Jeremy Madeiros > September 2023 “I am reviewing the 2023 Bermuda Petrel (Cahow) nesting season to write my annual report for the Management Program for the species, so it seems like a good idea to review this year's nesting season of Bermuda's critically endangered National Bird.
In 1960, the entire population of Cahow consisted of 17 - 18 breeding pairs that produced a combined total of 7 - 8 successfully fledged chicks annually. These nested on 4 tiny, isolated islets with a combined area of only 2.4 acres.
In 2023, we reached a new record number of 164 breeding pairs with 76 successfully fledged chicks, nesting on 6 islands (including Nonsuch Island) totaling 22.5 acres. The 2 nesting colonies on Nonsuch, established in 2 projects involving the translocation of chicks from the original islets to artificial burrows on Nonsuch and hand-fed on Squid and Anchovies until they imprinted on their new site and fledged out to sea, are increasing the fastest, having risen from the original pair of returned translocated birds, that produced their first chick in 2009, to nearly 40 breeding pairs producing 19 successfully fledged chicks in 2023.
This year was also noteworthy in having Cahows dig and successfully raise a chick in the first natural soil burrow (all other nest burrows on Nonsuch are concrete or plastic artificial nests) on Nonsuch Island since the 1620s, as far as records show.
We are just waiting to see if hurricane "Lee" causes any damage to nests on the small original half-acre nesting islands, as the 10' to 12' storm waves already pounding the coastline are on the verge of overwashing the lowest of these. By Thursday night, when the storm is at its closest (presently forecast at 150 miles), waves outside the reef are forecast to reach 16' to 28', although the hurricane itself will hopefully be loosing strength by then. Any damage on these smaller islets will need to be repaired before the Cahows return for their next breeding season in late October (they are still safely out in mid-ocean where they have the room to fly around these storms).
This will be the 3rd tropical system to affect Bermuda in the last 2 weeks, and to be honest, it would be great to catch a break for the rest of hurricane season!”