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New Zealand albatross and petrel research and monitoring priorities

workshop

National Museum of New Zealand- Te Papa Tongarewa,

Wellington

11 August 2012

By

Kerry-Jayne Wilson1 & John Croxall2

1 P.O. Box 70, Charleston 7865, West Coast, New Zealand. 2 Birdlife International, Wellbrook Court, Girton Road, Cambridge CB3 0NA, UK

Outline

Introduction and background

Introduction

Aims

Participants (Annex 1)

Source material

Recommendations and conclusions

1. Taxonomic matters

2. ACAP species breeding in New Zealand

2.1 Land-based issues; population status, trends, monitoring, demography.

2.2 Distribution at sea (Tracking)

2.3 At-sea issues (Bycatch)

3. Non-ACAP species

3.1Conservation Services Programme

3.2 Recreational fishing impacts

3.3 Regional surveys

3.4 Burrow breeding petrel surveys

3.5 Eradication of mammals from islands

3.6 Translocation of petrels

3.7 Fisheries and non-ACAP species

3.8 Climate and sea temperature change

4. Outreach, engagement and capacity building

4.1 Albatross and petrel symposium

4.2 Community groups

5. Other issues

6. Annexes

Annex 1 List of participants

Annex 2 List of species under consideration

Annex 3 Pre-workshop discussion powerpoint document

Introduction and background

Introduction

New Zealand is the country with the greatest number of breeding and globally threatened species of

albatrosses and petrels. Despite this, New Zealand seabirds have received less attention than their

terrestrial counterparts for both research and conservation. With climate change and increasing

pressure on the New Zealand marine environment and on the Southern Ocean, greater

understanding of the ecology of albatrosses and petrels can help us understand and address the

changes that are occurring. To date much of the research undertaken has been reactive rather than

proactive. Both research and management has concentrated on critically endangered species and

those known to be at risk from fisheries interactions, there have been few studies of more common

species and there has been little recent fundamental research on New Zealand seabirds. Our

national resources are clearly insufficient to meet the all the monitoring, research and management

required for the conservation of all species, let alone undertaking more fundamental research that

addresses issues in marine ecology or climate change. Currently there is no clear national strategy,

to guide the prioritisation of available resources or to best utilise international funding opportunities

and visiting researchers.

The aim of this workshop was to help develop national strategies for albatross and petrel research

and conservation in the New Zealand region. The workshop was species-focused, seeking to identify

those species where monitoring, research or management is most urgently required or most usefully

undertaken. The workshop sought to identify those actions that are essential to ensure the survival,

persistence and/or recovery of the species concerned and those species, threatened or non-

threatened, that could provide useful insights into marine ecology and climate change. In the time

available it was impossible to cover all such topics in sufficient detail. For the purposes of this

workshop we have followed the taxonomy used in Gill et al (2010)1. This differs in some respects

from that used by the Department of Conservation and by the Birdlife International World Bird

Database.

In this workshop we only considered those populations breeding on islands under New Zealand

jurisdiction.

The workshop was facilitated by;

1 Gill, B.J. ET AL. 2010, Checklist of the birds of New Zealand, Norfolk and Macquarie Islands, and the Ross

Dependency, Antarctica. Te Papa Press.

John Croxall (BirdLife International (manages IUCN Red List and published recent review of global

conservation priorities for seabirds; ex southern hemisphere seabird researcher)

and

Kerry-Jane Wilson (independent NZ researcher and author of the Ornithological Society of New

Zealand 2006 report on State of NZ seabirds).

Researchers and conservation managers who are currently or recently involved in work with New

Zealand albatrosses or petrels were invited to take part.

This report will be sent to Department of Conservation, Fisheries division of the Ministry for Primary

Industries and other key stakeholders.

The workshop was sponsored by the Australasian Seabird Group with meeting facilities provided

free of charge by the National Museum of New Zealand - Te Papa Tongarewa.

Aims

To contribute to the development and implementation of a national strategy for seabird research,

monitoring and conservation by:

a) identifying some priority actions for albatross and petrel research, monitoring and management;

b) suggesting ways to improve coordination and collaboration between New Zealand seabird

researchers and between researchers, managers and administrators.

Participants

A list of participants is attached as Annex 1.

Source materials

1. List of taxa under consideration, together with their national and international threat status

(Annex 2).

2. BirdLife International Species Factsheets for all species of albatross and petrel breeding in New

Zealand with IUCN Red List status as globally threatened or near-threatened (sourced from

www.birdlife.org/datazone/species in July 2012).

3. Taylor, G. 2000. Action Plan for Seabird Conservation in New Zealand. Threatened Species

Occasional Publication Nos 16 & 17. Department of Conservation, Wellington.

http://www.doc.govt.nz/upload/documents/science-and-technical/TSOP16.pdf

4. Wilson, K-J. The State of New Zealand’s birds 2006; Special report New Zealand’s seabirds.

http://osnz.org.nz/publications/The%20State%20of%20New%20Zealand%20Birds

5. Rowe, S. and Taylor, G. 2006. New Zealand Seabird Priorities 2006 – 2011. Department of

Conservation, Wellington.

6. Croxall et al. 2012. Seabird conservation status, threats and priority actions: a global assessment. Bird Conservation International 22 (1) 1-34. 7. New Zealand Albatross and petrel priorities workshop, powerpoint document prepared to

summarise background information and focus discussion (Annex 3)

http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species%20in%20July%202012

Recommendations and conclusions

1. Taxonomic matters

A number of taxonomic issues had been raised prior to the workshop by Alan Tennyson with

subsequent comment on these by Paul Scofield and John Croxall. These issues and comments are

shown in slides 3-5 of Annex 3.

The priorities determined by the workshop (within each section species are listed in priority order)

are to investigate the:

1. Status of New Zealand taxa that are potentially cryptic endemic species; these are: a) Kermadec

Storm Petrel, b) the Codfish Island population of South Georgian Diving Petrel; c) southern and

northern populations of Cook’s Petrel (in progress, with translocations maintaining separation of the

two populations); d) Grey-faced Petrel (in progress, NZ and Australian taxa probably different).

2. Status of New Zealand taxa that are potentially cryptic endemic or near-endemic species in taxon

complexes where New Zealand would have a logical lead role: a) White-bellied Storm Petrels in

South Pacific, b) the Fulmar/Fairy Prion complex (genetic analysis begun, more samples required); c)

Little Shearwater complex in the South Pacific; d) White-faced Storm Petrels complex; e) Cape Petrel

complex.

3. Taxa where New Zealand material is highly relevant to any global/regional review: a) White-

capped Albatross, (different fishing threats to NZ and Australian taxa but treated as a single entity

for bycatch analysis); b) Pterodroma petrels; c) Common Diving Petrel complex; d) Wedge-tailed

Shearwater.

4. The New Zealand population of White-chinned Petrel (for which the name Procellaria

aequinoctialis steadi is available) has been shown to differ from other White-chinned Petrels

genetically but unpublished morphological data are not entirely in accord with this and it was not

given separate taxonomic ranking by the OSNZ checklist committee. Given the threat bycatch poses

to White-chinned Petrels there is urgent need to review the taxonomy of the New Zealand

populations.

