Endangered seabird rediscovered
A seabird sighted only twice in the past 80 years has been rediscovered off the coast of Papua New Guinea, putting to rest concerns that it had become extinct, researchers said today.
Scientists travelling in the Bismarck Archipelago, north-east of Papua New Guinea, managed to photograph more than 30 of the elusive, tube-nosed Beck's Petrel in August 2007, including young birds which indicates recent breeding.
Like other tubenoses, Beck's Petrel is potentially threatened by introduced cats and rats at its breeding sites, and by logging and forest clearance for oil-palm plantations.
