Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L01285:reg:13:p43
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L01285
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 13 (pt 43/98)
Character Range: 340833–343694

length of 122-138 mm (ACAP 2015, Menkhorst et al. 2017). Tubenosed; separate nostrils on a large, pale grey-yellow plated bill with yellowish upper ridge, with yellow tip and yellow at base of bill. Combination of black, grey and white plumage, white head with grey sides and dark eyebrow, white body with black upper wings, black margins and a dark tab intruding into the base of the underwings, and grey-black tail, (Onley & Scofield 2007, BirdLife International 2018p).

Life history

Breeding locality                         Jurisdiction

Albatross Island, Mewstone, Pedra Branca  Australia

Endemic to Australia with three breeding sites on three Tasmanian islands (Albatross Island, Mewstone, Pedra Branca) (ACAP 2012q). The Shy Albatross is an annual breeder, when successful. Birds are present at the colonies year-round with females laying a single egg predominantly in September, with chicks hatching after 10 weeks in December. Fledging commences when the birds are about four and a half months old in April, although there are minor variations between colonies (Abbott et al. 2006b). Mean annual breeding success averages 43% on Albatross Island with data not available for the other breeding sites (DPIPWE 2021b). The Shy Albatross disperses in the higher latitudes of the Indian Ocean and south-west Atlantic Ocean. Juveniles begin returning to colonies when three years of age, and commence breeding when at least 5-6 years of age, with an average breeding age of nine years (Brothers et al. 1998, Hedd & Gales 2005, Alderman 2012). Generation length is estimated at 20.6 years (Bird et al. 2020).
Shy Albatross usually forage singly or in flocks (~20 birds) (Barton 1979). Birds will also aggregate behind fishing vessels where they are usually able to out-compete all smaller Procellariiformes, all but the great albatrosses (Brothers 1991). Shy albatrosses take fish from surface schools flight feeding, and other prey by surface feeding and surface diving (Barton 1979, Harper et al. 1985, Croxall & Prince 1994). Diving activity occurs mostly during daylight (from 7 am to 10 pm), with the deepest dives (over 7 m) occurring from 10 am to noon (Hedd et al. 1997). Shy Albatross diet is composed mostly of fish and cephalopods, with small amounts of tunicates and crustaceans (Hedd & Gales 2001, McInnes et al. 2020). Prey selection appears to be relatively constant across seasons and years (Hedd & Gales 2001, McInnes et al. 2020). Although natural prey comprises the main diet, scavenging behind fishing vessels is significant food source for a significant proportion of birds (13% generally and up to 29% during some breeding phases) (McInnes et al. 2020).
Shy albatrosses are less oceanic than many other albatross species, are usually found over the continental shelf, and regularly venture close to shore along the coasts of Tasmania