Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L00775:reg:18:p95
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L00775
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 18 (pt 95/152)
Character Range: 301875–304887

the population at 150,000–1,100,000 individuals. The overall population trend is stable, although some populations have unknown trends (Delany and Scott 2006; BirdLife International 2019). In Australia, the species breeds on Lord Howe, Norfolk, Christmas and Cocos (Keeling) Islands. Carlile and Priddel (2015) suggested the Lord Howe Island population has been growing at 12 per cent per annuum since 1971. Current population on the island is 600 pairs (N. Carlile pers. comm). Australian population estimates and trends are unknown.

   Conservation Concerns and Actions
The White Tern is at risk from the impacts of invasive species (Pitman et al. 2005). Rats and Cats (Felis catus) have been observed to predate White Terns and they likely predate both chicks and nesting adults (BirdLife International 2019). Pied Currawong (Strepera graculina) and Masked Owls (Tyto novaehollandiae) are known predators of White Terns on Lord Howe Island (Carlile and Priddel 2015). Barn Owls (Tyto alba) represent a significant predation pressure on Aride Island, Seychelles, but is currently subject to a control program (del Hoyo et al. 2019). It is possible that, in the future, the effects of climate change could have an adverse impact on food sources and breeding habitat.

   Recommended Management Actions
              Quantify the breeding population in Australia

              Regularly monitor breeding populations at index locations

              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

130 Wildlife Conservation Plan for Seabirds
Species profiles

Grey Ternlet (Procelsterna cerulea)

Life History and Distribution
Grey Ternlet (Procelsterna cerulea) and Grey Noddy (P. albivitta) (del Hoyo and Collar 2014) were previously lumped as P. cerulea following Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993). Cibois et al. (2016) found that Procelsterna sits within Anous, which is accepted and results in P. albivitta changing name to Grey Noddy Anous albivattus and P. cerulea changing name to Blue Noddy A. cerulea (del Hoyo et al. 2019). Grey Noddy breeds on Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands and on Kermadec Island, New Zealand. The species is a small delicate tern, with a slender black bill and moderately forked tail. Grey Noddies are distinctive with blue-grey above, grey-white head. The species is distributed across the Pacific Ocean and breeds on isolated tropical and subtropical islands, islets or rock stacks. Breeding can be continual in places and occurs in loose colonies (del Hoyo et al. 1996) but is poorly known. This species takes very small fish (average length 17 mm), squid, crustaceans and pelagic sea striders with proportions varying seasonally and geographically. It feeds on the wing by dipping or pattering.

Population Estimates and Trends
The combined populations of Anous ceruleus and A. albivittus are estimated to