Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2025L00287:reg:3:p27
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2025L00287
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 3 (pt 27/276)
Character Range: 86955–89959

than 150 species of birds have been recorded on Norfolk Island and adjacent islands (Hermes et al. 1986; Christian 2005; M Christian 2024, pers comm 12 January). Of these, 32 species are resident breeding land or freshwater birds, 13 are current regular breeding seabirds, and the remainder are non‑breeding migrants or vagrants (Schodde et al. 1983; Christian 2005; N Carlile 2024, pers comm 12 January). Many of the breeding land and freshwater birds were deliberately introduced or arrived on the island independently following European settlement.

Land birds
Of the 14 species and subspecies of land birds endemic to Norfolk Island, only seven are extant (Table 8). Seven are presumed extinct, though only six are listed as Extinct under the EPBC Act (the Norfolk Island ground dove is known to be extinct but is listed as migratory). Four of the seven extant species are listed under the EPBC Act.
The decline of the land birds occurred during two distinct periods. During the first period (between settlement and approximately 1900), the Norfolk Island subspecies of the New Zealand pigeon (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae spadicea), the Norfolk Island ground dove (Gallicolumba norfolciensis), the Norfolk Island kaka (Nestor productus), and the Norfolk Island subspecies of the Tasman starling (Aplonis fusca fusca) became extinct (Schodde et al. 1983).
In the second period of decline (post-1940s), the long-tailed triller (Lalage leucopyga leucopyga) and the grey-headed blackbird or island thrush (Turdus poliocephalus poliocephalus) disappeared (Schodde et al. 1983; Dutson 2013). There were serious declines in the populations of the Norfolk Island morepork (Ninox novaeseelandiae undulata) (Olsen 1996; Olsen et al. 1989) and the Norfolk Island green parrot (Cyanoramphus cookii) (Hicks & Greenwood 1989; Hill 2002; Ortiz-Catedral et al. 2018). Populations of more common land birds such as the Norfolk Island robin (Petroica multicolor) and the slender-billed white-eye (Zosterops tenuirostris) also declined over this period.
The post-1940s period of species decline coincided with many changes to the Norfolk Island environment. These were: the introduction of the black rat (Rattus rattus) in the mid-1940s; modification to the environment through clearing, grazing and forestry activities (Smithers & Disney 1969); the replacement of native vegetation by introduced weed species such as guava, olive and lantana (Smithers & Disney 1969); the introduction or self-introduction of several non-native birds (Schodde et al. 1983); a rapid increase in the tourist population; and increasing use of agricultural poisons such as organochlorides and dieldrin (Olsen 1996). The most recent extinction of a land bird from Norfolk Island was the white-breasted white-eye (Zosterops albogularis), which was last seen in 2004.
Currently, the Mt Pitt section of Norfolk Island National Park is the stronghold for the Norfolk Island green parrot, but there is growing anecdotal evidence that its range has