A request was made that BirdLife International circulate the New Zealand seabird community,

initially via the workshop attendees, with the annual list of seabird taxa whose status is to be

investigated by BirdLife’s Taxonomic Working Group, in order that appropriate materials and

comments may be contributed to their assessment. Greater interaction between Birdlife and New

Zealand researchers on status and taxonomic matters would be mutually beneficial.

2 ACAP species breeding in New Zealand

New Zealand has ninety-two populations of 16 ACAP species, 10 of which are endemic. This is

more than any other jurisdiction yet New Zealand’s contribution to the conservation,

management and research of ACAP species fails to reflect the importance of the New Zealand

region to these threatened species. Indeed New Zealand’s contribution to research on these and

other seabirds is significantly less than that of many other ACAP signatories.

Table 1. Species/island group combinations that comprise at least 5% of global populations for

which there have been no monitoring in the last 20 and 10 years, New Zealand populations in

bold.2

Species/Island Groups (>5% global population) no population data in last 20 years (1991-2010)

Light-mantled Albatross (Kerguelen/40.2%/1987)

Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross (Crozet/17.9%/1984)

Northern Giant Petrel (Kerguelen/14.9%/1987)

White-chinned Petrel (Auckland I./9.4%/1988)

Grey-headed Albatross (Kerguelen/8.4%/1985)

Grey-headed Albatross (Crozet/6.3%/1982)


All six populations above plus:

Campbell Albatross (Campbell/100%/1998)

Light-mantled Albatross (Campbell/16.7%/1996)

Grey-headed Albatross (Campbell/6.7%/1997)

2 Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels,Sixth Meeting of Advisory Committee, Guayaquil, Ecuador, 29 August – 2 September 201, Report of the Breeding Sites Working Group and Status and Trends Working Group – Joint BSWG4/STWG6.

Table 2. Level of knowledge of current (2001-2010) population trend data (at island group level), New Zealand breeding species in bold3

Species with VERY HIGH level trend data (75-100% island groups)

Amsterdam Albatross, Tristan Albatross, Wandering Albatross, Shy Albatross, Laysan Albatross, Antipodean Albatross, Black-footed Albatross, Short-tailed Albatross

Species with HIGH - MODERATE level trend data (50 – 74% island groups)

Black-browed Albatross, Southern Giant Petrel

Species with MODERATE - LOW level trend data (25-49% trend data)

Light-mantled Albatross, Sooty Albatross

Species with LOW level trend data (1-25% island groups)

Northern Giant Petrel, Grey-headed Albatross, Southern Royal Albatross

Species with UNKNOWN trend data (< 1% island groups)

Northern Royal Albatross, Waved Albatross, Buller’s Albatross, Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross, Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross, Campbell Albatross, Chatham Albatross, Salvin’s Albatross, White-capped Albatross; Grey Petrel, White-chinned Petrel, Spectacled Petrel, Black Petrel, Westland Petrel

3Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, Sixth Meeting of Advisory Committee, Guayaquil, Ecuador, 29 August – 2 September 201, Report of the Breeding Sites Working Group and Status and Trends Working Group – Joint BSWG4/STWG6.

2.1. Land-based issues

2.1.1 Population status

Of the priorities for New Zealand summarised by the joint meeting of the ACAP Working Groups on

Breeding Sites and Status and Trends at the sixth meeting (AC6) of the ACAP Advisory Committee in

2011 as shown in Table 1.

1) The size of the breeding populations of Campbell and Grey-headed Albatrosses at Campbell Island

are to be estimated in 2012/13 through the Conservation Services Programme (CSP) (project POP

2012-04).

2) There is no known intention to obtain new estimates of the population of Light-mantled Sooty

Albatross at Campbell Island (previous estimate in 1996) or White-chinned Petrel at Auckland Islands

(the only previous estimate made in 1988 was not of high accuracy).

Population status recommendations

1) If feasible, include estimating Light-mantled Sooty Albatross populations at Campbell Island within

the ongoing CSP project there.

2) If /when pig and cat eradication proceeds at the Auckland Islands, undertake an estimation of the

White-chinned Petrel populations there, ideally both before and after pest eradication.

2.1.2 Population trends

The priorities for New Zealand breeding species as summarised by the joint meeting of the ACAP

Working Groups on Breeding Sites and Status and Trends at AC6 in 2011 are shown in Table 2.

In respect of species characterised as of unknown trend:

1) Acquisition and analysis of Salvin’s Albatross data will be addressed by Conservation Services

Programme project POP 2012-06.

2) Acquisition and analysis of White-capped Albatross data is addressed by Conservation Services

Programme project POP 2012-05 and trend data will soon be available (B. Baker).

3) Data for the following species are known to be available: (i)Southern Royal Albatross (ii) Southern

Buller’s Albatross (Paul Sagar, NIWA); (iii) Chatham Albatross and Northern Royal Albatross at

Chatham Islands (Paul Scofield, Canterbury Museum); (iv) Black Petrel (Biz Bell, Wildlife

Management International); (v) Westland Petrel (Sue Waugh, Sandy Bartle, National Museum, Te

Papa), (vi) Grey Petrel (counts in 2001 & 2008/9). There are no relevant data for Northern Royal

Albatross at Chatham Islands nor for Black-browed Albatross at Campbell Island.

Population trend recommendations

1) Available data should be transmitted to ACAP forthwith.

2) Population estimates to provide trend data for and Campbell Black-browed Albatross at Campbell

Island should be collected at the earliest opportunity.

3) Collate existing count data for Light-mantled Sooty Albatross at Adams I (Walker, Elliott) and

Campbell I (Sagar, Taylor). Data available are limited but valuable.

4) It is equally important to maintain monitoring of those populations for which there is existing

trend data as it is to establish trend counts for the species mentioned above.

Table 3. ACAP species for which no demographic statistics are currently being collected. New Zealand species in bold.4

Demographic statistics ACAP species

No data for adult survival

(two species)

Salvin’s Albatross, Spectacled Petrel

No data for juvenile survival

(nine species)

Buller’s Albatross, Chatham Albatross, Northern Giant Petrel, Salvin’s

Albatross, Short-tailed Albatross, Southern Royal Albatross, Spectacled

Petrel, Westland Petrel, White-capped Albatross

No data for productivity

(three species)

Chatham Albatross, Salvin’s Albatross, Spectacled Petrel

2.1.3 Demography

Of the priorities for New Zealand breeding species summarised by the joint meeting of the ACAP

Working Groups on Breeding Sites and Status and Trends at AC6 in 2011 (Table 3):

1) For Southern Buller’s Albatross, Chatham Albatross and to a lesser extent Westland Petrel,

juvenile survival data are available: the main remaining gaps would appear to be for Salvin’s,

Southern Royal, Northern Bullers and White-capped Albatrosses.

2) There are productivity data for Chatham Albatross, but not for Salvin’s Albatross.

3) For Salvin’s Albatross there are adult survival data for the Snares Western Chain but not for the

Bounty Islands.

Demography recommendations

1) Existing data should be transmitted to ACAP forthwith; the remaining data gaps should be filled as

opportunity allows.

2) There are no demographic data for Salvin’s Albatross at the Bounty Islands where the bulk of the

population breeds. This species would appear to be the least known of the albatross species.

3) While the Southern Buller’s albatross is reasonably well studied there are few data available for

the northern sub-species.

4) Paul Sagar has unpublished adult survival data from Antipodes Island.

