Specific Objectives: to reduce the risk Specific Objectives: to reduce the risk of extinction and improve conservation status of the taxa by:

Specific Objectives: to reduce the risk of extinction and improve conservation status of the taxa by:

1. Implementing threat abatement strategies;
2. Increasing the extent of occurrence of the taxa and their total population sizes;
3. Ensuring there is sufficient biological data to guide recovery program;
4. Increasing community involvement in and awareness of threatened landbirds;
5. Implementing the Recovery Plan through a Recovery Team.

Recovery Actions

Action 1. Predator control within NINP

Rat and cat control within NINP should incorporate the recommendations of Wilson (2002).

Action 2. Test effectiveness of and, if appropriate, expand predator control program outside NINP

Before conducting widespread control, the efficacy of this outside NINP must be demonstrated. Although isolated remnants of suitable habitat exist elsewhere, the birds have contracted mostly to the NINP in recent years. A trial of at least 10 remnants within 4km of NINP with and without pest control should be conducted, to determine control effectiveness. This will be combined with trail translocations, if necessary (see Action 6).

Action 3. Review quarantine protocols between Norfolk and Phillip Islands

Quarantine protocols between Norfolk and Phillip Islands require review, and updating if necessary. Phillip Island has the potential to be a major life-line for most threatened landbirds if it remains free of mammalian predators (Wilson 2002). Black Rats could be transported there by fishing boats and other craft. An island response plan for any new alien invasion has been suggested (Wilson 2002).

Action 4. Promote and support responsible Cat ownership

Continue sponsorship of cat de-sexing clinic. The Norfolk Island Government should be urged to enact legislation banning the import of reproductively-competent cats. An ultimate goal, beyond this Recovery Plan, should be to eliminate all reproductively-competent cats from Norfolk Island.

Action 5. Provide incentives and information for habitat restoration on private land

Investigate and promote incentives such as rate rebates for landholders who participate in habitat protection or predator control. Opportunities exist for the Natural Heritage Trust to protect remnant vegetation on private land. Management agreements between DEH and landholders, where DEH provides funding for fencing, have been put in place to protect and enhance native vegetation. These agreements are negotiated subject to availability of funds on a 3 yearly basis.

Action 6. Produce a translocation protocol and conduct local translocations if needed

If appropriate, translocation will be used to establish second breeding populations on Phillip Island. A translocation protocol (see Clarke and Clarke 1999, Clarke et al 2002) should be developed to cover all threatened NI birds. Although birds such as the Robin have recently declined outside NINP, the main island NINP territories are at carrying capacity (Robinson 1997), making this a potential donor site. In order to remove birds the Translocation Protocol may need to be included in the 'Research Strategy' or revised NINP Plan of Management (see Relationship to NINP Plan below). Following predator control trials (Action 2), trial translocations of birds to remnant sites may be needed if birds have not moved themselves following removal of predators. This will help determine whether isolation, predators, or a combination of factors are limiting bird distributions.