Seabirds of Ascension Island

Ascension Island is one of the most important warm-water seabird stations in the world, and the most important seabird breeding site in the tropical Atlantic. It supports over 400,000 seabirds. The most important site for seabirds on Ascension is the small offshore Boatswainbird Island (See Overview Map), though some species nest on offshore stacks and mainland cliffs. The present sizes of the seabird populations are thought to be only a fraction of those found before man's colonisation in 1815, millions of seabirds nested in large colonies on the mainland.

Ascension Island Frigate Bird (Fregata aquila)
An estimated 6,000 pairs of this endenmic bird are found on Ascension (10,000 individuals). All Nest on Boatswainbird Island. It feeds on fish and surface prey such as Sooty Tern chicks and small turtles.
Masked Booby (Sula dactylatra)
	Over 10% of the Atlantic's population of Masked Boobies nest on Ascesion, with about 1200 pairs nesting mainly on Boatswainbird Island, and some stacks and cliffs. They evidently bred in large numbers on the mainland and there is some evidence that they were breeding here in the early part of the 20th century.
Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster)
Around 2,000 birds form the breeding population on Ascension. Nesting on the steep slopes of Boatswainbird Island, with smaller numbers on the cliffs and stacks. Brown Boobies can be found in large numbers off Long Beach diving for fry.
Red-footed Booby (Sula sula)
	Only about 30 individuals of this species are found on Ascension, most on Boatswainbird Lsland, however there is a nest on White Island off shore from North West Point. This represents 10% of the Atlantic population of this endangered species.
White Tern (Gygis alba)
The Ascension population is estimated at around 5,300 birds, perhaps 1% of the world's population. These nest on cliffs on Boatswainbird Island and on the mainland. A colony can be seen from Middleton's Path, Green Mountain.
Brown Noddy (Anous stolidus)
	The Islands population of approximately 1,000 birds nests mostly on stacks with a few pairs on coastal cliffs. This may represent about 2% of the world's population.
Sooty Tern (Sterna fuscata)
The Ascension population is estimated at over 180,000 pairs; they are on a non-annual breeding cycle (9-10 months). Five months of this cycle is spent on Ascension where colonies can be found at Mars Bay and Waterside.
Red-Billed Tropic Bird (Phaethon aetherus)
	Probably 500 pairs of this hole nesting bird breed on Boatswainbird Island and mainland cliffs. This represents about 17% of the Atlantic population of this species. These birds are easily identified in flight by a long tail.
Yellow-Billed Tropic Bird (Phaethon lepthurus)
The 2,200 birds on Ascension represent about a third of the Atlantic population of this species. They are hole nesters. The main population is found on Boatswainbird Island with other pairs nesting on the cliffs and offshore stacks.
Black Noody (Anous minutus)
Image to follow	The Ascension Island population is thought to number about 20,000 birds; possibly around 4% of the world's population. These nest on coastal cliffs and can be seen on the stacks at Pillar Bay.

Textual Information taken from the Seabirds of Ascension Island Conservation Leaflet sponsored by the Ascension Island Government and design by Tara George.