2.2. Distribution at sea

The interim priorities for New Zealand species identified by ACAP on the basis of a preliminary

assessment by the joint meeting of the ACAP Working Groups on Breeding Sites and Status and

4 Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels,Sixth Meeting of Advisory Committee, Guayaquil, Ecuador, 29 August – 2 September 201, Report of the Breeding Sites Working Group and Status and Trends Working Group – Joint BSWG4/STWG6.

Trends at AC6 in 2011 were Campbell and Grey-headed Albatross at Campbell Island, Salvin’s

Albatross at the Bounty islands and White-chinned Petrel at the Antipodes Islands. In respect of

these:

1) Data for Salvin’s Albatross are to be collected by Conservation Services Programme project POP

2012-06

2) A multi-year study of at sea distribution of Campbell Black-browed and Grey-headed Albatross at

Campbell Island began in 2008 (Paul Sagar/David Thompson, NIWA)

3) There are no plans to track White-chinned Petrels from the Auckland or Antipodes Islands.

Of other priorities suggested in advance of the workshop, mainly relating to data that would

improve knowledge of overlap and potential interaction with fisheries, it was noted that:

1) More data would be acquired for Black Petrel by Conservation Services Programme project POP

2012-03.

2) Further studies on at-sea distribution of Westland Petrel and White-chinned Petrels at Antipodes

Island are underway.

3) There are no plans to track Black-browed Albatross in the New Zealand region although it would

be feasible to track Campbell Island breeding birds.

4) Giant Petrels were relatively low priority worldwide for new tracking studies.

Distribution at sea recommendations

1) Implement tracking studies of White-chinned Petrels at Auckland Islands. This reflects the

importance of the New Zealand populations, and their potential overlap with several fisheries liable

to cause substantial bycatch of this species.

2) Acquire sample tracking data from the Antipodes Island Black-browed Albatross population while

undertaking tracking studies on White-chinned Petrels.

Table 4 ACAP provisional at-sea conservation priorities for New Zealand ACAP species (taken from

ACAP MoP4 Doc 17 Annex 2 (April 2012))

Species population Fisheries (pelagic longline unless otherwise indicated)

Black-browed Albatross Antipodes WCPFC, CCSBT

Campbell WCPFC, CCSBT

Black Petrel WCPFC, CCSBT

Campbell Albatross WCPFC, CCSBT

Chatham Albatross WCPFC, CCSBT, Peru

Grey Petrel (all sites) WCPFC, CCSBT, ICCAT, IOTC, New Zealand pelagic trawl

Northern Royal Albatross Chatham WCPFC, CCSBT, ICCAT, New Zealand pelagic trawl

Salvin’s Albatross, Bounty New Zealand pelagic trawl

Westland Petrel WCPFC, CCSBT, New Zealand pelagic trawl

CCSBT: Convention for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna

ICCAT: International Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna

IOTC: Indian Ocean Tuna Commission

2.3. At-sea issues

In relation to the provisional priorities identified by ACAP Secretariat, Seabird Bycatch Working

Group Convenors and New Zealand, as submitted to the Fourth Meeting of ACAP Parties in April

2012 (Table 3) it was noted that there appear to be inconsistencies with the results of recent risk

assessments for fisheries in the New Zealand EEZ, which suggest that some of these pose high risks

to ACAP species, especially Black Petrel. A comprehensive re-evaluation of the data used to derive

the ACAP priorities for New Zealand fisheries and breeding seabird species would seem warranted.

Recommendation

1) New Zealand seabird and other scientists with appropriate expertise review the ACAP priorities

for New Zealand species/fisheries, especially in the light of those identified in national risk

assessments.

General recommendations relating to ACAP species

The New Zealand organisations and individuals representing New Zealand at ACAP and on its

Working Groups need to establish effective links with all New Zealand scientists working on ACAP

species and other stakeholders. It is clear that scientific data available have not been submitted to

ACAP and that New Zealand scientific experts have not been consulted or involved in initiatives of

the ACAP Working Groups for which they have particular knowledge and expertise. Graeme Taylor

will liaise with Ian Angus, Igor Debski, Rosemary Gales and Richard Phillips to ensure available data

are transmitted to ACAP.

Notwithstanding this, the operation of ACAP has resulted in substantially enhanced work on New

Zealand ACAP species, at least in comparison to non-ACAP species. While it was regarded as

important to fill some of the top priority gaps already identified for ACAP species, concern was

expressed that before any new initiatives are started for ACAP species, the priority of these should

be reviewed against priorities for non-ACAP seabird species, many of which are equally threatened.

There are few data available on White-chinned Petrels in the New Zealand region and given the

importance of fishery interactions for this species, relevant research on this species is a priority.

Paul Sagar has studied burrow densities, breeding frequency and adult survival on Antipodes Island

and this data is being analysed for publication. The possibility of researchers working on the

Auckland Islands undertaking studies of these populations should be investigated. There may be

opportunities associated with the existing projects on Adams Island albatrosses or Enderby Island

sea lions.

3 Non ACAP Species

For the non-ACAP species it was much harder to determine where priorities should lie as, with the

exception of some of the most critically endangered species, little is known of the distribution,

population status or trends for almost all burrow-breeding petrels.

3.1 Conservation Services Programme

The Department of Conservation’s Conservation Services Programme funding is derived from fishing

levies and is used to fund research on seabirds impacted by fisheries bycatch. At this stage the only

non-ACAP species funded by this scheme is the Flesh-footed Shearwater. Barry Baker’s work looking

at population numbers at selected colonies has finished and the report should be available soon. Te

Papa, in conjunction with DoC, is undertaking demographic and foraging studies on islands in the

Hauraki Gulf and Marlborough Sounds building on Baker’s studies.

3.2 Recreational fishing impacts

To date there has been little consideration of the impact recreational fishing may have on

albatrosses and petrels. Alan Tennyson noted that all the Flesh-footed Shearwaters found dead

following the Rena oil spill had injuries suggesting that their deaths were caused by recreational

fishers. There are few other data on impacts caused by recreational fishers. Black Petrels and Buller’s

Shearwaters are two species likely to be caught by recreational fishers; one recent survey that asked

fishers how often seabirds were caught suggested that the overall number could be as high as

10,000 annually although most would be released alive. The OSNZ beach patrol records the numbers

of beach cast seabirds found by members.

Recreational fishing impacts recommendations

1) Request DOC to add Flesh-footed Shearwaters to their list of species found dead to be

autopsied by the Massey University wildlife team.

2) Surveys are needed to find out which recreational fishing methods catch which species of

seabirds.

3) Enhance awareness of seabirds and the impact recreational fishing may have on them

through the two TV fishing shows and fishing magazines.

3.3 Regional surveys

Seabird surveys are underway on islands along the east coast of the North Island between Cape

Brett and the Bay of Plenty (Chris Gaskin, Todd Landers and Matt Rayner) funded by the Greater

Auckland Council. This work will not only document the species breeding on each location but

suggest research priorities for this region. This document when completed should provide a model

for further regional surveys.

Few other island surveys have been done in during the last 20 years. For seabirds, Fiordland, the

Ruapuke Islands and the islands off the east coast of Stewart Island remain the least known of the

islands around mainland New Zealand. Iwi ownership of the Ruapuke Islands and most islands off

Stewart Island restrict survey activity. Muttonbirding occurs on most of these islands but there is

virtually no information on other species breeding there. Fiordland is a more practical proposition.

