Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2025L00287:reg:3:p172
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2025L00287
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 3 (pt 172/276)
Character Range: 641994–645025

was considered common, with large breeding colonies on Mt Pitt and Mt Bates. The birds were an important source of food for the early settlers and more than 170,000 birds were harvested between April and July 1790 (Medway 2002). By 1796 the population had dropped to about 15,000 and by 1800 the species was extirpated from Norfolk Island (Lindsey 1986).
The providence petrel returned over 150 years later to Phillip Island in 1985 (Hermes et al. 1986). Genetic studies on the providence petrel have shown that there is high gene flow between the populations on Lord Howe and Phillip Islands, suggesting that the Phillip Island population is the result of recent colonisation from Lord Howe, rather than a relict population from the extinct Norfolk Island population (Davidson 2008; Carlile 2011; Lombal et al. 2016).
In May 2011, 35 birds were counted in the air at one time and 252 extant burrows documented along ridge-lines and above Cow Bay on Phillip Island (Carlile 2011). In the early 2000s, 32,000 breeding pairs were estimated to be present on Lord Howe Island (Bester 2003), which remains the principal location of breeding for this species. Feral cats have likely prevented this species re-establishing on Norfolk Island.

Ecology
Breeding occurs on Phillip Island from February to November, with egg-laying occurring in May. Adults share incubation for 55 days and feeding of young over the following three months. Nests in a chamber at the end of a burrow.
Diet consists of squid, fish and crustaceans. While feeding chicks, adults make foraging trips of 1 to 14 days and return to feed chicks in the late afternoon and through the night.

Habitat
Marine, pelagic in waters 15-25 C. Breeds on the upper slopes along and below ridgelines on Phillip Island.

Threats
The main threats to the providence petrel are the reduction in the quality of foraging areas through climate-related shifts in oceanic resources, and some competition with wedge-tailed shearwaters (Ardenna pacifica) at restricted burrow sites where both species are present. Erosion in exposed areas continue to degrade some breeding areas, leading to a loss of habitat (Priddel et al. 2010). Offshore windfarms along the east coast of Australia may represent an emerging threat due to turbine strike.

Impact on other species
None known.

Risk assessment
The risk assessment is shown in Table 61 and Table 62.
Table 61 Risk assessment for Pterodroma solandri (current range, Phillip Island)
Risk                                                                                                               Likelihood of exposure    Consequence  Threat rating
1. Loss and fragmentation of native vegetation through past land clearing                                          Almost certain (91–100%)  Extreme      Extreme
2. Loss and fragmentation of native vegetation through current or future land clearing                             Unlikely (11–25%)         Negligible   Negligible
3. Degradation of native vegetation through past grazing or loss