Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L00775:reg:18:p67
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L00775
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 18 (pt 67/152)
Character Range: 225320–228400

pursuit-dive or by surface-seizing.
Population Estimates and Trends
Brooke (2004) estimated the global population to number around 15 million individuals. The population on Heard Island was estimated at 10,000–100,000 individuals in 2003/04 (Woehler 2010), with 3–4 pairs found breeding on Bishop and Clerk Islands near Macquarie Island in 1993 (Brothers and Ledingham 2008). Trends are unknown.
Conservation Concerns and Actions
Invasive species remains the most pressing threat to the species. All known Australian breeding colonies are free from predators. Maintaining strict quarantine provisions at Heard, Macquarie, Bishop and Clerk Islands is essential. Habitat erosion after a severe weather event in 2003 has led to significant decrease in the species' colony on Codfish Island, New Zealand (Taylor 2013), habitat degradation is also occurring due to the expansion of forest habitat into the dune region and choking of burrows by the roots of invasive grass species (Taylor 2013).
Recommended Management Actions
         Regularly monitor breeding populations at index locations
         Determine non-breeding areas and migration routes
         Measure contaminant levels in all relevant life stages
         Work with range states to 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

Wildlife Conservation Plan for Seabirds 99
Species profiles

King Penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus)

Life History and Distribution
The King Penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) is a large penguin with striking orange and black head markings as an adult. Adults are up to 95 cm tall and achieve a weight of approximately 13.5 kg. The King Penguin is the second largest penguin species, following the Emperor Penguin (A. forsteri). Females are slightly smaller than males, but identical in appearance and juveniles are similar, with less pronounced colouration (Marchant and Higgins 1990). The King Penguin breeds on sub-Antarctic islands in the South Atlantic, southern Indian Ocean and the Australian sector of the Southern Ocean (Marchant and Higgins 1990). The species' pelagic (oceanic) distribution is poorly known. The species utilises beaches, valleys and moraines free of snow and ice and with easy access to sea (generally within several hundred to 1000 m to the sea) (Woehler 2002, pers. comm.). The King Penguin feeds mostly on small fish of the family Myctophidae (lanternfishes) with some small cephalopods consumed in winter at Marion Island, Iles Crozet and Macquarie Island. Birds recorded foraging around South Georgia mostly fed on large cephalopods (Kondakovia longmania and Moroteuthis spp.). There is evidence of prey-switching during different seasons, which may be in response to seasonal changes in prey abundance (Marchant & Higgins 1990). Given the long breeding cycle, breeding pairs typically breed two in every three years if successful.

Population Estimates and Trends
Due to the