Other mainland areas of importance are Marlborough Sounds (some data for some islands) and the

Catlins Coast.

Of the sub-Antarctic Islands the status and population size for most albatross species are tolerably

well know (see ACAP Species section above). Fairly comprehensive surveys were undertaken at the

Snares in the 1980’s (Colin Miskelly, Alan Tennyson), sooty shearwaters at The Snares in the 1970’s

and early 2000’s (J Warham, K-J Wilson, P Scofield), although for most species estimates of numbers

present were order of magnitude only. The distribution of petrels on the Antipodes is tolerably well

known but other than as yet unpublished data for grey petrels (Biz Bell) there are virtually no

quantitative data. The Auckland Islands are poorly surveyed with most data coming from the

1972/73 expedition. Few surveys of petrels have been undertaken on Campbell Island where the

surrounding islets have very seldom been visited. The Bounty Islands, where the only non-ACAP

species are Fulmar Prions and Cape Petrels, are of lower priority. GLS loggers deployed on Fulmar

Prions in October 2012 should be retrieved in 2013.

Species breeding on the southern islands are those most likely to be affected by climate change so

surveys there could be of particular importance.

A comprehensive review of petrels breeding on the Chatham Islands was published by Mike Imber

in 1994 although for most species at most locations there were no quantitative data on abundance.

Most data are now 20-25 years old. Of the Kermadec Islands, people are stationed on Raoul Island

but the DoC staff there do not get time or opportunity to undertake petrel surveys. As petrels are

recolonising Raoul following mammal eradications surveys are of particular interest. The other

islands are seldom visited; there are quantitative data for Curtis and Macauley Islands but the

density of burrows and the fragility of the soil on Macauley (and other densely burrowed islands)

means repeat surveys must be conducted in ways that minimises damage to the habitat.

Forest and Bird, Birdlife International and Te Papa have supported the development of a

comprehensive seabird breeding colony database for New Zealand, which currently contains some

thousands of records of sites where seabirds have bred. This database should be available for use in

2013. The seabird colony database includes both quantitative and descriptive information. While

reliable quantitative data are most desirable, purely descriptive information, even if it merely lists

the species present, is still of use.

Recommendations

1) Complete the Auckland Region seabird survey document and make this available as a

template for further regional surveys

2) Undertake seabird breeding surveys of Fiordland and of islands in the Ruapuke Group and

Stewart Island area as opportunity allows.

3) Repeat surveys of breeding petrels, in particular sooty shearwaters, mottled petrels and

diving petrels, on the Snares Islands.

4) Undertake baseline surveys of petrels on the Auckland and Campbell Islands (including

islets). Further discussion on which islands in this group are of particular interest would be

desirable.

5) On the Chatham Islands resurvey petrels on Rangatira Island, Mangere Island and the Star

Keys.

6) Every fifth year have one person added to the DoC team specifically to undertake surveys of

those petrels recolonising Raoul Island. This person need not be a DoC employee.

7) Survey burrow-breeding petrels on Macauley Island.

8) Collate all available information for the Auckland Islands.

9) The current situation where permits restrict where researchers can go and what they can do

while on the southern islands was highlighted as an issue that prevented bone fide visitors

addressing some of the above recommendations. More flexible permits would enable parties

working on one project to undertake some additional petrel survey work as resources and

conditions allowed.

10) Acoustic survey methods may be useful for some remote locations and need appropriate

trials.

3.4 Burrow-breeding petrel surveys

There was some discussion on which petrel species and which populations were of high priority for

quantitative surveys. While accurate surveys of any populations are useful and should be

encouraged, several key points emerged.

1) Burrow-breeding petrels are assumed to have benefited when mammals have been

eradicated from islands but there have been few surveys of petrels before and after

mammal eradications.

2) Likewise there is little assessment of seabird populations on islands with different predator

histories.

3) Most surveys have been ad hoc and opportunistic; methodology is often inadequately

described making it difficult to compare counts. Usually the only estimate is of burrow

numbers. Burrow occupancy estimates and chick mass data add to the value of counts.

4) Sooty shearwaters are one of the most abundant and widespread of New Zealand seabirds

and while still abundant there is evidence of their decline. Monitoring of selected

populations throughout their range would be important.

5) Clarity over the aims and objectives of any survey and what level of population change could

be detected by the methodology chosen is desirable.

Rachel Buxton briefly outlined the aims and objectives of her PhD study. She will be documenting

population numbers of Pycroft’s Petrel, Fluttering Shearwater, Little Shearwater and Northern Diving

Petrel on islands with different predator histories including islands recently cleared of mammalian

predators. She will be developing survey methodology for burrow-breeding species.

Burrow-breeding petrel survey recommendations

1) Develop survey methodology for burrow-breeding petrels, remembering that some visits

may be brief (a few hours), others of several weeks. Rachel Buxton may wish to take a lead

here. Various manuals exist but none are consistently used in New Zealand.

2) Resurvey sooty shearwaters at those colonies throughout their range where previous

surveys have been undertaken, these are The Snares, Codfish Island, Taiaroa Head, Motunau

Island, Titi Island, Mana Island and Bethells Beach. Other small mainland colonies in Otago,

Banks Peninsula and Westland may also be worth resurveying.

3) Survey Kermadec Storm Petrel colonies and, once discovered, New Zealand Storm Petrel

colonies.

4) For the southern islands Sooty Shearwater, Grey Petrel and White-chinned Petrel were

suggested to be the most important species for survey. Cape Petrel on the Snares was of

secondary importance.

3.5 Eradication of mammals from islands

The eradication of introduced mammals from islands has presumably greatly benefited petrels but

sadly there have been few pre- and post-eradication surveys to document benefits to seabirds. A list

of islands where mammal eradication is desirable was drawn up with Pitt Island (Chatham Island

group) (cats, pigs, weka and mice) and Auckland Island (pigs and cats) topping the list. Other islands

where eradication of introduced mammals would greatly benefit petrels are; Antipodes (mice),

Great Barrier Island, Arid I (ship rat, weka), Great Mercury Island, Stewart Island and Chatham Island.

Eradication of mammals from Islands recommendations

1) Top priority islands for the eradication of introduced predators are Pitt Island (cats, pigs,

weka and mice) and Auckland Island (pigs and cats).

2) Also important are Antipodes (mice), Great Barrier Island, Arid I (ship rat, weka), Great

Mercury Island, Stewart Island and Chatham Island.

3) Quantitative surveys of petrel colonies on island before and after the eradication of

introduced mammals. This will be studied on Ririwha Island before and after kiore

eradication. Antipodes, and Auckland Islands are other important islands for pre and post

eradication surveys.

3.6 Translocation of petrels

There have been a number of petrel translocations over the last decade and a paper by Miskelly et

al5 presents a review of these. At this workshop we only addressed priorities for threatened species

or endemic species breeding at one or few locations. Translocations meeting these criteria that are

underway or recently completed are Chatham Island Taiko, Chatham Petrel and Hutton’s

Shearwater.

Petrel translocation recommendations

Restricted or threatened species where translocations are a priority are:

1) White-naped Petrel and Kermadec Petrel (a sound system on Raoul Island may be all that is

required to enhance populations of these species and of Kermadec populations of Little

Shearwaters).

2) Kermadec Storm-petrel (to Macauley Island).

