Number of accepted Audubon's Shearwater records for Louisiana >30 as of 25th Report of the LBRC (2022)
Photo by Donna L. Dittmann
One male (1954-08) on 26 August 1954, Gulf of Mexico: 94 mi. E Southeast Pass Mississippi River, 28o 54’ N, 88o 00’ W; Stewart Springer (LSUMZ 20345).
Three (1961-02) on 15 September 1961, Cameron: 1 mi. E Holly Beach; found dead on beach following Hurricane Carla by Laurence C. Binford (LSUMZ 25129, male/skin, D. G. Berrett; LSUMZ 27853 photo below; male, skeleton, K. A. Arnold; LSUMZ 27856 female, skeleton, K. A. Arnold).
One male (1961-09) on 16 September 1961, Cameron: 1 mi. E Holly Beach; found dead on beach following Hurricane Carla by Laurence C. Binford (LSUMZ 27854 male, skeleton, K. A. Arnold).
One female (1961-06) on 16 September 1961, Cameron: Johnsons Bayou; found dead on beach following Hurricane Carla by Laurence C. Binford (LSUMZ 27855 female, skeleton, K. A. Arnold).
One female (1961-07) on 16 September 1961, Cameron: Holly Beach; found dead on beach following Hurricane Carla by Laurence C. Binford (LSUMZ 27857 female, skeleton, photo on p. 12). Specimen without label.
One sex unknown (1961-08) on 16 September 1961, Cameron: 2 mi. W Holly Beach; found dead on beach following Hurricane Carla by Laurence C. Binford (LSUMZ 27858 sex unknown, skeleton, K. A. Arnold; photo on p. 12). Previous six (eight specimens) records included in Lowery (1974) were among 13 specimens preserved of 17 of this species apparently picked up following Hurricane Carla.
One sex unknown (1962-09) on 28 April 1962, Cameron: 2 mi. SE Cameron (LSUMZ 27860; skeleton, specimen without label).
One male (1970-09) on 9 July 1970, Gulf of Mexico: 40 mi. S South Pass on course of 140o; Robert J. Newman (LSUMZ 69133, photo above; Lowery 1974).
One female (1981-13) on 25 Jul 1981, Orleans: New Orleans, Magazine and Calhoun streets (LSUMZ 103405, Tristan J. Davis*).
One (1997-29) on 13 Sep 1997, Gulf of Mexico: approx. 48 mi. S of South Pass Mississippi River; Daniel F. Lane (sketch), John P. Sevenair (ph), and Phillip Wallace (ph only); FN 52(1): 72 (locality indicated as “50 mi. off South Pass”).
One immature female (2004-14) on 5 May 2004, Gulf of Mexico: 18 mi. S of mouth South Pass of Mississippi River, 28o45'41.7"N, 89o08'43.1"W; Steven W. Cardiff (LSUMZ 177116) and Donna L. Dittmann (*); NAB58(3):384.
One adult male (2004-15) on 20 May 2004, Gulf of Mexico: 28.5 mi. SE of mouth South Pass of Mississippi River, 28o40'00.2"N, 88o50'48.3"W; Steven W. Cardiff (LSUMZ 177117) and Donna L. Dittmann (*); NAB58(3):384.
One immature female (2004-16) on 6 Jun 2004, Gulf of Mexico: 41.3 mi. SE of mouth South Pass of Mississippi River, 28o39'46.8"N, 88o35'08.8"W; Steven W. Cardiff (LSUMZ 177118) and Donna L. Dittmann (*); NAB58(4):543.
One immature male (2006-20) on 31 Jul 2006, Gulf of Mexico: 50.4 mi. SE of mouth South Pass of Mississippi River, 28o23'29.5²N, 88o41'19.7²W; Steven W. Cardiff (LSUMZ 179755) and Donna L. Dittmann (*); NAB60(4):538.
One adult female (2006-21) on 31 Jul 2006, Gulf of Mexico: approximately 49 mi. ESE of mouth South Pass of Mississippi River, 28o24'24.3²N, 88o40'18.5²W; Steven W. Cardiff (LSUMZ 179754) and Donna L. Dittmann (*); NAB60(4):538.
One adult female (2006-22) on 31 Jul 2006, Gulf of Mexico: 47 mi. SE of mouth South Pass of Mississippi River, 28o41'24.0²N, 88o38'05.2²W; Steven W. Cardiff (LSUMZ 179757) and Donna L. Dittmann (*); NAB60(4):538.
