Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L00775:reg:18:p78
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L00775
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 18 (pt 78/152)
Character Range: 255706–258802

Baker and Holdsworth (2013) reported that from a regional perspective, the Herald Cays (Coral Sea Marine Park) contain a significant proportion of the region's breeding populations of Lesser Frigatebirds. Up to 2012, there were 20-year and 10-year data sets available for North East Cay (Herald Cays) and South West Cay (Herald Cays) (Coral Sea Marine Park), respectively. Over the 20-year period (1992-2012), the number of frigatebirds (Great and Lesser Frigatebirds) declined at an annual rate of 7.7 per cent.

  Conservation Concerns and Actions
  Climatic events associated with ENSO (El Niño Southern Oscillation) can cause synchronised breeding failure, as observed in the central Pacific (del Hoyo et al. 2019). Human disturbance at breeding localities has the potential to lower reproductive success.

  Recommended Management Actions
          Quantify the breeding population in Australia

          Regularly monitor breeding populations at index locations

          Investigate the importance of the Weipa Lesser Frigatebird roost

          Determine non-breeding areas and migration routes

          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
      Quantify and manage the potential impacts of fisheries interactions and human disturbance

110 Wildlife Conservation Plan for Seabirds
Species profiles

 Great Frigatebird (Fregata minor)

 Life History and Distribution
The Great Frigatebird (Fregata minor) is a very large black, or black and white seabird larger than most seabirds in the tropics. Major breeding populations are found in tropical waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. The Great Frigatebird breeds on small, remote tropical and sub-tropical islands, in mangroves or bushes and occasionally on bare ground (del Hoyo et al. 1992). The species has a protracted breeding cycle, averaging 16 months, to raise a single chick (Nelson 1976). Successful breeders from one year rarely if ever attempt to breed in the following year. Juveniles remain dependent until well into their second year, overlapping the subsequent nesting cycle (James and McAllan 2014). Fish, squid and chicks of other bird species (e.g. Sooty Terns) have all been identified as prey (Weimerskirch et al. 2004). It is frequently observed attempting to steal food from other bird species (Vickery and Brooke 1994). However, this behaviour represents a minor source of energy intake (Vickery and Brooke 1994; Weimerskirch et al. 2004).

 Population Estimates and Trends
The global population estimate is 500,000–1,000,000 individuals (BirdLife International 2019). Christmas Island provides breeding habitat for an estimated 3,500 pairs (James and McAllan 2014). Other important populations include those at North Keeling Island, the islands of Ashmore Reef Marine Park (50 pairs; Cannell and Surman 2020), Adele Island, WA and in several Coral Sea Marine Park islands and cays. Baker and Holdsworth (2013) reported that from a