Albatross
2. Harry Albatross
3. Cilia Black Petrel
4. Robin Shearwater
5. Craig Shearwater
6. Betty Shearwater
7. John Shearwater
8. Alan Shearwater
9. Trevor Shearwater
10. Tom Shearwater (shearwater species continued on pages 233-10987).
11. Annie Prion
etc
However, it is sad to report we found a dead bird: Barry Albatross has
become extinct despite all the conservation efforts of Environment
Australia, Birds Australia, Greening Austraila, Wildlife Australia and the
sponsorship of Tennis Australia.
--- On Mon, 14/2/11, Ross Silcock <> wrote:
From: Ross Silcock <>
Subject: Shy Albatross taxonomy
To: "BIRDING-AUS" <>
Received: Monday, 14 February, 2011, 3:12 AM
This (below) is how the latest OSNZ checklist treats them, except English name
for
the taxon breeding in Tasmania (T. c. cauta) is Tasmanian Albatross, which
removes confusion over the use of "Shy Albatross".
Ross
Ross Silcock
P.O. Box 57
Tabor, IA 51653
New Zealand Land and Pelagic Bird Tours
http://www.rosssilcock.com
-----Original Message----- From: Jeff Davies
Sent: Sunday, February 13, 2011 8:45 AM
To: 'Glenn Ehmke' ; ; 'Chris Watson'
Subject: RFI: Shy Albatross taxonomy
G'day Glenn,
When I last looked, both the IOC and Clements checklists list only three
species for this group.
Chatham, Salvins and Shy, with White-capped (Thalassarche cauta steadi) a
ssp of Shy.
Cheers Jeff.
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