One adult male (2006-59) on 3 Oct 2006, Gulf of Mexico: about 33 mi. S of mouth South Pass of Mississippi River, 28o29'29.2²N, 89o09'15.4²W; Steven W. Cardiff (LSUMZ 179758) and D. L. Dittmann (*); NAB61(1):85.
Two (2011-046) on 24 July 2011, Gulf of Mexico: ca 60 mi. S of Venice;
Justin Bosler
(ph),
Jeffrey W. Harris
(ph),
Nancy L. Newfield, and Dave Patton
(ph only).
Photo by Dave Patton
One (2011-047) on 25 September 2011, Gulf of Mexico: Mississippi Canyon;
Justin Bosler (ph),
John Sevenair
(ph), Erik I. Johnson
(ph),
Robert D. Purrington
(ph only), and
Dave Patton
(ph only).
Photo by Erik Johnson
One molting heavily (2012-113) on 2 July 2012, Gulf of Mexico: 100 km SSE Venice, N28.424051o, W89.009217o;
Jennifer O. Coulson (ph).
Photo by Jennifer O. Coulson
One (2015-071) on 6 September 2015, Gulf of Mexico: ca 20.5 mi. SE Southwest Pass Mississippi River,
N28.670000° W89.217500°;
David P. Muth (ph)
and
J. V. Remsen (ph).
Photo by Van Remsen
One (2015-049) on 21 September 2015, Gulf of Mexico: ca 49 mi. SE Southwest Pass Mississippi River.
N28.393889o, W88.876944o; Dan O’Malley (ph)
.
Photo by Dan O’Malley
Up to seven (2017-040) on 2 September 2017, Gulf of Mexico: vicinity of 33-37 mi. SE mouth South Pass
of Mississippi River;
Robert C. Dobbs (ph):
Dobbs report 1,
Dobbs report 2,
Dobbs report 3,
Dobbs report 4,
Dobbs report 5,
Dobbs report 6,
Dobbs report 7,
Paul E. Conover (ph):
Conover report 1,
Conover report 2,
Conover report 3,
Conover report 4,
Conover report 5,
Conover report 6,
and
Larry R. Raymond (ph).
Locations of 2 September Audubon's Shearwaters. Scale in lower right = 3 mi.
Photo by Paul Conover
Photo by Paul Conover
Photo by Paul Conover
Photo by Robert C. Dobbs
Photo by Paul Conover
Photo by Robert C. Dobbs
Photo by Robert C. Dobbs
Photo by Robert C. Dobbs
Photo by Robert C. Dobbs
Photo by Robert C. Dobbs
Two (2018-049) on 25 August 2018, Gulf of Mexico: Carnival Breeze Cruise 8/25/18 Leg 3/30, off Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, US start: N26.106 o, W88.799 o (heading Northwest towards Galveston); James F. (Jim) Holmes (ph) See also: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S48080192.
Three (2018-053) on 25 August 2018, Gulf of Mexico: Carnival Breeze Cruise 8/25/18 Leg 7/30, off Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, US start: N26.34 o, W89.174 o (heading Northwest towards Galveston); James F. (Jim) Holmes (ph). See also: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S48080151.
One (2018-055) on 25 August 2018, Gulf of Mexico: Carnival Breeze Cruise 8/25/18 Leg 11/30, off Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, US start: N26.556 o, W89.538 o (heading Northwest towards Galveston); James F. (Jim) Holmes. See also: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S48080125.
One (2018-057) on 25 August 2018, Gulf of Mexico: Carnival Breeze Cruise 8/25/18 Leg 20/30, off Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana, US start: N26.997 o, W90.37 o (heading Northwest towards Galveston) - Green Canyon; James F. (Jim) Holmes (ph). See also: E: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S48080005.
One (2021-059) on 26 July 2021, Gulf of Mexico: approx. 38 mi. S South Pass Mississippi River, N28.452167o
W89.080694o; Paul E. Conover (ph).
Photo by Paul Conover
One (2021-060) on 26 July 2021, Gulf of Mexico: approx. 31 mi. SSE South Pass Mississippi River N28.581139o
W88.970833o; Paul E. Conover (ph).
Photo by Paul Conover
One (2021-061) on 26 July 2021, Gulf of Mexico: approx. 24 mi. SSE South Pass Mississippi River N28.682583o
W88.980583o; Paul E. Conover (ph).
