118Wildlife Conservation Plan for Seabirds

118 Wildlife Conservation Plan for Seabirds

 Implement best practice quarantine measures at breeding colonies to reduce the risk of any invasive species (re)establishing on islands

Photograph of a Brown Booby

Wildlife Conservation Plan for Seabirds 119

Black-faced Cormorant (Phalacrocorax fuscescens)

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TABLE Species information for the Black-faced Cormorant (Phalacrocorax fuscescens)

The Black-faced Cormorant (Phalacrocorax fuscescens) is a moderately large black and white cormorant endemic to southern Australia. This species is found along the coast of Tasmania and Victoria with two independent populations one on the coast of southern Western Australia, the other on the coasts of South Australia (del Hoyo et al. 1992). Breeding usually occurs on rocky islands, but also on stacks, slopes and sea cliffs in colonies of up to 2,500 individuals (del Hoyo et al. 1992). It feeds in coastal waters, sometimes in sheltered places such as bays and islets and can be found entering rivers along the coast.

The total population estimate is uncertain but is thought to be several 10,000s of birds (del Hoyo et al. 1992). The population trend is difficult to determine because of uncertainty over the extent of threats to the species. Population at the large Port Adelaide colony saw increases since colonisation after breakwater construction from 250-300 nests in 1967, 2,000 nests in 1987, 6,000 nests early 1990s but have declined to approx. 2,300 individuals (1,150 nests) in recent counts 2018.

The species is occasionally persecuted by fishermen who perceive it as a threat to their livelihoods, but the incidence has not been quantified. Among the few colonies that have been monitored in recent years, no resulting declines have been observed due to human disturbance. Oil spills and marine debris (entanglement) pose risks to individuals. In South Australia, Spencer Gulf colonies breed in summer, storm activity regularly impacts nests at the large winter nesting colony at Port Adelaide, Silver Gull egg and chick depredation also impacts breeding success.

Australian Pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus)

Image unavailable in extracted textTABLE Species information for the Australian Pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus)

The Australian Pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus) is a large waterbird, widespread on inland and coastal waters of Australia and Papua New Guinea, also in Fiji, parts of Indonesia. It is a predominantly white bird with black wings and a pink bill. It eats fish but will also consume birds and scavenges for scraps if the opportunity arises. Australian Pelicans occur primarily in large expanses of open water without dense aquatic vegetation. The habitats that can support them include large lakes, reservoirs, billabongs and rivers, as well as estuaries, swamps, temporarily flooded areas in arid zones, drainage channels in farmland, salt evaporation ponds and coastal lagoons. They do seem to prefer areas where disturbance is relatively low while breeding. The Australian Pelican begins breeding at two or three years of age. The breeding season varies, occurring in winter in tropical areas (north of 26°S) and spring in parts of southern Australia. Breeding may occur any time after rainfall in inland areas. The nest is a shallow depression in earth or sand, sometimes with some grass lining. They may roost on mudflats, sandbars, beaches, reefs, jetties and pilings. Australian Pelicans feed by plunge-diving while swimming on the surface of the water. They work in groups to drive fish to shallower water, where they stick their sensitive bills in to snatch their prey. Some feeding grounds in large bodies of water have included up to 1,900 individual birds.