Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L01285:reg:13:p56
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L01285
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 13 (pt 56/98)
Character Range: 380592–383975

Petrel. Originally Macronectes giganteus halli Mathews 1912. The Northern Giant Petrel was considered polytypic with Macronectes giganteus (Southern Giant Petrel) until Bourne & Warham (1966) proposed recognition at the specific level based on morphology and demographic differences, a view also supported by genetic differences (Nunn & Stanley (1998), despite some hybridisation (Hunter 1983). ACAP has concluded on advice from its Taxonomy Working Group that available data warrant recognition of the Northern Giant Petrel at the specific level with the nomenclature widely accepted (Brooke et al. 2007, ACAP 2012n).

Current status of taxon

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Commonwealth): Vulnerable
Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (Western Australia): not listed
National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 (South Australia): not listed
Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 (Victoria): Endangered
Threatened Species Protection Act 1995 (Tasmania): Rare
Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (New South Wales): Vulnerable
Nature Conservation Act 1992 (Queensland): Vulnerable
IUCN Red list of Threatened Species: Least Concern
Action Plan for Australian Birds 2020: breeding population Least Concern, population visiting Australia Least Concern

Species description

A large petrel, the Northern Giant Petrel is approximately 87 cm in length, 2.9-5.3 kg in weight, with a wing length of 48-57 cm, and bill length of 85-111 mm (ACAP 2015, Menkhorst et al. 2017). Tubenosed; separate nostrils on a bulbous, pink plated bill with pale reddish tip. Combination of grey-brown and white plumage, dark head with light eye, dark body with grey-brown upper wings, and dark underwings (Onley & Scofield 2007, BirdLife International 2017).

Life history

Breeding locality                                                      Jurisdiction

Macquarie Island                                                       Australia

Crozet Islands, Kerguelen Islands                                      France

Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Chatham Islands, Campbell Island  New Zealand

Prince Edward Islands                                                  South Africa

South Georgia/Islas Georgias del Sur                                   Other

There are 50 breeding sites for the Northern Giant Petrel that occur on island groups of Australia (Macquarie Island), France (Crozet Islands, Kerguelen Islands), New Zealand (Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Chatham Islands, Campbell Island) South Africa (Prince Edward Islands), and other (South Georgia/Islas Georgias del Sur) (ACAP 2012n). The majority of the Northern Giant Petrel population breeds annually, however a significant proportion (15-40%) of non-breeding is evident each year during 'sabbatical' periods that average 2.7 years (Bourne & Warham 1966, Voisin 1988). Adults arrive at colonies in August with females laying a single egg in August to early October that hatches after incubation period of about 9 weeks from October to early December with fledging of chicks occurring after approximately 4 months from late January to late March (Patterson et al. 2008, DPIPWE 2021a). Mean annual breeding success varies by location, with breeding success estimated at 62% on Macquarie Island (ACAP 2012n, DPIPWE 2021a). The Northern Giant Petrel has a wide circumpolar range across the southern oceans.