5 Miskelly ey al 2008, Conservation status of New Zealand birds, 2008, Notornis 55; 117-135.

3) Cook’s Petrel from Little Barrier Island to Cape Kidnappers and Boundary Stream.

4) Cook’s Petrel from Codfish Island to Chalky Island.

5) Chatham Albatross to Chatham Island.

6) Northern Royal Albatross to Pitt Island.

7) Buller’s Shearwater to Rakitu and Fanal Islands in the longer term Motuora Island.

3.7 Fisheries and non-ACAP species

The only non-ACAP species where fisheries impact is being addressed is the Flesh-footed Shearwater

(B Baker, S Waugh). Hutton’s and Sooty Shearwaters are likely to be killed by fishers in New Zealand

waters but the impact, if any, has not been studied.

Concern had been expressed that a reduction in fisheries observer coverage could result in an

increase in numbers of seabirds caught and/or loss of information on numbers killed. This led to a

discussion with Ian Angus on how the recent restructuring within DoC might impact upon seabird

research and observer coverage. Ian noted that DoC now had two national marine-focussed teams

(Marine Ecosystems Team, managed by Sean Cooper, and Marine Species and Threats Team,

managed by Ian). Ian assured the group the Conservation Services Programme would continue and

would encompass fisheries observer coverage. The intention was to prioritise coverage with the

Ministry of Primary Industries on an annual basis. Ian noted that the National Plan of Action-

Seabirds is under review and a draft should be available in October 2012. Ian sought guidance on

what the group thought should be the priority species or sites for future monitoring, input on

potential ecosystem integrity, indicator species and a view on population survey or monitoring

standards.

Fisheries and non-ACAP species recommendations

1) A sub-group from this workshop liaise with Ian Angus on the above topics and maintain this

liaison as new data on at risk species become available.

3.8 Climate and sea temperature change

New Zealand has not yet undertaken research to predict which seabird species are/may be at risk

from climate change and associated increases in sea water temperatures, nor have we determined

which species are likely to be useful in monitoring changes in the marine environment. The

discussion focused on those species most likely to reflect changes in the marine environment.

Considered were species where existing long-term datasets are available, even though they may not

be those that best reflect environmental change, and those where long term monitoring would be of

most value. A range of species with differing foraging strategies are required.

The problems of continuing annual or regular censuses of albatrosses and petrels over a long enough

period to reflect environmental change were highlighted. The success of these invariably comes

down to the passion and commitment of the individuals concerned.

It is one thing to show populations have changed over time; it is another to link this to climate

change. Knowledge of foods and foraging should help to test any correlation with climate change.

Australian scientists have been developing marine climate models and linking these to seabird

populations. This has not been done in New Zealand.

Potential for funding this work was not discussed.

Species where existing datasets could be useful in monitoring changes in the marine environment

are; Buller’s Albatross, Grey-headed Albatross, Gibson’s Albatross, Antipodean Albatross, Sooty

Shearwater and Westland Petrel,

Inshore feeding species with high biomass are likely to be useful, suggestions for central New

Zealand were; Westland Petrel, Hutton’s Shearwater (nesting at high altitudes), Fluttering

Shearwater, Fairy Prion, Diving Petrels. In the Hauraki Gulf work has begun on Grey-faced Petrel,

Little Shearwater, Fluttering Shearwater, Black-winged Petrel and White-faced Storm Petrel.

Climate and sea temperature change recommendations

1) Investigate options of collaborating with Australian researchers in developing

climate/seabird linkage models for New Zealand.

2) Continue regular monitoring of Buller’s Albatross, Grey-headed Albatross, Gibsons Albatross,

Antipodean Albatross, Sooty Shearwater, Westland Petrel, Fairy Prion (Dunedin) and

Fluttering Shearwater (Marlborough).

3) Continue the monitoring of Grey-faced Petrel, Little Shearwater, Fluttering Shearwater,

Black-winged Petrel and White-faced Storm Petrel in the Hauraki Gulf.

4) Where possible support research into the foods and foraging of monitored species.

5) Review existing census information on other populations to identify additional candidate

species.

4 Outreach, engagement and capacity building

4.1 Albatross and petrel symposium

Concern was expressed that few young people are becoming involved with albatross and petrel

research in New Zealand and a disproportionate number of graduate students working on seabirds

were from overseas. There was a brief discussion on ways to get young New Zealanders involved

and to support and encourage them. There are few opportunities for young people to get involved

in fieldwork and surveys along the lines of those done by ASG in Australia have been suggested. A

regular albatross and petrel symposium similar to the biennial Oamaru Penguin Symposium was

suggested. That meeting provides a forum for students, lay-workers as well as scientists to present

their work.

Recommendation

1) That there be regular Albatross and Petrel Symposia similar in format to the biennial

Oamaru Penguin Symposium.

4.2 Community groups

In light of ever increasing financial constraints and staff redundancies, the Department of

Conservation is coming to rely more and more on community groups to undertake conservation-

related management and research. While some groups, including several working with petrels, for

example the Chatham Taiko Trust which has generated over one million dollars for taiko and other

local conservation work, are achieving good conservation outcomes, others are not so successful. In

any case only the high profile species are likely to receive wide community support. The petrels that

most need research nest on remote islands, have low, if any, public profile, and are probably now

even less likely to receive attention than they were when the Department of Conservation was

better funded. Community groups are good at advocacy and give lay-people the chance to make a

contribution to conservation. The Great Barrier Island group has done excellent work and rather

than working alone has looked to see how it fits into the bigger picture. Community groups need to

work closely with DoC and many need leadership or direction from DoC. The Yellow-eyed Penguin

Trust is organising a conference about the changing face of conservation and the role of community

groups in conservation.

Recommendation

1) People involved with community conservation trusts attend the conference

organised by the Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust, 17-18 October 2013.

5. Other

Two important topics, collaborative research opportunities and new/external funding opportunities

were unable to be discussed due to time constraints.

Recommendation

1) These topics should be given priority future attention, ideally in association with the first meeting

of the proposed Albatross and Petrel Symposia

Annex 1. Workshop participants

Convenors

Kerry-Jayne Wilson, West Coast Blue Penguin Trust and independent seabird researcher, Charleston.

John Croxall, Birdlife International, Cambridge, UK (also ACAP).

Recorder

Nicholas Carlile, Australasian Seabird Group

Paticipants

Ian Angus, Department of Conservation, Wellington, (also ACAP).

Karen Baird, Royal Forest & Bird Protection Society, Warkworth.

Barry Baker, Latitude 42, Environmental consultants, Tasmania, (also ACAP).

Jonathan Barrington, Australian Antarctic Division, Hobart, Tasmania, (also ACAP).

Biz Bell, Wildlife Management International, Blenheim.

Mike Bell, Wildlife Management International, Blenheim.

Rachel Buxton, PhD student, Otago University, Dunedin.

Graeme Elliott, Department of Conservation, Nelson.

Chris Gaskin, Royal Forest & Bird Protection Society, Warkworth.

Helen Gummer, Seabird contractor, Wellington.

Ian Hay, Australian Antarctic Division, Hobart, Tasmania, ACAP.

Georgie Hedley, Seabird contractor, Auckland.

Colin Miskelly, Museum of New Zealand, Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington.

David Nicholls,

Helen Otley, Department of Conservation, Hokitika

Paul Sagar, National Institute for Water and Atmospheric Research, Christchurch.