Photo by Paul Conover
Six (1981-15; formerly 83-10) at Holly Beach, Cameron Parish, 22 February 1981.
Around nine (1995-102) on 16 September 1995, Gulf of Mexico: 55-67 mi. S Venice. This observation occurred on a LOS pelagic trip and many observers including LBRC Members were onboard, and photos were supposedly obtained. However, photos were never submitted and only one observer submitted a written report, which did not provide adequate details to support the identification. There is a card (3 X 5 file) that indicates “20 individuals seen from 45-65 mi. S of Southwest Pass” but provides no additional details! The record can be re-reviewed if new information eventually surfaces.
One (1996-18) on 4 May 1996, Gulf of Mexico: approximately 20 mi. SSW of mouth of Southwest Pass (28o40'N, 89o32’W) on LOS-sponsored pelagic trip. NASFN50(3):291 reported these as "small shearwaters." This record received a final vote of 2-5 on the second circulation. Members voting not to accept cited possible confusion with Manx Shearwater, noting that Audubon's was no longer the "default" species in the Gulf.
One (1998-68) on 22 Aug 1998, Gulf of Mexico: 61 mi. S of East Timbalier Island, Ewing Banks 826 oil platform, 28o09'48"N, 90o21'31"W. All but one member believed that the distance involved (>1 mi.) would not allow adequate study (even with a 60x scope) to clearly separate this species from Manx Shearwater.
At least two, probably three to four (1998-73), on 23 Aug 1998, Gulf of Mexico: 138 mi. S of Cameron, Garden Banks 189A oil platform, 27o46'43²N, 93o18'34²W. All but one member believed that these birds (closest observation at ¾ mi. with 30X scope) were too far away to clearly distinguish Audubon’s from Manx shearwaters.
One (1998-69) on 27 Aug 1998, Gulf of Mexico: 61 mi. S of East Timbalier Island, Ewing Banks 826 oil platform, 28o09'48"N, 90o21'31"W. All but two members believed that the description of the bird did not provide enough information to eliminate Manx Shearwater.
One (1999-044) on 20 March 1999, Gulf of Mexico: Garden Banks 189 oil platform, 138 mi. S of Cameron, N 27.7786o, W 93.3095o.
One (1999-166) on 21 March 1999, Gulf of Mexico: Garden Banks 189 oil platform, 138 mi. S of Cameron, N 27.7786o, W 93.3095o.
One (1999-123) on 22 March 1999, Gulf of Mexico: South Marsh Island 147 oil platform (ABF card-only). All Members agreed that details submitted with this record did not adequately eliminate Manx Shearwater. Thirteen (2018-056) on 25 August 2018, Gulf of Mexico: Carnival Breeze Cruise 8/25/18 Leg 14/30, Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, US (8 birds) Carnival Breeze Cruise 8/25/18 Leg 15/30, Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, US start: N26.793o W89.878 o (heading northwest towards Galveston): 5 more birds joined the initial 8 to make a total of 13 seen together. This record went to a Discussion Round with three Members voting to accept, and five not accepting due to concerns about superficial details, conditions of observations, and general assumption of identification based on probability (versus Manx Shearwater). There is only one accepted record of Manx Shearwater from Louisiana, LBRC 1999-199 on 11 March 1999. However, Texas has eleven accepted records scattered throughout the year that do not show a clear pattern of occurrence.
One (1999-167) on 28 March 1999, Gulf of Mexico: Garden Banks 189 oil platform, 138 mi. S of Cameron, N 27.7786o, W 93.3095o.
Descriptions for the three records immediately above (1999-044,-166, and -167 were originally submitted as one record) were too superficial to support identification as Audubon’s or eliminate Manx Shearwater. Audubon’s should not be treated as the “default” small black and white shearwater, especially because there are no confirmed records of Audubon’s from March.
Three (1999-093) on 4 September 1999, Gulf of Mexico: 61 mi. S East Timbalier Island, Ewing Bank 826 oil platform, N 28.163333o, W 90.358611o (ca 90 mi. SW Venice). Members were in general agreement that these birds were almost certainly small shearwaters, and the date is well within the established period of occurrence for Audubon’s in Louisiana’s offshore waters. However, the birds were distant when observed, and four Members were ultimately not convinced by the circumstances/description that other small black-and-white shearwater species (especially Manx Shearwater) were decisively eliminated, and those Members were not willing to accept based on just the probability that Audubon’s is the “default” small shearwater in the Gulf of Mexico during the warm seasons.
