Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2007B00392:body:0:p11
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2007B00392
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 26409–29590

the areas in which Christmas Island Frigatebirds forage. It is likely that over-fishing is a potential problem in some of the foraging habitat of Christmas Island Frigatebirds.
Domestic cats could also pose a potential threat to grounded birds, especially in settled areas.

Recovery Objectives and Timelines

Overall Objective
    * To shift the status of the Christmas Island Frigatebirds from Vulnerable to Conservation Dependent within 10 years

Specific Objectives
To reduce the risk of extinction and improve the conservation status of the species by:
     1.    Maximising extent of occurrence and total population size
     2.    Implementing threat abatement strategies
     3.    Increasing community involvement in and awareness of the Christmas Island Frigatebird
     4.    Implementing the Recovery Plan through a Recovery Team

Performance Criteria
    * Breeding distribution of Christmas Island Frigatebirds maintained or increased on Stokes (1988) levels
    * Total population size not significantly less than 1620 breeding pairs.
    * Protection of all habitat critical to survival of the Christmas Island Frigatebird
    * Crazy Ants having an insignificant impact on Christmas Island Frigatebirds
    * Maintenance of effective quarantine against the introduction of avian diseases
    * Demonstrated increase in community awareness and support for habitat protection
    * Demonstrated successful operation of the Recovery Team over five years.

Actions

Specific Objective:  1. Maximising extent of occurrence and total population size.
              Criteria: Breeding distribution of Christmas Island Frigatebirds maintained or increased on Stokes (1988) levels.
                 Total population size not significantly less than 1620 breeding pairs.
                Action:  1. Develop techniques to monitor the total breeding population size.
Develop a census methodology which is less expensive and more easily repeated than that used by Stokes (1988). Stokes surveyed nest distribution, particularly in the golf course colony, each year between 1983 and 1987, and also collected monthly data on breeding success at about 50 nests in 1985/86.  Barry Reville carried out more detailed studies of a small number of nests in one tree in the cemetery colony. These data contain information on the attendance at nests by both sexes which is important to help interpret census data, as well as breeding and nesting success - an analysis would be invaluable in developing a census method. Other information that should be extracted from these studies includes: (i) Breeding success (and thus breeding requirements); particularly between years, and sites, (ii) timing of breeding, (iii) overlap between Christmas Island Frigatebirds and Great Frigatebirds in nesting distribution, (iv), information on feeding rates and the relative role of each sex in raising the young.

Frigatebirds are very difficult to catch and sensitive to handling (T. Stokes pers. comm.) and a censusing method will probably involve attempting to count the number of breeding attempts initiated in a particular year. Alternative methods of censusing Christmas Island Frigatebirds