Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L00775:reg:4:p4
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L00775
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 4 (pt 4/12)
Character Range: 18458–21362

and many petrel species can mate for life (Brooke 2004). Albatrosses and procellariids, which can mate for life, take many years to form a pair bond before they breed (Pickering and Berrow 2001; Brooke 2004).

 Breeding

Seabird breeding colonies are highly variable. Individual nesting sites can be widely spaced, as in an albatross colony, or densely packed as with a tern colony. In most seabird colonies, several different species will nest on the same site, often exhibiting some niche separation. Seabirds can nest in trees or shrubs (if any are available), on the ground (with or without nests), on cliffs, in burrows under the ground and in rocky crevices. Competition can be strong both within species and between species, with aggressive species such as Sooty Terns pushing less-dominant species out of the most desirable nesting spaces (Schreiber et al. 2002). The Great-winged Petrel (Pterodroma macroptera) nests during the winter to avoid competition with the more aggressive species like the Flesh-footed Shearwater (Ardenna carneipes) in south-west Western Australia. When the seasons overlap, Flesh-footed Shearwaters will share burrows with young Great-winged Petrels in order to use their burrows for summer nesting (Serventy et al. 1971).
Many seabirds show remarkable site fidelity, returning to the same burrow, nest or site for many years, and they will defend that site from rivals with great vigour (Schreiber and Burger 2002). This behaviour increases breeding success, provides a place for returning mates to reunite, and reduces the costs of prospecting for a new site (Bried et al. 2003). Young adults breeding for the first time usually return to their natal colony, and often nest close to where they hatched. This tendency, known as philopatry, is so strong that a study of Laysan Albatrosses (Phoebastria immutabilis) found that the average distance between hatching site and the site where a bird established its own territory was 22 m (Fisher 1976). For some species, once these sites are lost, there are limited options for these species to "find" alternative locations and habitat. Given the gaps in seabird ecology, loss of these sites may pose a risk to certain seabird populations.

Wildlife Conservation Plan for Seabirds 7

Seabirds of Australia

Colonies are usually situated on islands, cliffs or headlands, which land mammals have difficulty accessing (Moors and Atkinson 1984). This is thought to provide protection to seabirds, which are often very clumsy on land. Colonies of breeding seabirds will also take advantage of artificial structures, breakwaters and offshore platforms. Breeding in colonies often arises in types of birds that do not defend feeding territories; this may be a reason why it arises more frequently in seabirds (Schreiber and Burger 2002). There are other possible advantages: colonies may act as information