Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L00775:reg:18:p83
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L00775
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 18 (pt 83/152)
Character Range: 269370–272422

al. 1992). Globally, the population is suspected to be decreasing owing to habitat loss, predation by invasive species and unsustainable levels of exploitation. Indonesian populations are under threat from human activity, including hunting and habitat loss, and the Red-footed Booby has long been extinct as a breeding species in western Indonesia (de Korte and Silvius 1994; de Jong 2011). The most important breeding population in Australia occurs in Pulu Keeling National Park which regularly supports more than 30,000 pairs. Christmas Island has an estimated 12,000 pairs and the species is also present on the islands of Ashmore Reef Marine Park (248 pairs). Several colonies occur on islands and cays in the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea Marine Park. Baker and Holdsworth (2013) reported that from a regional perspective, the Herald Cays (Coral Sea Marine Park) contain a significant proportion of the region's breeding population of Red-footed Booby. As of 2012, there were 20-year and 10-year data sets available for North East Cay (Herald Cays) and South West Cay (Herald Cays), respectively and the Red-footed Booby population increased by an annual rate of 3.8 per cent. The total Australian population and trends are unknown.

116 Wildlife Conservation Plan for Seabirds

Species profiles

Conservation Concerns and Actions
Clearance of nesting trees for fuel wood or land conversion has occurred on many islands throughout the range, reducing nesting sites available to the species (del Hoyo et al. 2019), but this does not appear to have had much impact on populations of this widespread species. Large numbers of birds of all ages have been harvested by Cocos-Malay people on Cocos (Keeling) Islands over the last century, and this has impacted this population. Protection of the population on North Keeling Island in more recent years has resulted in a much larger and more stable population, although it is still vulnerable to cyclones. An unquantified level of hunting is likely to take place in numerous south-east Asian and small Pacific colonies. However, this does not seem to be significantly affecting the population nesting there (Baker et al. 2004).

Recommended Management Actions
        Quantify the breeding population in Australia

        Regularly monitor breeding populations at index locations

        Determine non-breeding areas and migration routes

      Quantify and manage the potential impacts of fisheries interactions and human disturbance

        Control, or eradicate invasive species on breeding islands

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

Wildlife Conservation Plan for Seabirds 117
Species profiles

Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster)

Life History and Distribution
The Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster) is a medium sized, sleek looking dark-coloured booby with sharply demarcated brown and white underparts. The Brown Booby can