Barau's petrel
Endangered seabird breeding on Réunion, threatened by light pollution.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
Barau's petrel (Pterodroma baraui) is a medium-sized gadfly petrel in the Procellariidae family, and it breeds mainly on Réunion, an island in the Indian Ocean. Though local people already knew about it, this seabird wasn't formally described until 1964, making it one of the most recently discovered species. Its name honors Armand Barau, an agricultural engineer and ornithologist from Réunion.
The bird measures about 40 cm long, with white undersides and a white forehead. Its bill is black, and its upper parts are dark, featuring a fairly clear "M" pattern across the wings and back.
Barau's petrel ranges across the Indian Ocean from Réunion to Western Australia and Indonesia. Almost all of its nesting happens on Réunion, with occasional records as a vagrant or possible breeder on Rodrigues, though no widely accepted documentation of a confirmed nest exists there. The colonies are unusual because they're far inland at high elevations—between 2,200 and 2,600 meters above sea level—where the birds dig burrows under the forest.
At sea, these petrels are highly pelagic and feed on small fish (around 10 cm) by surface-seizing and plunge-diving, sometimes joining other species while feeding. Their breeding biology hasn't been studied in detail, but it's thought that incubation lasts about 55 days, and chicks take roughly 100 to 120 days to fledge. Unlike most burrow-nesting procellariids, Barau's petrels return to their colonies during daylight, arriving in the late afternoon and using thermal updrafts to save energy. Chicks fledge between November and February. Important breeding sites on Réunion include the Grand Bénard – Tapcal and Piton des Neiges – Gros Morne Important Bird Areas.
The species is considered endangered. Its breeding range is very restricted, and it once faced hunting pressure. Although shooting has stopped and the population appears to have recovered, current threats include introduced predators like feral cats (which attack both chicks and adults) and light pollution. Young birds, especially fledglings, become disoriented by artificial lights—such as streetlights or sports floodlights—mistaking them for bioluminescent squid, which causes them to fail to reach the sea. An estimated 40% of each breeding season's fledglings get confused this way. Conservation groups work with local people to catch these disoriented chicks and release them at s
- Scientific name
- Pterodroma baraui
- Family
- Procellariidae
- Length
- around 40 cm
- Breeding site
- Réunion, Indian Ocean (occasional vagrant or possible breeder on Rodrigues)
- Conservation status
- Endangered
- Named after
- Armand Barau
Lore & Background
Barau's petrel is considered endangered due to its highly restricted breeding range and past hunting pressure. While shooting has stopped and the population appears to have recovered, it is currently threatened by introduced species such as feral cats and by light pollution. Young birds, especially fledglings, are disoriented by artificial lights, which they mistake for bioluminescent squid, leading up to 40% of each season's fledglings to fail to reach the sea. Conservation programs involve catching disoriented chicks and releasing them at sea, as well as shielding light sources to reduce attraction.
Reader's Guide
Barau's petrel is significant as one of the most recently described seabird species, highlighting the ongoing discovery of avian biodiversity even in the 20th century. Its conservation status as endangered underscores the vulnerability of species with highly restricted breeding ranges. The petrel's unique breeding behavior—nesting far inland at high elevations and returning to colonies diurnally—contrasts with most burrow-nesting procellariids. The species faces severe threats from light pollution, which disorients fledglings, but active conservation measures, including rescue programs and light shielding, have shown promise. These efforts, adapted from methods used for Newell's shearwaters in Hawaii, demonstrate cross-regional strategies for mitigating human impact on seabirds. The petrel's reliance on Réunion's highland forests and its pelagic feeding habits make it an indicator of ecosystem health in both terrestrial and marine environments.
Did You Know?
- Barau's petrel was described in 1964, making it one of the most recently discovered seabird species.
- Its colonies are located far inland at elevations between 2,200 and 2,600 meters above sea level.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Barau's petrel?
Barau's petrel (Pterodroma baraui) is a medium-sized gadfly petrel in the Procellariidae family, measuring roughly 40 cm in length. It has white underparts and forehead, a black bill, and dark upper parts with a noticeable "M"-shaped pattern across the wings and back.
Where does Barau's petrel breed?
This seabird breeds almost exclusively on Réunion, a French overseas island in the southwestern Indian Ocean. It is essentially a local endemic to that single island.
When was Barau's petrel formally described?
Although residents of Réunion were already familiar with the bird, it did not receive a formal scientific description until 1964. That late recognition makes it one of the most recently documented seabird species.
Who is Barau's petrel named after?
The species commemorates Armand Barau, a Réunion-based agricultural engineer and ornithologist. His work in local bird studies is preserved in the bird's common name.
What is Barau's petrel's conservation status and main threat?
Barau's petrel is currently classified as Endangered. Its primary threat is artificial light pollution on Réunion, which disorients the birds and jeopardizes their survival.
More in Birds of the Indian Ocean 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record