Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L01285:reg:13:p47
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L01285
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 13 (pt 47/98)
Character Range: 352653–355610

period of 10 weeks in December (Weimerskirch et al. 1986, Terauds et al. 2005, DPIPWE 2021a). Fledging of chicks occurs after approximately 4-5 months in late April/May (Tickell & Pinder 1975, Weimerskirch et al. 1986, Terauds et al. 2005, DPIPWE 2021a). Mean annual breeding success varies by location from 34-72% (ACAP 2012j). The Grey-headed Albatross has a wide circumpolar range across the southern oceans. Juveniles return to breeding colonies after at least three years and commence breeding on average between 7-13 years depending on location (ACAP 2012j). Generation length is estimated at 22.7 years (Bird et al. 2020).
Grey-headed Albatross take most prey by surface-seizing and surface-plunging (Wood 1992, Prince et al. 1994a). Birds can dive to at least 6 m and remain swimming below the surface for up to 11 seconds in search of prey (Prince et al. 1994a). Diet is composed mostly of fish and cephalopods, with small amounts of other species (Waugh et al. 2000, Cherel et al. 2002, Xavier et al 2003a, 2003b).
Foraging areas of the Grey-headed Albatross may vary due to sexual segregation (Phillips et al. 2004). During the breeding period adults will travel hundreds or thousands of kilometres from the colony, generally to forage waters within or south of the Antarctic Polar Frontal Zone (Prince et al. 1998, Weimerskirch et al. 1988). Grey-headed albatrosses breeding at Macquarie Island typically forage in waters south of the island, frequently travelling into the Southern Ocean (BirdLife International 2004, Terauds et al. 2006a). Non-breeding adults and immature birds disperse widely over the Southern Ocean and may exhibit a circumpolar winter distribution (Croxall et al. 2005). The Grey-headed Albatross is a regular visitor to Australia and New Zealand, especially in winter, particularly south and west of Tasmania (Blakers et al. 1984, Reid et al. 2002).

Species distribution in Australia

The Grey-headed Albatross nests on Macquarie Island (Figure 3). Tracking studies indicate that dispersal is circumpolar in higher latitudes in southern oceans between 35-65°S including southern and sub-Antarctic Australia, and the AAT (Weimerskirch et al. 1986, Weimerskirch et al. 1988, BirdLife International 2004, ACAP 2012j). A more northerly distribution between 39-51°S is apparent during the austral winter (Marchant & Higgins 1990).
Birds breeding on Macquarie Island predominantly forage in sub-Antarctic and Antarctic waters south of the island (Terauds et al. 2006a), however very little is known about the foraging strategies of Grey Albatross outside the breeding season. The size of the breeding populations of Grey-headed Albatross on Macquarie Island before human visitation is unknown. Harvesting of eggs and/or birds may have occurred during the 19th century while the island was occupied by sealers (Cumpston 1968, Townrow 1988). An island-wide census of the breeding population of Grey-headed Albatross on Macquarie