Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L01285:reg:13:p79
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L01285
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 13 (pt 79/98)
Character Range: 451362–454447

There has been significant taxonomic debate about the classification of Diomedeidae including, but not limited to, the introduction of the genus Thalassarche by Reichenbach (1852). Originally Thalassarche melanophris impavida Mathews 1912. The Campbell Albatross was considered polytypic until it was included in the resurrected genus Thalassarche (Reichenbach 1852) at the specific level as Thalassarche impavida based on genetic analyses (Robertson & Nunn 1998) with the nomenclature generally accepted (ACAP 2012g).

Current status of taxon

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Commonwealth): Vulnerable
Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (Western Australia): Vulnerable
National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 (South Australia): Vulnerable
Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 (Victoria): not listed
Threatened Species Protection Act 1995 (Tasmania): not listed
Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (New South Wales): not listed
Nature Conservation Act 1992 (Queensland): Least Concern
IUCN Red list of Threatened Species: Vulnerable
Action Plan for Australian Birds 2020: population visiting Australia Vulnerable

Species description

A small-medium albatross, the Campbell Albatross is approximately 80-95 cm in length, 2.2-3.8 kg in weight, with a wing length of 49-54 cm, and bill length of 105-118 mm (ACAP 2015, Menkhorst et al. 2017). Tubenosed; separate nostrils on a large, mostly orange plated bill, with reddish tip. Combination of black and white plumage, with white head and body, with black eyebrow and pale iris, with black upper wings and back, and tail, and extensive leading edge of underwings and wing tips (Onley & Scofield 2007, BirdLife International 2018t).

Life history

Breeding locality  Jurisdiction

Campbell Island    New Zealand

Endemic to Campbell Island (New Zealand) with two breeding sites on the island (ACAP 2012g). Campbell Albatross breeds annually, when successful. Adults arrive at colonies in August with females laying a single egg in late September to early October that hatches after incubation period of around 10 weeks in December (Marchant & Higgins 1990, Waugh et al. 1999). Fledging of chicks occurs after approximately four months in mid-April to early May (Waugh et al. 1999). Mean annual breeding success is 66% ± 12% (ACAP 2012g). The Campbell Albatross disperses in the higher latitudes of eastern Indian Ocean and western Pacific Ocean. Juveniles return to colonies when five years of age, and begin breeding when seven years of age (Waugh et al. 1999). Generation length is estimated at 21.6 years (Bird et al. 2020).

Species distribution in Australia

Australia is within the foraging range of the Campbell Albatross (Figure 16). Tracking studies and at-sea records indicate that dispersal from the breeding colonies is generally in the higher latitudes of the western Pacific Ocean and eastern Indian Ocean including waters adjacent to southern and eastern, and sub-Antarctic Australia, and the AAT (BirdLife International 2004, ACAP 2012g).

Population estimates and trends

The global population