Junichi Sugishita, PhD student, Otago University, Dunedin.

Graeme Taylor, Department of Conservation, Wellington.

Alan Tennyson, Museum of New Zealand, Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington.

David Thompson, National Institute for Water and Atmospheric Research, Wellington.

Leigh Torres, National Institute for Water and Atmospheric Research, Wellington.

Sue Waugh, Museum of New Zealand, Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington.

Annex 2. The albatross and petrel species that breed in the New Zealand region.

Albatrosses - Family Diomedeidae

Southern royal albatross Diomedea epomophora E S UC ACAP

Northern royal albatross D. sanfordi E UC ACAP

Antipodes Is albatross D. antipodensis antipodensis S UC ACAP

Gibson’s albatross D. antipodensis gibsoni S NV ACAP

Black-browed albatross Thalassarche melanophris C ACAP

Campbell black-browed albatross T. impavida E S UC ACAP

Grey-headed albatross T. chrysostoma S T NC ACAP

New Zealand white-capped albatross T. cauta steadi E D ACAP

Salvin’s albatross T. salvini E NV ACAP

Chatham Island albatross T. eremita C UC ACAP

Southern Buller’s albatross T. bulleri bulleri E S UC ACAP

Northern Buller’s albatross T. bulleri platei C UC ACAP

Light-mantled sooty albatross Phoebetria palpebrata S D ACAP

Shearwaters, Petrels and Prions - Family Procellariidae

Northern giant petrel Macronectes halli S UC ACAP

Grey petrel Procellaria cinerea S D ACAP

Black petrel P. parkinsoni E NV ACAP

Westland petrel P. westlandica E UC ACAP

White-chinned petrel P. aequinoctialis S D ACAP

Flesh-footed shearwater P. carneipes D

Wedge-tailed shearwater P. pacificus K RL

Buller’s shearwater P. bulleri E UC

Sooty shearwater P. griseus D

Fluttering shearwater P. gavia E RL

Hutton’s shearwater P. huttoni E D

Kermadec little shearwater P. assimilis kermadecensis E K RL

North Island little shearwater P. assimilis haurakiensis E R

Subantarctic little shearwater P. elegans S UC

Snares Cape petrel Daption capense australe E S UC

Fairy prion Pachyptila turtur RL

Fulmar prion P. crassirostris crassirostris S UC

Chatham fulmar prion P. crassirostris pyramidalis C UC

Lesser fulmar prion P. crassirostris flemingi S UC

Antarctic prion P. desolata S UC

Broad-billed prion P. vittata RL

Grey-faced petrel Pterodroma macroptera gouldi E NT

Pycroft’s petrel P. pycrofti E R

Cook’s petrel P. cookii E RL

Black-winged petrel P. nigripennis NT

Chatham petrel P. axillaris C NV

Mottled petrel P. inexpectata E RL

White-napped petrel P. cervicalis K RL

Kermadec petrel P. neglecta neglecta K RL

Chatham Island taiko P. magentae C NC

White-headed petrel P. lessonii S NT

Soft-plumaged petrel P. mollis S UC

Storm petrels Family - Hydrobatidae New Zealand storm petrel Pealeornis maoriana E DD

Grey-backed storm petrel Garrodia nereis RL

N.Z. white-faced storm petrel Pelagodroma marina maoriana E RL

Kermadec storm petrel P. albiclunis EK NC

Black-bellied storm petrel Fregetta tropica S NT

White-bellied storm petrel F. grallaria grallaria K NE

Diving Petrels Family Pelecanoididae

Northern diving petrel Pelecanoides urinatrix urinatrix RL

Southern diving petrel P. urinatrix chathamensis RL

Subantarctic diving petrel P. urinatrix exsul S NT

South Georgian diving petrel P.georgicus NC

E Endemic to the New Zealand region.

K Breeds on the Kermadec Islands but not on the New Zealand mainland.

C Endemic to the Chatham Islands.

S Breeds on the Snares, Auckland, Campbell, Bounty or Antipodes Islands but not the New

Zealand mainland.

NC Nationally critical (Miskelly et al 2008 threat ranking)

NE Nationally endangered (Miskelly et al 2008 threat ranking)

NV Nationally vulnerable (Miskelly et al 2008 threat ranking)

DD Data deficient (Miskelly et al 2008 threat ranking)

D Declining (Miskelly et al 2008 threat ranking)

R Recovering (Miskelly et al 2008 threat ranking)

RL Relic (Miskelly et al 2008 threat ranking)

UC Naturally uncommon (Miskelly et al 2008 threat ranking)

NT Not threatened (Miskelly et al 2008 threat ranking)

C Coloniser (Miskelly et al 2008 threat ranking)

Miskelly, C.M. et al 2008. Conservation status of New Zealand birds, 2008. Notornis 55; 117-135.

Annex 3. New Zealand Albatross and petrel

priorities workshop

12 August 2012

Te Papa, Wellington

Provisional Structure

• Taxonomic issues • Taxonomy followed today is from Gill et al 2010 , differs from ACAP and Birdlife

• ACAP species, review & suggested priorities

• Non-ACAP species review & suggested priorities

• Workshop findings, Priorities for research, monitoring, management Finish 4.30, buses to Zealandia leave Te Papa museum 4.45 and 5.15.

These are taxonomic issues that AT considers unresolved, debated or poorly explored: 1) Is the NZ white-capped albatross a different species to the Tasmanian albatross? NO (SCO) 2) Is the Snares cape petrel truly separable from the nominate form? YES FROM A FIELD ID POINT OF VIEW BUT GENETICALLY ? MEDIUM to LOW PRORITY. (SCO) 3) Is the grey-faced petrel a separate species to the great-winged petrel? PAPER SUBMITTED BY 30 SEP 2012 (Lawrence et al) (SCO) 4) Is the Codfish Cook's petrel population a different taxon to the northern birds? PAPER WILL BE PRESENTED AT ICAP (Stevens et al) (SCO) 5) Fulmar/fairy prion complex - how many taxa are there? GOOD QUESTION BUT AS A PRIORITY FOR CONSERVATION (APART FROM MCGILLIVRAYS) VERY LOW (SCO)

Taxonomic issues (Tennyson)

Taxonomy continued

• 6) Is the NZ white-chinned petrel a different taxon to other populations? A PRIORITY FOR CONSERVATION GIVEN BYCATCH (SCO)

• 7) Wedge-tailed shearwater complex - how many taxa are there? PRIORITY FOR CONSERVATION VERY LOW UNLESS BULELRS IS NOT A GOOD SPECIES!! (SCO)

• 8) Little shearwater complex - how many taxa are there? AUSTIN ALREADY PUBLISHED. (SCO)

• 9) White-faced storm petrel complex - how many taxa are there? GOOD QUESTION AND 3 TAXA ARE A PRIORITY FOR CONSERVATION (SCO)

• 10) White-bellied storm petrel complex - how many taxa are there? THE NUMBER 1 PRIORITY FOR CONSERVATION AS RAPA WBSP IS GOING TO BECOME EXTINCT DUE TO NOBODY GIVING A DAMN! (SCO)

• 11) Common diving petrel complex - how many taxa are there? REPORT WILL BE SUBMITTED BY 30 DEC 2012 (Robertson et al) (SCO)

• 12) South Georgian diving petrel • NO 1 priority for seabird taxonomy is agreement on a UNIFORM taxonomic

standard that is followed by all (Scofield)

Taxonomic priorities (Croxall)

NZ potential species • Cook’s Petrel • Snares Cape petrel • Grey-faced/Great-winged Petrel

NZ potential research lead • Fulmar/Fairy Prion complex • diving petrels

NZ potential collaboration • Little Shearwater complex • Storm petrels • Wedge-tailed shearwater

ACAP species

• Albatrosses, giant petrels, Procellaria species.

