Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2025L00287:reg:3:p175
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2025L00287
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 3 (pt 175/276)
Character Range: 652610–655612

seabirds of Phillip Island in the Norfolk Island Group. Notornis 57, 113–127.

Puffinus assimilis—little shearwater

Conservation significance
EPBC Act Listing Status: Marine.
State Listing Status: Listed as Vulnerable under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (NSW).
Non-statutory Listing Status: Described as Least Concern in the Action Plan for Australian Birds 2020 (Garnett & Baker 2021).

Distribution
The little shearwater (Puffinus assimilis) is a widespread species of the subtropical Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans. Breeds on islands of the Lord Howe Group, the Kermadec Islands, the Norfolk Group, and islands off the West Australian coast.
Withing the Norfolk Island Group, the little shearwater breeds on Phillip and Nepean Islands and has been reported from Anson Point in the mid-1970s. Predation by feral cats and rats has apparently eliminated colonies from the main island. On Phillip Island, Priddel et al. (2010) estimated the population to be 100–1000 pairs.

Ecology
A winter breeder present in the Norfolk Island Group from April (Priddel et al. 2010) and breeding between July and early December (Schodde et al. 1983). Nests in a narrow burrow. A single egg is laid and incubated for 55 days, with fledging occurring after an additional 72 days.
Diet consists of small fish, squid and krill, which is captured by surface diving, pursuit plunging, and by surface seizing.

Habitat
Marine, pelagic, breeds on subtropical and subantarctic islands; digs burrows in soft soil under mats of succulents, in grassland, under low shrubs, among loose rocks in upper valleys, and shallow soil under cliff faces.

Threats
The main threats to the little shearwater are the reduction in the quality of foraging areas through climate-related shifts in oceanic resources, and predation from rats, cats and kestrels on Norfolk Island. On Phillip Island, additional threats include predation of nests by purple swamphens and degradation and loss of breeding habitat.

Impact on other species
None known.

Management actions
Continue control of swamphens on Phillip Island. Protect and enhance nesting areas through revegetation efforts on Phillip Island. Retain status of pest-free Phillip and Nepean islands through detection monitoring for introduced vertebrates and invertebrates.

Relevant literature
Garnett ST & Baker GB (2021) The Action Plan for Australian Birds 2020. CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne.
Priddel D, Carlile N, Evans O, Evans B & McCoy H (2010) A review of the seabirds of Phillip Island in the Norfolk Island Group. Notornis 57, 113–127.
Schodde R, Fullagar P & Hermes N (1983) A review of Norfolk Island birds past and present (Special Publication No. 8). Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service, Canberra.

Sula dactylatra—masked booby

Conservation significance
EPBC Act Listing Status: Marine, migratory.
State Listing Status: Listed as Vulnerable under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (NSW).
Non-statutory Listing Status: Described as Least Concern in