Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L00775:reg:18:p37
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L00775
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 18 (pt 37/152)
Character Range: 142646–145693

on Macquarie Islands is expected to increase as a result of eradication efforts of invasive species.

  Recommended Management Actions
             Quantify the breeding population on Heard Island
             Consolidate current population data from Macquarie Island
             Regularly monitor breeding populations at index locations
             Determine non-breeding areas and migration routes
             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

66 Wildlife Conservation Plan for Seabirds
Species profiles

Slender-billed Prion (Pachyptila belcheri)

Life History and Distribution
The Slender-billed Prion (Pachyptila belcheri) is a small, pale prion of Antarctic and subantarctic waters. It can be distinguished from other prions by the small head, slender body and slender bluish bill, mostly white lores and broad white supercilium giving a striking pale-face appearance. The species has an extremely large range. The Slender-billed Prion breeds in the Crozet Islands and the Kerguelen Islands (French Southern Territories), the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) and Noir Island, Chile. The species possibly breeds on Macquarie Island. Outside the breeding season it can be found over much of the Southern Ocean, including the coasts of South Africa, Australia and South America as far north as Uruguay and southern Peru. The species can usually be found over oceanic waters but will feed inshore or in shallow offshore waters during the breeding season. It feeds mostly on crustaceans with a high dependence on amphipods but can also take small fish and squid. It catches prey mainly by surface-seizing, dipping and pattering at night. Breeding starts in October in loose colonies in coastal areas with soft or stony soil and low vegetation. It nests in burrows in soft soil or under rocks (del Hoyo et al. 1992).
Population Estimates and Trends
Brooke (2004) estimated the global population to number at least 7 million individuals. The Australian population is unknown. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any decreases or substantial threats.
Conservation Concerns and Actions
The largest colony of Slender-billed Prion, on New Island in the Falklands, has suffered predation from cats (Felis catus) and rats, but appears naturally resilient to this pressure (Hilton and Cuthbert 2017) and eradications have further nullified any population impacts (del Hoyo et al. 2019). Cat predation is however ongoing on Iles Kerguelen, and may be having impacts here alongside predation from skuas on non-breeding birds (del Hoyo et al. 2019).
Recommended Management Actions
         Gain an improved understanding of the at sea distribution in the Southern Ocean
         Determine breeding status on Macquarie Island
         Work with range states to control, or eradicate invasive species on