• These have been subject of in depth debate at an international level.

• Only NZ breeding ACAP species are considered here.

• Are we prepared to confirm ACAP recommendations?

• RS restricted range, breed only on one or few islands

Status Distribution/abundance

Threats Research/monitoring

Nth Royal Albatross

E, endangered

Chathams Taiaroa

S American fisheries bycatch

Intensive study of Tairoa popn Recovery plan

Sth Royal Albatross

E Vulnerable

Campbell Auckland Is

Longline fishery

Gibsons Albatross

E, RS Auckland Is Popn estimate & trends , adult survival DoC priority

Antipodean Albatross

E Vulnerable

Antipodes Campbell Is



Grey-headed Albatross

Circumpolar Vulnerable

Campbell I Campbell I >5% global popn no popn estimate in last 10 years Popn estimate & trends DoC priority

Black-browed Albatross

Circumpolar, small NZ popn.

Western Chain, Antipodes Campbell Is

Longline fishery

Campbell Albatross

E, RS Vulnerable

Single popn Campbell I

no population estimate in last 10 years Popn estimate & trends DoC priority



Sth Buller’s Albatross

E Near-threat

Snares Solander Is

Both populations surveyed monitored

Nth Buller’s Albatross

E Near-threat

Chatham, Three Kings Is

Recovery plan

Light-mantled sooty Albatross

Circumpolar Campbell Auckland Antipodes Is

Campbell I >5% global popn no popn estimate in last 10 years



NZ white-capped Albatross

E subsp. Near-threat

Auckland few Antipodes Is

Longline fishery Population estimates & monitoring, demography Popn estimate & trends DoC priority

Salvins Albatross

E Vulnerable

Western Chain, Bounty Is

Inshore trawl fish

Western Chain censused no recent count Bounties At sea tracking, popn estimate & trends DoC priority

Chatham Albatross

E, RS Vulnerable

Single popn Annual surveys Recovery plan

Nthn Giant petrel

Circumpolar Auckland Campbell Antipodes

Longline fishery



White-chinned petrel

Circumpolar Dist well known abundance poorly known

Inshore trawl fish Longline fishery

Auckland I >5% global popn no popn estimate in last 20 years

Westland petrel E, RS Vulnerable

Dist and abundance well known

Fisheries bycatch, introduced mammals?

Demography, intensive surveys, GPS tracking Recovery plan

Black petrel E, RS, Great & Little Barrier Is only Vulnerable

Dist and abundance well known

Habitat loss Longline fishery

Intensive surveys, GPS tracking,. DoC priority species

Grey petrel N, wide distribution

Campbell & Antipodes only, poorly known

Longline fishery

Number of annually breeding pairs ACAP-listed species

1 – 100 Amsterdam Albatross

101 – 1000 Short-tailed Albatross

1001 – 10 000 Southern Royal Albatross

Chatham Albatross

Tristan Albatross

Wandering Albatross

Antipodean Albatross

Waved Albatross

Northern Royal Albatross

Black Petrel

Westland Petrel

10 001 – 100 000 Shy Albatross

Black-footed Albatross

Buller’s Albatross

Sooty Albatross

Salvin’s Albatross

Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross

Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross

White-capped Albatross

Grey-headed Albatross

Light-mantled Albatross

Campbell Albatross

Spectacled Petrel

Northern Giant Petrel

Southern Giant Petrel

Grey Petrel

100 001 – 1 000 000 Laysan Albatross

Black-browed Albatross

1 000 001 + White-chinned Petrel

Table 3. Abundance of ACAP species (number of annually breeding pairs)


Light-mantled Albatross (Kerguelen/40.2%/1987)

Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross (Crozet/17.9%/1984)

Northern Giant Petrel (Kerguelen/14.9%/1987)

White-chinned Petrel (Auckland I./9.4%/1988)

Grey-headed Albatross (Kerguelen/8.4%/1985)

Grey-headed Albatross (Crozet/6.3%/1982)


All six populations above plus:

Campbell Albatross (Campbell/100%/1998)

Light-mantled Albatross (Campbell/16.7%/1996)

Grey-headed Albatross (Campbell/6.7%/1997)

Table 4. Species/island group combinations that comprise at least 5% of global populations for

which there have been no monitoring in the last 20 and 10 years

Species with VERY HIGH level trend data (75-100% island groups)

Amsterdam Albatross, Tristan Albatross, Wandering Albatross, Shy Albatross, Laysan Albatross, Antipodean Albatross, Black-footed Albatross, Short-tailed Albatross

Species with HIGH - MODERATE level trend data (50 – 74% island groups)

Black-browed Albatross, Southern Giant Petrel

Species with MODERATE - LOW level trend data (25-49% trend data)

Light-mantled Albatross, Sooty Albatross

Species with LOW level trend data (1-25% island groups)

Northern Giant Petrel, Grey-headed Albatross, Southern Royal Albatross

Species with UNKNOWN trend data (< 1% island groups)

Northern Royal Albatross, Waved Albatross, Buller’s Albatross, Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross, Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross, Campbell Albatross, Chatham Albatross, Salvin’s Albatross, White-capped Albatross; Grey Petrel, White-chinned Petrel, Spectacled Petrel, Black Petrel, Westland Petrel

Table 5. Level of knowledge of current (2001-2010) population trend data (at island group level)

ACAP Working Group Priorities, (R Gales, R Phillips)

• NZ has ninety-two populations of 16 ACAP species, 10 endemic, more than any other jurisdiction.

• Resurvey Campbell Albatross at Campbell Island.

• Population trends of Salvin’s Albatross at Bounty Is. Salvin’s identified as the NZ ACAP popn at greatest risk from commercial fisheries.

• At sea tracking of Salvins Albatross

Conservation Services Priorities (Taylor)

• Black petrel

• Campbell albatross

• Grey-headed albatross

• White-caped albatross

• Salvins albatross (Bounty Is)

• Gibsons albatross

At risk species in greatest need of research, monitoring or management

• Salvin’s albatross, Bounty Is (Baker)

• Antipodean albatross (Baker)

• Chathams popn of Northern Royal Albatross (Sugishita)

• Bullers albatross (Baker)

• Westland petrel, (Waugh, Wilson)

• Grey petrel

• Black petrel (Baker, B Bell)

Population dynamic research required

• Chatham albatross

• Salvins albatross (progress on Western Chain none on Bounties)

• Southern Royal albatross

• Westland petrel

• Giant petrel, little information available

Tracking studies

• All Procellaria species (progress made with Westland petrel and Black petrel)

• White-chinned petrel (Auckland Is) * • Salvins albatross (Bounty Is) * • Campbell albatross * • Light mantled sooty albatross • Northern giant petrel • Grey-headed albatross (Campbell Is) * • Black-browed albatross

* ACAP preliminary priority

Fisheries

• John to provide summary of fiheries/petrel issues

• Blackbrows, Chatham, N Royal, Salvins

ACAP priorities

• Tell ACAP Nzreps what has been done, poor conduit between workers and reps. Info not getting to ACAP. Need to get sitebased work to Igor, Graeme T to act as conduit to Igor Rosie & Richard

• Mismatch between NZ/DoC, ACAP and Birdlife in knowledge available

Non-ACAP SPECIES



Soft-plumaged petrel

widespread Small popn on Antipodes

Snares Cape petrel

E subsp.

