The incidental mortality of albatrosses Diomedeidae and petrels Procellariidae by longline fishing vessels, has been assessed and analysed in several areas of the globe. We provide the first direct estimates of incidental mortality rates of albatrosses and petrels along the Argentine Shelf and shelf break. The estimated by-catch rate for the whole period analysed (1999-2001) was 0.04 birds/1,000 hooks, with a maximum of 0.20 birds/1,000 hooks observed in 1999. Annual captures averaged 1,160 birds; however, the large variation observed indicates that annual by-catch may be in the order of thousands, with around 10,000 seabirds being killed by longliners through the study period. Most of the captures were observed along the Patagonian shelf break. At least 12 bird species were incidentally taken, with Black-browed Albatrosses Thalassarche melanophris and White-chinned Petrels Procellaria aequinoctialis accounting for about 80% of total captures. The information provided in this study allowed the design and future implementation of mitigation measures and new survey methods onboard longliners operating in Atlantic waters on the Argentine shelf.

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The behaviour of Red-gartered Coots feeding on an unusual food source was examined at Mar Chiquita Coastal Lagoon, Argentina. The grapsid crab Cyrtograpsus angulatus made up all observed prey items, and 61% were small. Both handling and foraging duration increased with the size of captured crabs, but foraging efficiency decreased. Crab availability affected both the dive duration of the Coots and their foraging decisions with regard to prey-size selection. Two species of gull were observed kleptoparasitizing Coots, especially when the Coot was handling medium or large crabs. Feeding by Coots on Cyrtograpsus angulatus has not been previously documented and may be a feeding innovation. Our estimations suggest that Coots were foraging optimally, since smaller crabs were more energetically profitable.

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