Barau's petrel
pterodroma baraui latin

Barau's Petrel is considered to be an endangered species.

Barau's Petrel is around 40 cm long, and has white undersides and forehead.

Colonies are usually located near the coast, but some species nest far inland and even at high altitudes (such as the Barau's Petrel).

An estimated 20-40% of fledging Barau's Petrels are attracted to the streetlights on Réunion.

Barau's Petrel, Pterodroma baraui is a medium sized gadfly petrel from the family Procellariidae.

Barau's Petrel ranges across the Indian Ocean from Réunion to Western Australia and Indonesia.

Unlike most burrow nesting procellariids, Barau's Petrels begin to return to their colonies diurnally, returning in the late afternoon and riding the thermal updrafts to conserve energy.

Some species, such as Barau's Petrel, Newell's Shearwater and Cory's Shearwater, which nest high up on large developed islands, are victims of light pollution.

While his primary goal was to find the breeding grounds of the Mascarene Petrel, he discovered another new species, Barau's Petrel, breeding on the island of Réunion.