III. Back from the Brink
Bermuda petrel
Index Naturae
IN 1.60.02-A
Bermuda petrel
Pterodroma cahow
Adult portrait
III. Back from the Brink
Field notes
Bermuda’s cahow spends much of its life over the open Atlantic, searching for squid, fish and shrimp. Its ocean journeys end at a tiny island breeding range. Thought lost for centuries, this petrel was rediscovered in 1951 and became the focus of sustained conservation.
- Range
- Breeds in Bermuda; ranges widely over the North Atlantic at sea.
- Habitat
- Open ocean, returning to sheltered nesting burrows on Bermuda’s protected islands.
Conservation
Predator control, artificial burrows and translocation have strengthened nesting colonies. Recovery remains vulnerable to erosion, flooding and severe storms, while persistent pollutants in the marine food web can affect breeding success far from the protected islands.
Sources & conservation context
- Government of Bermuda — Bermuda’s Protected Plants and Animals
- Bermuda DENR — 2024 Bermuda Petrel Nesting Season
Source review: 6 October 2026. Assessment dates, where given, belong to the cited source.