Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2015L01389:body:0:p60
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2015L01389
Segment Type: other
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Character Range: 172163–175028

from the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, 24 have been seen on North Keeling Island in the last 30 years. Of those 24, 16 breed on the island. All bird species recorded on North Keeling Island are protected by the EPBC Act, being listed threatened species (critically endangered, endangered or vulnerable), listed migratory species or listed marine species under the Act.
Thirteen species of birds in the park are listed under international migratory bird agreements between Australia and Japan, China and the Republic of Korea (JAMBA, CAMBA and ROKAMBA). These agreements require each country to take appropriate measures to preserve and enhance the environment of migratory bird species listed under each agreement.
As the only seabird breeding colony within a radius of 900 kilometres, the island is the focal bird habitat within a huge expanse of the central-eastern Indian Ocean. It is unlikely that any other Indian Ocean island rivals North Keeling's range of seabird species (Feare 1984; Stokes and Goh 1987). However, the health of many of the island's seabird species is largely unknown and careful management is required to avoid the decline in seabird populations seen on other Indian Ocean islands over the last 100 years.

By far the most numerous seabird on North Keeling Island is the red-footed booby (Sula sula). Based on comprehensive population surveys between 1985 and 1996, the current population is estimated at approximately 30,000 breeding pairs (Baker et al. 2007), making it one of the most important and possibly the largest colony of red-footed boobies in the world. Although the red-footed booby is the most numerous booby species in the world, most populations are threatened by habitat destruction and feral animals (Marchant and Higgins 1990).
Gibson-Hill (1948) estimated there were only 3,500–4,000 pairs of breeding red-footed boobies in July 1941. The main pisonia community on the western margin of the island, which now supports the major concentration of nesting red-footed boobies, was apparently devoid of nests at the time of Gibson-Hill's visit. Large numbers of birds of all ages have been harvested by Cocos-Malay people over the last century, and this undoubtedly had a significant impact on the population status. Protection of the population on North Keeling Island in more recent years has resulted in a much larger and more stable population, although it is still vulnerable to cyclones.
Lesser and great frigatebirds, Fregata ariel and Fregata minor, also occur on the island in large numbers. Data from surveys indicates a population size of possibly 3,000 breeding pairs of lesser frigate birds, with a smaller number of great frigate birds. North Keeling Island has the second largest population of lesser frigatebirds in Australia and probably in the Indian Ocean.
The Cocos buff-banded rail (Gallirallus philippensis