One (2000-16) on 20 Jan 2000, Gulf of Mexico: 122 mi. S of Morgan City, Green Canyon 18A oil platform, 27o56'37²N, 91o01'45²W; FN52(2):187. The observer’s description did not adequately separate this species from Manx Shearwater; there are no well-documented winter records of Audubon’s Shearwater.
One (2000-029) on 18 May 2000, Gulf of Mexico: Ewing Bank N26, 28.16333°, W90.358611°. This involved a distant observation with understandably limited descriptive detail. Most Members believed that, although Audubon’s was more likely given the date, Manx Shearwater could not be eliminated from consideration.
One (2011-118) on 5 September 2011, Jefferson: Lake Pontchartrain. The consensus among Members was that the circumstances of the observation (brief, and from a moving vehicle) would not have allowed adequate study to be certain of the identification.
One (2017-075) on 22 December 2017, Gulf of Mexico: open ocean, exact location unknown but somewhere north of N25.777590o, W89.869890o. Although most Members believed that the bird was probably correctly identified, all were in agreement that this report could not be accepted without a specified location.
One (2018-046) on 20 August 2018, Gulf of Mexico: Carnival Breeze Cruise 8/20/18 Leg 5/20 Start: N26.643o, W90.081o (heading SE towards Key West); this same bird was also seen at the start of Leg 4. Members found two different problems with this record. First, the observer reported this individual on two different long forms because the reporter opted to report sightings seen on survey legs instead of as an exact locality. The LBRC encourages observers to report pelagic species with an actual locality rather than in a time block or distance transect because an exact locality (GPS coordinates) provides more useful information. Second, and more importantly, the individual was distant and not well seen and the observer could not adequately separate similar species.
Two (2018-045) on 20 August 2018, Gulf of Mexico: Carnival Breeze Cruise 8/20/18 Leg 4/20 start: N26.696o, W90.193o (heading SE towards Key West). See above comments for 2017-046.
One (2018-044) on 20 August 2018, Gulf of Mexico: Carnival Breeze Cruise, leg starting at N26.751o, W90.307o (heading SE towards Key West). Members were concerned with the distant observation and sketchy description. After the Discussion Round vote, three Members believed that the details did not rise to the threshold of acceptance.
Two (2018-047) on 20 August 2018, Gulf of Mexico: Carnival Breeze Cruise leg starting at N26.482o, W89.747o (heading SE towards Key West). As in the case of the above record, this went toD ais cussion Round vote. Two Members said that they would accept only one of the individuals reported whereas the remaininMg embers believed supporting details did not rise to the threshold of acceptance of the record.
Two (2018-048) on 25 August 2018, Gulf of Mexico: Carnival Breeze Cruise 8/25/18 Leg 2/30, off Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, US start N26.039o, W88.689o (heading northwest towards Galveston). This same bird was also seen at the start of Leg 5. See above comments for 2017-046.
One (2018-050) on 25 August 2018, Gulf of Mexico: Carnival Breeze Cruise 8/25/18 Leg 4/30, off Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, US start: N26.166o, W88.897o (heading Northwest towards Galveston). See above comments for 2017-046.
One (2018-051) on 25 August 2018, Gulf of Mexico: Carnival Breeze Cruise 8/25/18 Leg 5/30, off Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, US start: N26.223o, W88.992o (heading Northwest towards Galveston). See above comments for 2017-046.
One (2018-052) on 25 August 2018, Gulf of Mexico: Carnival Breeze Cruise 8/25/18 Leg 6/30, off Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, US start: N26.287o, W89.078o (heading Northwest towards Galveston). See above comments for 2017-046.
Two (2018-054) on 25 August 2018, Gulf of Mexico: Carnival Breeze Cruise 8/25/18 Leg 8/30, off Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, US start: N26.39o, W89.266o (heading Northwest towards Galveston). See above comments for 2017-046.
One (2019-071) on 12 August 2019, Gulf of Mexico: approximately 163.7 mi. SE Southwest Pass Mississippi River on Carnival Cruise Glory at N26.089o, W88.272 o. Most Members agreed that Audubon’s was far more likely given date and location, but a majority were unwilling to accept the record based largely on probability.