Most southern islands

Chatham taiko E, Endg , RS Single population

Current translocation, active management Recovery plan

Chatham petrel E, Endg, RS Single population

Recent translocations, active management Recovery plan , Tracking breeding season and migration



Grey-faced petrel

E subsp. Many colonies

Breeding, some colony monitoring, Tracking study underway

White-headed petrel

N, sthn Indian & Pacific Oceans

Auckland, Antipdes poss Campbell Is

Kermadec petrel N, Australasian region

Kermadec Is

White-naped petrel

N Australasian region

Kermadec Is, Phillip Is, Norfolk Is

Tracking study of outward migration path completed on Phillip Island population



Cooks petrel E, ES Little Barrier, Great Barrier, Codfish I

Tracking both popns breeding season and migration

Pycrofts petrel E Limited North I range

Tracking study underway

Mottled petrel E Limited range but numerous


Black-winged petrel

N, Tropical Pacific

Expanding range in Nthn NZ




Broad-billed prion

N, cool temperate islands

Common, breeding dist poorly known

Antarctic prion Circumpolar

In NZ Auckland Is only

Fairy prion Circumpolar Abundant in NZ

Inshore trawl fish

Fulmar prion E subsp Bounty & West Chain, Snares only

Chatham fulmar prion

E subsp, RS

Chatham Is only

Lesser fulmar prion

N, RS Auckland Is also Heard I



Buller’s shearwater

E, RS Common restricted distribution

Longline fishery

Tracking study underway Breeding studied

Fluttering shearwater

E Many colonies Cook Srt north

Fishing nets? Longline fishery


Hutton’s shearwater

E, RS Kaikoura area only

Introduced predators Habitat deterioration Fishing nets?

Translocation underway Tracking study underway



Wedge-tailed shearwater

N, widespread

Kermadecs only

Flesh-footed shearwater

N widespread

Many colonies Cook Srt north

Inshore trawl fish

Popn estimates & monitoring of selected colonies, Tracking study, migration & breeding, fisheries interactions all underway

Sooty shearwater

N widespread

Many NZ colonies, abundant

Muttonbirding N Pacific fisheries Inshore trawl fish Longline fishery

General breeding/biology well known, muttonbirding studied



Kermadec little shearwater

E subsp On most Kermadec Islands

North Island little shearwater

E subsp

Islands off Nthn North I

Tracking study underway Biology quite well studied

Subantarctic little shearwater

N wide distribution

Chatham & Antipodes Is



Grey-backed storm petrel

circumpolar Auckland, Campbell, Chatham Antipodes

NZ White-faced storm petrel

E subsp Many colonies, common

Longline fishery

Kermadec Storm petrel

E, RS 1-2 colonies only

NZ storm petrel E Endg, RS Breeding site unknown



Black-bellied storm petrel

circumpolar Auckland & Antipodes Is only

White-bellied storm petrel

N widespread

Kermadecs only



Nthn diving petrel

N, Australia & NZ

Cook Str north, many islands


Sthn diving petrel

E subsp Chathams & southern NZ

Longline fishery

Subantarctic diving petrel

circumpolar Auckland, Antipodes Campbell Is

South Georgian diving petrel

Circumpolar, RS in NZ

Codfish I

Conservation Services Priorities (Taylor)

• Flesh-footed shearwater

Regional surveys

• Hauraki Gulf, in progress (Rayner, Gaskin, Landers)

• Fiordland, Ruapuke, Islands off eastern coast of Stewart Is. Urgently required (Wilson)

Species surveys,

• Kermadec w-f stormpetrel

• Most burrow-breeding petrels. Eg broad-billed prion wreck in 2011. (Wilson)

• Recovering species eg Pycrofts petrel, diving petrel, little shearwater (Buxton)

• Non-impacted species. Are there any?

Burrow breeding petrel surveys

• Burrow breeding species, survey methodology (Buxton)

• Surveys on islands with differing predator histories, which islands, which species? (Buxton)

At risk species in greatest need of research, monitoring or management

• Flesh-footed shearwater, tracking studies (Baker)

• Little recent or current work on prions or storm petrels (Wilson)

Priorities for predator control

• Chatham taiko

Priorities for predator eradication

• Pitt Island (cats, pigs, weka)

• Auckland I (pigs, cats)

Translocation priorities, underway

• Taiko

• Chatham petrel

• Huttons shearwater

Translocation priorities, required

Fisheries threats to Non ACAP species

• Flesh-footed shearwater (research in progress, Baker, Waugh)

• How will reduction in fisheries observer programme impact seabirds (Scofield)

• Unknown impact from inshore, local vessels, setnets (Huttons & sooty shearwaters)

Competition with fisheries for food

• Which if any species are impacted?

• Hutton’s & fluttering shearwaters seem likely

Human disturbance/impact

• South Georgian diving petrel (Codfish I)

• Visitors to translocation sites

• Lights, Westland petrel, Huttons shearwater

• Plastics, all species (no studies in NZ region)

Habitat deterioration

• South Georgian diving petrel (Codfish I) weeds, trampling

• Chatham albatross, Nthn royal albatross, Chatham fulmar prion (Sisters, 44s, Pyramid)

• White-naped petrel (Macauley I)

Tracking studies (Rayner et al)

• Published, Cooks petrel (LBI & Codfish popns), flesh-footed shearwater, Chatham petrel, Westland petrel, for all breeding season and migration.

• Current, Pycrofts petrel, mottled petrel, Bullers shearwater, northern little shearwater, northern diving petrel, black-winged petrel, grey-faced petrel.

Tracking studies, priorities

• Taiko

Climate change/ sea temperature change

• Who is at risk?

• Which are the priority species for monitoring?

• Who funds this and how?

• Sooty shearwater, grey-headed albatross?

Nest site competition

• Chatham petrels vs broad-billed prions (Rangatira)

• Flesh-footed shearwater vs grey-faced petrel

• Fairy prion vs fairy prion (small stacks) (Wilson)

• Probably much more common than this

Priority species for non-applied research

• Grey-headed albatross (Thompson)

• GPS tracking of small Pterodromas (Thompson)

Role of community trusts etc

• Huttons Shearwater Trust

• Taiko Trust

• Cape Sanctuary

• Support and coordination.

• DoCs increasing reliance on community groups, how can we make it work?

Misc issues

Workshop Priorities

• At risk species not adequately managed -

• from fisheries bycatch,

• climate change,

• oil spills, at sea oil drilling

• Other

For priority at risk species

• Recovery plan Yes/no

• Previous research

• Current research/monitoring/management

• Priority research/monitoring/management

For each species offering insights into ocean ecology and climate change

• Previous research

• Current research/monitoring/management

• Priority research/monitoring/management

new zealand albatross and petrel research and monitoring ... · new zealand albatross and petrel...

Documents