Part Tools to Assist Implementation - National Recovery Plan for the Christmas Island Frigatebird Fregata andrewsi - Tools to Assist Implementation | Zoe
The following management actions are required to aid the Christmas Island Frigatebird viability and recovery:
Adequate resourcing of the identified management activities for the species;
Quarantine prevention of the introduction of new avian pathogens; and
Quarantine prevention of the introduction of new invasive weeds.
This taxon will benefit from active conservation management.
Any action which would remove nesting sites, potential nesting sites or habitat critical to survival could result in a significant impact on the species and requires referral to the Commonwealth Environment Minister under the EPBC Act.
Tools to Assist Implementation
Costs
Action
Likely expenses
Cost estimate
Responsibility
Timeframe
Develop techniques to monitor the total breeding population
Salaries, remote-control helicopter hire
$45,900
PANCI
Yr 1
Monitor total breeding population
Salaries, airfares, equipment, travel
$126,500
PANCI
Yr 1-2
Monitor and/or assist recovery of the dryers breeding colony.
Salaries
$10,000
PANCI, CIP
Yr 1-4
Develop and implement wildlife management plan for habitat outside the national park*
Salaries
$10,000 then $5000 pa
PANCI
Ongoing
Ensure protection of habitat critical outside the national park*
PANCI staff time
$2,000 pa
PANCI
Ongoing
Implement the Invasive Ants on Christmas Island Action Plan*
PANCI staff, ant bait, contractors research
$475,000 in 2002/3 then c. $100,000 pa
PANCI
Ongoing
Maintenance [and regular review] of a quarantine barrier between Christmas Island and all other lands to minimise risks of new avian diseases*
AQIS staff time, PANCI assistance to AQIS
$2000 pa (PANCI)
AQIS
Ongoing
Community education program*
PANCI staff, brochure production costs.
$2000 pa
PANCI
Ongoing
Establish a recovery team which meets regularly*
PANCI
$2000 pa
PANCI
Ongoing
Major review of the recovery plan
Recovery Team
$2500
PANCI
Yr 5
* Actions which share some or all of their objectives with other Christmas Island Recovery Plans.
Summary table of costs
Year
1
2
3
4
5
Total Costs
$612,150
$186,250
$123,000
$123,000
$125,500
Landholder incentives
Opportunities exist for the Natural Heritage Trust to be used to protect remnant vegetation on the small areas of native vegetation on private land. Management agreements can be put in place with landholder’s permission to protect and enhance native vegetation on the island.
Role and interests of indigenous people
Not relevant.
Interests that will be affected by the plan’s implementation or adoption
Parks Australia North, Shire of Christmas Island, Union of Christmas Island Workers, Asia Pacific Space Centre Pty. Ltd., Department of Transport and Regional Services, Department of Immigration, Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs, and Christmas Island Phosphates
Consultation with, and advice considered from relevant State and Territory Governments and the general public
This plan was originally written in 1996. The current version was completed by Birds Australia in consultation with Parks Australia North, staff of Christmas Island National Park, and the Department of the Environment and Heritage, Canberra. Both Christmas Island Phosphates and the Shire of Christmas Island were consulted during the preparation of this current plan.
Whilst Christmas Island is a Commonwealth non-self governing Territory, Western Australian laws are applied to the island as Commonwealth applied laws. A number of Western Australian agencies have roles on Christmas Island through agreements with the Department of Transport and Regional Services (DOTARS). DOTARS has consulted with the Department of the Environment and Heritage and has contributed to the development of this plan.
As part of the requirements for the EPBC Act, a three month public consultation phase was undertaken whereby the public was able to contribute comments on draft plans, and where relevant these comments were then incorporated.
Community Participation
Regular press articles in Christmas Island newspapers. Also see action 8 - includes production of a multi-lingual pamphlet on Christmas Island seabirds and a potential curriculum unit on endemic seabirds for both primary and secondary school students.
References
Andrews, C.W. 1900. A Monograph of Christmas Island. British Museum (Natural History), London.
Ballance, L.T., R.L. Pitman & S.B. Reilly. 1997. Seabird community structure along a productivity gradient: importance of competition and energetic constraint. Ecology 78(5): 1502-1518.
Cadee, G.C. 1985. Some data on seabird abundance in Indonesian waters, July/August 1984. Ardea 73: 183-88.
Chasen, F.N. 1933. Notes on the fauna of Christmas Island, Indian Ocean. Bull. Raffles Mus. 8: 51-87.
Croxall, J.P. & P. Rotherby. 1991. Population regulation of Seabirds: Implications of their demography for conservation. In: Perrins, C.M, J.D. Lebreton & G.J.M. Hirons (eds) Bird population studies: relevance to conservation and management. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
Diamond, A.W. 1972. Sexual dimorphism in breeding cycles and unequal sex ratio in Magnificent Frigate-birds. Ibis 114: 395-398.
Dunlop, J.N., R.D. Wooller & N.G. Cheshire. 1988. Distribution and Abundance of Marine Birds in the Eastern Indian Ocean. Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 39: 661-9.
Environment Australia. 2002. Christmas Island National Park Management Plan. Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra.
Garnett, S. 1992. The action plan for Australian birds. Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service, Canberra.
Garnett, S.T. and Crowley, G.M. 2000. The Action Plan for Australian Birds 2000. Birds Australia, Melbourne and Environment Australia, Canberra.
Gibson-Hill, C.A. 1947. Notes on the birds of Christmas Island. Bull. Raffles Mus. 18: 87-165.
Gibson-Hill, C.A. 1949. Notes on the nesting habits of seven representative tropical sea birds. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 48: 214-235.
Gore, M.J.E. 1968. A Check-list of the birds of Sabah, Borneo. Ibis 110: 165-196.
Gray, H.S. 1981. Christmas Island Naturally. Geraldton, H. Gray.
Green, R.E. & G.J.M. Hirons. 1991. The relevance of population studies to the conservation of threatened species. In: Perrins, C.M, J.D. Lebreton & G.J.M. Hirons (eds) Bird population studies: relevance to conservation and management. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
Hay, R. 1986. Bird Conservation in the Pacific Island. ICBP Study Rep. 7. Cambridge, England.
ICBP. 1981. Endangered Birds of the World: The ICBP Red Data Book. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington.
Marchant, S. & P.J. Higgins. 1990. Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Vol. 1., Oxford University Press, Melbourne.
Nelson, J.B. 1972. The biology of seabirds of the Indian Ocean, Christmas Island. J. Mar. Biol. Ass. India 14: 643-662.
Nelson, J.B. 1975. The breeding biology of Frigatebirds: A comparative view. Living Bird 14: 113-155.
Orchard, M, S. Comport and P. Green. 2002. Control of the Invasive Yellow Crazy Ant (Anoplolepis gracilipes) on Christmas Island, Indian Ocean; progress, problems, and future scenarios. Unpublished Discussion Paper 1 February 2002.
Reville, B.J., J.D. Tranter and H.D. Yorkston. 1990. Conservation of the Endangered Seabird Abbott's Booby on Christmas Island. 1983-1989. ANPWS Occ. Paper no. 20.
Stokes, T. 1984. An Indicative Appraisal of the Effects of Proposed Clearing and Mining on Terrace-nesting Seabirds of Christmas Island, Indian Ocean. Unpublished report to the Administrator, Christmas Island, and Director, ANPWS, Canberra.
Stokes, T. 1985. The 1984 results of Terrace Seabird studies on Christmas Island. Unpublished report to the Director, ANPWS, Canberra.
Stokes, T. 1988. A review of the birds of Christmas Island, Indian Ocean. ANPWS Occ. paper no. 16