Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L01285:reg:13:p87
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L01285
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 13 (pt 87/98)
Character Range: 475899–478927

recognition at the specific level based on demographic differences, a view also supported by morphological and genetic differences (Marchant & Higgins 1990, Nunn & Stanley 1998). ACAP has concluded on advice from its Taxonomy Working Group that available data warrant recognition of the Westland Petrel at the specific level with the nomenclature widely accepted (Brooke et al. 2008, ACAP 2012w).

Current status of taxon

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Commonwealth): not listed
Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (Western Australia): not listed
National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 (South Australia): not listed
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 Least Concern

Species description

A small Procellaria petrel, the Westland Petrel is approximately 50-55 cm in length, 0.9-1.4 kg in weight, with a wing length of 37-40 cm, and bill length of 46-53 mm (ACAP 2015, Menkhorst et al. 2017). Tubenosed; separate nostrils on a yellow plated bill with black tip. Combination of black and silver plumage that becomes browner with age, all black except for undersides of primaries (Onley & Scofield 2007, BirdLife International 2018m).

Life history

Breeding locality  Jurisdiction

Punakaiki          New Zealand

Endemic to New Zealand with one breeding site on the South Island at Punakaiki (ACAP 2012w). The Westland Petrel is an annual breeder when successful (Jackson 1958, Baker & Coleman 1977). Adults arrive at colonies from mid-February with females laying a single egg predominantly in May that hatches after incubation period of 8-9 weeks mostly in late July, with fledging of chicks occurring after 4-5 months in November-January ((Jackson 1958, Baker & Coleman 1977). Mean annual breeding success is 62% (ACAP 2012w). The Westland Petrel predominantly disperses eastwards across the Pacific Ocean to South America. Juveniles return to colonies when 3 years of age and commence breeding when birds are at least 5 years of age (Waugh et al. 2006). Generation length is estimated at 22.5 years (Bird et al. 2020).

Species distribution in Australia

Australia is within the foraging range of the Westland Petrel. An indicative distribution map is not available for this non-threatened species. Tracking studies and at-sea records indicate that dispersal from the breeding colonies is predominantly eastwards across the Pacific Ocean from 20-50°S to the coastline of Chile (BirdLife International 2004, Spear et al. 2005, ACAP 2012w), with some birds recorded in waters adjacent to south-east Australia (Baker et al. 2002).

Population estimates and trends

The global population trend is uncertain with no population trend information available for the species over