Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L00775:reg:18:p62
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L00775
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 18 (pt 62/152)
Character Range: 211265–214436

on Lord Howe and Phillip Islands

        Regularly monitor breeding populations at index locations

        Determine non-breeding areas and migration routes

        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

        Measure contaminant levels in all relevant life stages

        Maintain bycatch mitigation strategies in relevant fishery operations

        Restore Phillip Island and facilitate colony expansion

        Re-establish the Norfolk Island colony

Wildlife Conservation Plan for Seabirds 93

Species profiles

Mottled Petrel (Pterodroma inexpectata)

Life History and Distribution
The Mottled Petrel (Pterodroma inexpectata) is a medium sized gadfly-petrel, similar in size and structure to Soft-plumaged Petrel (P. mollis). The species is virtually unmistakeable because of the combination of frosty grey upperparts with dark M-mark across the upperwings. Underparts are white with a large grey belly patch and mainly white underwing marked with a broad black diagonal bar across the secondary coverts. The species is an endemic breeding seabird to New Zealand. It breeds on islands off Fiordland, the Solander Islands, Foveaux Strait islands, islands around Stewart Island (including Titi Islands, Codfish, Big South Cape Islands, and islets in Port Pegasus) and the Snares Islands (Marchant and Higgins 1990, Heather and Robertson 1997). It once bred throughout the North and South Islands, and possibly the Chatham, Bounty, Antipodes and Auckland Islands (Marchant and Higgins 1990, Heather and Robertson 1997). The species forages widely in Australian waters and the Southern Ocean. It migrates to the north Pacific Oceans far as the northern Gulf of Alaska and the southern half of the Bering Sea (Ainley and Manolis 1979, Marchant and Higgins 1990, Heather and Robertson 1997, Ogi et al. 1999).

Population Estimates and Trends
Brooke (2004) estimated that the population was likely greater than 1,500,000 individuals. There are an estimated >10,000 pairs on each of Big South Cape and Main Islands (Heather and Robertson 1997), and the Codfish Island population was estimated at 300,000–400,000 pairs in 1996 (Taylor 2000).

Conservation Concerns and Actions
This species seems to be vulnerable to changing ocean temperatures, with relatively high numbers observed beachwashed during the El Nino event in 1997 in both New Zealand and Alaska (Taylor 2004). Invasive species also represent a threat; the Weka (Gallirallus australis), has been introduced to several colonies, and has caused losses on Codfish Island (Taylor 2000). Black Rat (Rattus rattus) is present on Big South Cape Island, and may have an adverse effect on breeding success.

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

Species profiles

White-necked Petrel (Pterodroma cervicalis)

Life History and Distribution
The White-necked Petrel (Pterodroma cervicalis) is a large grey-white petrel with