2. Seabirds are a taxonomically varied group that depend on the marine environment for at least part of their life cycle.  350 species (3.5% of all bird species)  Top-predators  Can cover large foraging distances  Typically long living and monogamous  Have a late onset of reproductive age and small clutch size  Loyal to their breeding site

3.  As top-predators, they play an important structural role in the marine eco-system  Indicators of the health of the marine eco- system…

4. Low density surface waters Inhibition of vertical mixing Inhibition of vertical nutrient flow Decline in plankton Decline in krill and fish Declines in top- predators, including seabirds

5. BirdLife International, 2012

7. Human activities

8. © Ross Wanless

10. Kim Hansen – Creative Commons

11. Chris Jordan

12. Jay Penniman - http://mauiinvasive.org/category/invasive-animals/

13. BirdLife Malta

14. © John J. Borg

15. Scopoli’s Shearwater Calonectris diomedea  4500 pairs – 5% of the global population*  Colonies at Ta’ Cenc, Filfla and the cliffs on the south of Malta  ‘Vulnerable’

16. Yelkouan Shearwater Puffinus yelkouan  1600 - 1800 pairs – 10% of the global population  Colonies at Rdum tal- Madonna and the western and south- western cliffs of Malta and Gozo  ‘Vulnerable’

17. European Storm Petrel Hydrobates pelagicus melitensis  5000 - 8000 pairs – 50% of the global population*  Colonies at Filfla  ‘LC’…but declining

18. BirdLife International, 2012

19. © Benjamin Metzger

21. ? ? ? ? ? ?

22.  Croxall, J.P.; Butchart S.H.M.; Lascelles, B.; Stattersfield A.J.; Sullivan B.; Symes, A. & Taylor, P. (2012). Seabird conservation status, threats and priority actions: a global assessment. Bird Conservation International, 22, 1–34.  Sangster, G.; Collinson, J.M.; Crochet, P.A; Knox, A.G.; Parkin, D.T. & Votier, S.C. (2012). Taxonomic recommendations for British birds: eighth report. Ibis, 154(4), 874- 883.DOI: 10.1111/j.1474-919X.2012.01273.x  Seabirds are key indicators of the impact of climate change on the world's oceans. http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/sowb/casestudy/279  Native birds on Gough Island are being devastated by house mice. http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/sowb/casestudy/175  Longline fishing effort overlaps with foraging hotspots for seabirds. http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/sowb/casestudy/166  Offshore wind farms are impacting seabirds and migrating passerines. http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/sowb/casestudy/289  Seabirds suffer from eating "junk“. http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/sowb/casestudy/159  Malta pioneering seabird research! http://www.talking-naturally.co.uk/malta-pioneering- seabird-research/  EU LIFE+ Malta Seabird Project. http://www.birdlifemalta.org/photos/otherfiles/5174.pdf