Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L00775:reg:18:p52
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L00775
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 18 (pt 52/152)
Character Range: 183990–186989

mammals, but some persist in coexistence with populations of Polynesian Rat (R. exulans) and Black Rat (Saddle Island). These populations are relatively small, and the rats may be having a significant effect on breeding success. There is a future risk of re-invasion on currently predator-free islands. Other potential threats include overharvesting of inshore prey stocks, bycatch in fisheries. Fluttering Shearwaters are frequently trapped in fishing gear in inshore waters, with unknown impacts on the global population.

Recommended Management Actions
      Gain an improved understanding of the at sea distribution in Australia

      Determine non-breeding areas and migration routes

Wildlife Conservation Plan for Seabirds 83
Species profiles

Hutton's Shearwater (Puffinus huttoni)

Life History and Distribution
Hutton's Shearwater (Puffinus huttoni) is a small black and white shearwater very similar in appearance to the slightly smaller, shorter-billed Fluttering Shearwater (P. gavia). The species breeds in the Seaward Kaikoura Range, north-east South Island, New Zealand. The population comprises two main colonies (Kowhai Valley and Shearwater Stream), sited 10-18 km inland. The species digs its burrows on gentle to steep mountain slopes at 1,200-1,800 m, under tussock grass or low alpine scrubland (Marchant and Higgins 1990). First breeding is thought to occur at 4-6 years of age. The species feeds mostly on small fish and krill (Heather and Robertson 1997). Birds gather food for chicks as far south as the Otago Peninsula and often fish around Banks Peninsula bays (Harrow 2009). Kapiti Island and Cook Strait are common feeding areas in the north, with foraging individuals also recorded near the Chatham Islands (Harrow 2009). Frequently diving to feed to 25 m, they have been recorded as deep as 36.6 m (Harrow 2009). Levels of burrow occupancy in both original colonies in 2006/2007 was found to be similar to the 1990s. In contrast, breeding success in both main colonies was thought to be due to poor feeding conditions at sea, rather than increases in stoat predation, as no evidence pointed to the latter (Sommer et al. 2009). Annual adult survival, breeding success and burrow occupancy averaged 93 per cent, 47 per cent and 71 per cent, respectively (Sommer et al. 2009). Low levels of breeding success, particularly at Shearwater Stream colony, point to the possibility of the colony levels being maintained by immigration from the more successful Kowhai Valley colony (Sommer et al. 2009). In the non-breeding season, birds migrate to waters off Australia, particularly southern, western and north-western Australia (Heather and Robertson 1997).

   Population Estimates and Trends
The total population is estimated to number between 300,000-350,000 individuals (Brooke 2004) and an estimated 106,000 breeding pairs (Cuthbert and Davis (2002). Although this species is believed to have a stable population, it suffered a historical decrease in