Section 58 - Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (Wildlife Conservation Plan for Seabirds) Instrument 2022 - Wildlife Conservation Plan for Seabirds | Zoe
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (Wildlife Conservation Plan for Seabirds) Instrument 2022
58Wildlife Conservation Plan for Seabirds
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Species profilesImage unavailable in extracted text
Wilson’s Storm-petrel (Oceanites oceanicus)
TABLE Species information for the Wilson's Storm-petrel
(Oceanites oceanicus)
Wilson’s Storm-petrel (Oceanites oceanicus) is a small blackish storm-petrel with proportionately short rounded wings, square tail and long thin legs. In flight, feet usually project well beyond the tail. This species has an extremely large range, but most often seen over continental shelf waters. The breeding range of Wilson’s Storm-petrels includes subantarctic islands from Cape Horn (Chile) east to the Kerguelen Islands (French Southern Territories), Macquarie Island, Heard Island and coastal Antarctica. The species undergoes a trans-equatorial migration, spending the nonbreeding season in the north Atlantic and north Indian Oceans. A number of individuals also migrate into the North Pacific Ocean. The species breeds in rocky crevices, on cliffs and amongst boulder scree. It feeds in cold waters with a diet comprised of planktonic crustaceans (especially krill) and fish.
Brooke (2004) estimated the global breeding population to number 4–10 million breeding pairs. The Australian population is poorly known owing to their small size and their cryptic nature on land. A couple of pairs of Wilson’s Storm-petrel were detected in 1993 at Bishop and Clerk Island (Brothers and Ledingham 2008) and are also likely to be breeding on Macquarie Island (Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service unpublished data). In the absence of reliable population data, their current population trend is unknown.
The species is vulnerable from invasive species. On the Kerguelen and Crozet Islands, rats are reported to take chicks and eggs, causing nest failure. Cats may take adults in addition to chicks. Storm-petrels are known to be vulnerable to oil pollution at sea and marine debris.
Gain an improved understanding of at sea distribution in Australia
Grey-backed Storm-petrel (Garrodia nereis)Image unavailable in extracted text
TABLE Species information for the Grey-backed Storm-petrel (Garrodia nereis)
The Grey-backed Storm-petrel (Garrodia nereis) is the smallest storm-petrel in the Southern Ocean. At sea, the species appears as a tiny, fast flying storm-petrel with a small and slender body and square cut tail. The species has a circumpolar distribution in the subantarctic, breeding on islands from the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) in the south-west Atlantic Ocean east to the Chatham Islands, New Zealand. The species breeds on Macquarie Island and is considered a non-breeding bird at Heard Island. Grey-backed Storm-petrels winter off the southern coast of Argentina and Australia. Its diet comprises mainly of immature barnacles and other crustaceans, but also small squid and occasionally small fish. It catches prey mostly by pattering over the surface whilst in flight, but also by dipping and shallow plunging. It has been seen to attend trawlers and occasionally follows ships. Its breeding season starts in October or November, with individuals forming loose colonies creating burrows in vegetation or nesting in crevices in rocks.
The population is not well known however, Brooke (2004) estimated the global population to potentially number over 200,000 individuals. The Australian population is unknown. The population is suspected to be in decreasing owing to predation by invasive species.
Grey-backed Storm-petrels are at risk of predation by invasive species such as rats. Tussock grassland on some breeding islands have been modified by grazing by invasive species and fire. A number of individuals are killed each year due to light-induced collisions with boats. Storm-petrels are known to be vulnerable to oil pollution at sea and marine debris.
Confirm breeding on Macquarie Island
Mitigate against impacts of light pollution by boats at sea
White-faced Storm-petrel (Pelagodroma marina)
TABLE Species information for the White-faced Storm-petrel (Pelagodroma marina)
The White-faced Storm-petrel (Pelagodroma marina) is a medium sized, distinctively patterned storm-petrel, common over inshore and oceanic waters around southern Australia. The species has an extremely large range and breeds on remote islands in the North and South Atlantic Ocean and on the coast of southern Australia and New Zealand. Outside the breeding season the Australian population range as far as the northern Indian Ocean and the north-west coast of South America. The species can normally be found over oceanic waters except when close to breeding colonies. The species feeds mostly on planktonic crustaceans and small fish. It feeds mainly of the wing by pattering and dipping. The species rarely follows ships but is known to follow cetaceans. White-faced Storm-petrels generally breed in colonies during spring and summer, forming burrows in flat areas with low herbaceous vegetation but also in rocky areas and on slops. The species is migratory, moving from temperate breeding areas to tropical and subtropical waters.
Brooke (2004) estimated the global population to number at least 4 million individuals. The European population is estimated at 77,000–111,000 pairs and is estimated to have decreased by less than 25 per cent in 46 years (three generations). In NSW the species may have declined by as much as 85 per cent since the 1970s but precise data from initial surveys is lacking (N. Carlile pers. comm). The Australian population is unknown. The population is suspected to be in decreasing owing to predation by invasive species.
The species is threatened by invasive species such as rabbits, rats, mice and cats. Expanding Silver Gull (Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae) breeding colonies have been attributed to the decrease of some White-faced Storm-petrel colonies following shifts in the vegetation community composition and erosion. Spiny woody weed infestations (i.e. Boxthorn Lycium chinense) may impact on nest sites, restricted access and cause impalement (Sir Joseph Banks Group, SA). Fires can adversely affect vegetation on breeding islands.
Survey and quantify breeding colonies in Australia.
Regularly monitor breeding colonies and reproductive success, particularly in the presence of Silver Gull breeding colonies
Control, or eradicate invasive species from known (and former) breeding islands
Establish new breeding colonies
Mitigate against impacts of light pollution around breeding colonies
Wildlife Conservation Plan for Seabirds 61
Black-bellied Storm-petrel (Fregetta tropica)
TABLE Species information for the Black-bellied Storm-petrel (Fregetta tropica)
The Black-bellied Storm-petrel (Fregetta tropica) is a medium sized storm-petrel with conspicuous white sides to the abdomen, central underwings, flanks and rump. The species breeds on subantarctic islands and migrates to subtropical and tropical zones of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans, regularly occurring north to the Equator. Its breeding season begins in November, when it forms loose colonies on bare rocky slopes, in vegetation or peat of offshore islands or stacks. The species may be associated with cool water currents where it feeds on squid and small fish.
Brooke (2004) estimated the global population to number 500,000 individuals. The Australian population is unknown.
Black-bellied Storm-petrels are at risk of predation by invasive species such as rats.
A number of individuals are killed each year due to light-induced collisions with boats.
Storm-petrels are known to be vulnerable to oil pollution and marine debris.
Determine the relationship between breeding distribution and existing and projected marine productivity for Australian taxa
Mitigate against impacts of light pollution by boats at sea
Photograph of a Black-bellied Storm Petrel flying low