Fabrice Schmitt and David Fisher on their visit to a Markham's Storm-Petrel breeding colony

The breeding grounds of Markham’s Storm-Petrel has been a well-kept mystery until very recently. Only one colony had been found, near Paracas in Peru, even though large numbers of flying young are found each year off the Chilean coast. Local seabird experts knew that other breeding sites had to exist.

Markham's Storm-Petrel at sea

Last year, a team of Chilean birders including Fabrice, finally discovered several Markham’s Storm-Petrel breeding colonies of in the north of Chile, and we decided to include a tour visit to one of these, located in the middle of the Atacama Desert 10 kilometers from the coast.

A Markham's Storm-Petrel breeding colony (no joke...)

We had the very same morning seen two adult Markham’s Storm-Petrels at sea during our pelagic trip off Arica and our group, in the dark about our objective and understandably wondering where we were going given the desolate surrounndings, was absolutely amazed to see a well-grown chick in its nesting cavity in so inhospitable a place.Whether the chick was astounded at being the first of its species to see a tour group is unknown.

Entrance to a Markham's burrow

The WINGS group looking at a Markham's chick looking back at them

A Markham's chick in its burrow photographed with an endoscope camera - Image Ronny Peredo

An adult Markham's in its burrow photographeed with an endescope camera - Image Ronny Peredo

Fabrice and his Chilean friends from the Chilean Birding Network are undertaking their investigation into the breeding seabirds of Chile thanks to funding from the WAN foundation, and hope next to discover the totally unknown breeding ground of Ringed Storm-Petrel!