Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L01285:reg:13:p84
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L01285
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 13 (pt 84/98)
Character Range: 466440–469756

Least Concern
IUCN Red list of Threatened Species: Vulnerable
Action Plan for Australian Birds 2020: population visiting Australia Least Concern

Species description

A small Procellaria petrel, the White-chinned Petrel is approximately 50-55 cm in length, 1.1-1.5 kg in weight, with a wing length of 42-47 cm, and bill length of 48-55 mm (ACAP 2015, Menkhorst et al. 2017). Tubenosed; separate nostrils on a yellow plated bill with black between nostrils and tip. Combination of sooty black and white plumage, with all sooty black plumage, except for a variable white chin and throat (Onley & Scofield 2007, BirdLife International 2018i).

Life history

Breeding locality                                                      Jurisdiction

Crozet Islands, Kerguelen Islands                                      France

Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Campbell Islands                  New Zealand

Prince Edward Islands                                                  South Africa

Falkland Islands/Islas Malvinas, South Georgia/Islas Georgias del Sur  Other

There are 73 breeding sites for the White-chinned Petrel that occur on island groups of France (Crozet Islands, Kerguelen Islands), New Zealand (Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Campbell Islands), South Africa (Prince Edward Islands), and other (Falkland Islands/Islas Malvinas, South Georgia/Islas Georgias del Sur) (ACAP 2012y). The White-chinned Petrel is an annual breeder when successful (Jouventin et al. 1985, Hall 1987). Adults arrive at colonies from September with females laying a single egg from mid-October to mid-November that hatches after incubation period of 8 weeks from mid-December to mid-January with fledging of chicks occurring after approximately 3 months in March/April (Jouventin et al. 1985, Hall 1987). Mean annual breeding success varies by location from 21-51% (ACAP 2012y). The White-chinned Petrel has a wide circumpolar range across the southern oceans and subtropical South America. Juveniles return to commence breeding when birds are 4-9 years of age (ACAP 2012y). Generation length is estimated at 18.6 years (Bird et al. 2020).

Species distribution in Australia

Australia is within the foraging range of the White-chinned Petrel. An indicative distribution map is not available for this non-threatened species. Tracking studies indicate that while dispersal is circumpolar, and includes southern and sub-Antarctic Australia, most birds within Australia's jurisdiction come from New Zealand populations (BirdLife International 2004, Rexer-Huber 2017).

Population estimates and trends

While there is no global population trend information available for the species over three generations due to a lack of data, the population is considered to be declining (BirdLife International 2018j). There were an estimated 1,118,000 breeding pairs in 2019 (ACAP 2022).

Habitat critical to survival of species

The species is limited to 73 breeding sites on island groups of France (Crozet Islands, Kerguelen Islands), New Zealand (Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Campbell Islands), South Africa (Prince Edward Islands), and other (Falkland Islands/Islas Malvinas, South Georgia/Islas Georgias del Sur), with the largest population at South Georgia/Islas Georgias del Sur (ACAP 2012y).

Threats

The risk matrix