Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L01285:reg:13:p59
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L01285
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 13 (pt 59/98)
Character Range: 389663–392757

1988 (Victoria): not listed
Threatened Species Protection Act 1995 (Tasmania): Endangered
Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (New South Wales): not listed
Nature Conservation Act 1992 (Queensland): species not recorded in Queensland
IUCN Red list of Threatened Species: Near Threatened
Action Plan for Australian Birds 2020: breeding population Near Threatened, population visiting Australia Near Threatened

Species description

A small Procellaria petrel, the Grey Petrel is approximately 50 cm in length, 0.9-1.1 kg in weight, with a wing length of 29-35 cm, and bill length of 44-50 mm (ACAP 2015, Menkhorst et al. 2017). Tubenosed; separate nostrils on a pale plated bill. Combination of grey and white plumage, upper body grey, with darker cap to head and tail, with white underparts except for grey underwings and tail (Onley & Scofield 2007, BirdLife International 2018k).

Life history

Breeding locality                                    Jurisdiction

Macquarie Island                                     Australia

Amsterdam Island, Crozet Islands, Kerguelen Islands  France

Antipodes Islands, Campbell Islands                  New Zealand

Prince Edward Islands                                South Africa

Gough Island, Tristan da Cunha                       United Kingdom

There are 17 breeding sites for the Grey Petrel that occur on island groups of Australia (Macquarie Island), France (Amsterdam Island, Crozet Islands, Kerguelen Islands), New Zealand (Antipodes Islands, Campbell Island), South Africa (Prince Edward Islands), and United Kingdom (Gough Island, Tristan da Cunha) (ACAP 2012i). The Grey Petrel is an annual winter breeder when successful (Jouventin et al. 1985, Chastel 1995). The breeding biology is variable with adults arriving at colonies from early February with females laying a single egg from late March to early April that hatches after incubation period of 7-9 weeks from late May to early June, with fledging of chicks occurring after 4-5 months from August to early December (Jouventin et al. 1985, Zotier 1990). Mean annual breeding success varies by location from 13-45% at sites outside the Australia's jurisdiction (ACAP 2012i), while breeding success at Macquarie Island has consistently been ≥75% since rodent and rabbit eradication in 2012-2014 (Bird et al. in review, DPIPWE 2021a).
The Grey Petrel has a wide circumpolar range across the southern oceans and subtropical South America. Juveniles return to commence breeding when birds are an average of seven years of age (Barbraud et al. 2009). Generation length is estimated at 16.9 years (Bird et al. 2020).
Grey Petrel mostly forage alone, but may be found in small groups (around a dozen birds) including around fishing vessels and cetaceans (Harper 1987). Birds take prey by surface seizing and deep plunge diving (Harper 1987). Grey Petrel forage during daylight and return to their burrows at night. Adult birds usually depart burrows before dawn and return at dusk, with a few birds return to breeding colonies during the day (Bell et al. 2013). Grey Petrel diet is comprised