The following management actions are required to aid the Christmas Island Hawk-owl viability and recovery:
Adequate resourcing of the identified management activities for the species;
Quarantine prevention of the introduction of new avian pathogens;
Quarantine prevention of the introduction of new invasive weeds; and
Quarantine prevention of the introduction of new predators.
This taxon is dependent on active conservation management.
Any action which would remove nesting sites or potential nesting sites; or remove or degrade 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
Monitor the population every two years to detect any significant change in the distribution or abundance
PANCI staff, training consultant, and local staff/contractor
$17,500 in first year, then $9,500 / 2 year*
PANCI
Every two years
Develop and implement wildlife management plan for hawk-owl habitat outside the national park
PAN staff time
$10,000 then $5000 pa
PANCI
Ongoing
Ensure protection of habitat critical to survival outside the national park.
PANCI staff time
$2,000 pa
PANCI
Ongoing
Continue effective and long-term rainforest rehabilitation program managed by DOTARS & supported by other government depts, PAN and the mining company.
DOTARS staff time, PANCI supervision and monitoring, contractors.
$750,000^ pa
DOTARS
Until mine ceases operation & all levy funds expended
Implement Invasive Ants on Christmas Island Action Plan.
PANCI staff, ant bait, contractors, research
$475,000 in 2002/3 and $100,000 pa
PANCI
Ongoing
Maintain [and regular review] of quarantine barrier between Christmas Island and all other lands
AQIS staff time, PANCI assistance to AQIS
Part Tools to Assist Implementation - National Recovery Plan for the Christmas Island Hawk-Owl Ninox natalis - Tools to Assist Implementation | Zoe
$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
Notes: PAN: Parks Australia North; PANCI: PAN Christmas Island staff
* Consultant for 15 days from mainland including airfares and on island expenses $8000 (first year only), Local trained staff: 25 nights work (4 sites/night) @$250/night + $1250 mileage: $7500/year, Staff time to analyse data: $2000/year
^ Funds provided by conservation levy, with total dependant on phosphate production levels
Summary table of costs
Year
1
2
3
4
5
Total Cost
$1,310,500
$913,000
$922,500
$913,000
$925,000
Landholder incentives
Small opportunities exist for the Natural Heritage Trust to be used to protect remnant vegetation on private land. Management agreements can be put in place with landholders’ 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
There are no relevant state or territory governments to consult with. 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 contributed to the development of this plan.
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.
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 newspaper. Also see action 7 - 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
Carew-Reid, J. 1987. Rehabilitation of mined clearings on Christmas Island, Indian Ocean. Unpublished report to the Director of the Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service, Canberra.
Diamond, J.M. 1985. Population processes in island birds: immigration, extinction and fluctuations. In Conservation of Island Birds. ICBP Tech. Pub. 3.
Du Puy. 1993. Flora of Australia, Volume 50. Oceanic Islands 2. Australian Biological Resource Study, Canberra.
Environment Australia. 1994. Christmas Island National Park Management Plan. Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra.
Environment Australia. 2002. Christmas Island National Park Management Plan. Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra.
Hay, R. 1986. Bird Conservation in the Pacific Island. ICBP Study Rep. 7. Cambridge, England.
Hill, F.A.R. and J. Young. 1995. Searching for the nests of Christmas Island Hawk-Owls Ninox squamipila natalis. Unpublished report to the Australian Nature Conservation Agency, Darwin.
Hill, F.A.R. 1996. The Christmas Island Hawk-Owl: Its distribution, population size and conservation status. Unpublished report to the Australian Nature Conservation Agency, Darwin.
Hill, F.A.R. and A. Lill. 1998a. Density and Total Population Estimates for the Threatened Christmas Island Hawk-Owl Ninox natalis. Emu 98: 209-220.
Hill, F.A.R. and A. Lill. 1998b. Diet and Roost Site Characteristics of the Christmas Island Hawk-Owl Ninox natalis. Emu 98: 227-233.
King, W.B. 1985. Island Birds: will the future repeat the past. In Conservation of Island Birds. ICBP Tech. Pub. 3.
Garnett, S.T. and Crowley, G.M. 2000. The Action Plan for Australian Birds 2000. Birds Australia, Melbourne and Environment Australia, Canberra.
Lacy, R.C. 1987. Loss of Genetic Diversity from Managed Populations: Interacting effects of drift, mutation, immigration, selection, and population subdivision. Conserv.Biol.1(2): 143-58.
Norman, J.A., L. Christidis, M. Westerman and F.A.R. Hill. 1998. Molecular data confirms the species status of the Christmas Island Hawk-Owl Ninox natalis. Emu 98: 197-206.
Orchard, M, Comport, S. 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. 1988. A review of the birds of Christmas Island, Indian Ocean. Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service Occ. Pap. No. 16.
Tidemann, C.R., H.D. Yorkston and A.J. Russak. 1994. The diet of feral cats (Felis catus) on Christmas Island, Indian Ocean. Wildlife Research 21: 279-286.
Van der Lee, G. and P. Jarman. 1996. The status of cats Felis catus and prospects for their control on Christmas Island. Report to the Australian Nature Conservation Agency, Canberra.
van Tets. 1975. A report on the conservation of resident birds on Christmas Island. XII Bulletin of the ICBP.
van Tets, G.F. and P.A. van Tets. 1967. A report on the resident birds of the territory of Christmas Island. Emu 66 (4); 309-19.