Fregata andrewsi

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	AVES	PELECANIFORMES	FREGATIDAE

Scientific Name:

Fregata andrewsi

Species Authority:

Mathews, 1914

Common Name/s:

English	–	Andrews' Frigatebird, Christmas Frigatebird, Christmas Island Frigatebird
French	–	Frégate d'Andrews

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Critically Endangered B2ab(ii,iii,v) ver 3.1

Year Published:

2010

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Calvert, R., Butchart, S., Bird, J.

Contributor/s:

Hennicke, J., Low, T., O'Dowd, D., Green, P., Garnett, S., James, D.

Justification:
This species has a small population which breeds within a tiny Area of Occupancy on just one island, and which is continuing to decline. For these reasons it is listed as Critically Endangered.

History:

2009	–	Critically Endangered
2008	–	Critically Endangered
2007	–	Critically Endangered
2005	–	Critically Endangered
2004	–	Critically Endangered
2000	–	Critically Endangered
1996	–	Vulnerable
1994	–	Vulnerable

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species is endemic as a breeding species to Christmas Island (to Australia). In 2003 it was estimated that there were 1,171 (± 58) breeding pairs. The number of nests was probably between 3% and 16% lower in 2003 than 1985 (one generation; 1985 estimates ranging from 1,320-1,620 pairs⁴), but this may not be an accurate indication of population trends. Due to biennial breeding, the total breeding population is between one and two times the number of pairs nesting per annum (i.e. 1,200-2,400 pairs). An historical review of the extent and decline of the four sub-colonies suggests that the pre-settlement population was about 6,300 breeding pairs per annum, but declined to 4,500 by 1910, 3,500 by 1945, 2,500 by 1967, and 1,500 by 1978. If this reconstruction is correct, then the population declined by about 66% over three generations between 1945 and 2003³. In 2003 there were four sub-colonies (since reduced to three) covering an area of c.49 ha^3,4. The Flying Fish Cove sub-colony probably contained c.50 ha of habitat in 1887; it underwent an almost complete decline in the early 1900s, and in 2003 it contained only c.10 ha of habitat and two nests. The Dryers sub-colony underwent an almost complete decline by the 1970s, and in 2003 contained c.62 ha of habitat and 20 nests. The Golf Course sub-colony lost c.13 ha (25%) in the 1940s, and in 2003 it contained c.25 ha of habitat and an estimated 828 (± 42) nests. The Cemetery sub-colony contained 46 ha of habitat and an estimated 321 (± 15) nests in 2003³. Surveys in 2004 showed a significant increase in number of nests, with 767 nests in 244 nest trees at the largest colony⁹ but surveys in 2005 showed a return to 2003 levels, suggesting that inter-annual variation rather than population growth explains the increase in numbers in 2004. Breeding and non-breeding birds have been recorded foraging at low densities in the Indo-Malay Archipelago⁷ over the Sunda Shelf to the South China Sea, the Andaman Sea, the Sulu Sea, off south-west Sulawesi, and in the Gulf of Thailand^13,14,16,17, commuting directly over Java in the process⁶. When not breeding the species ranges widely across the seas of South-East Asia to Indochina and south to northern Australia⁴, but its status in the Indian Ocean to the west is less well known.
Countries:	Native: Brunei Darussalam; Cambodia; China; Christmas Island; Hong Kong; Indonesia; Malaysia; Philippines; Singapore; Sri Lanka; Thailand; Timor-Leste; United States; United States Vagrant: Australia; Cocos (Keeling) Islands; India; Japan; Viet Nam
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	The most recent population census indicates a population of 2,400-4,800 mature individuals (D. James in litt. 2003).
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It nests in tall forest trees. Terminalia catappa and Celtis timorensis trees hold 65.5% of all nests^5. It is only capable of raising a maximum of one fledgling every two years. It forages for flying fish, squid and other marine creatures, and is largely dependent on subsurface predators to drive prey to the surface. Most food is captured by plucking it from the sea surface while on the wing, but it is also an accomplished aerial kleptoparasite. Evidence suggests that breeding birds frequently forage hundreds or even thousands of kilometres from the colony. Satellite tracking showed that one female with a large chick undertook a non-stop 26-day 4,000 km return flight from Christmas Island via Sumatra and Borneo⁶. Replacement rate of pairs is thought to be extremely slow (15-25 years) rendering the population slow to recover following declines⁵.
Systems:	Terrestrial; Marine

Habitat and Ecology:

It nests in tall forest trees. Terminalia catappa and Celtis timorensis trees hold 65.5% of all nests^5. It is only capable of raising a maximum of one fledgling every two years. It forages for flying fish, squid and other marine creatures, and is largely dependent on subsurface predators to drive prey to the surface. Most food is captured by plucking it from the sea surface while on the wing, but it is also an accomplished aerial kleptoparasite. Evidence suggests that breeding birds frequently forage hundreds or even thousands of kilometres from the colony. Satellite tracking showed that one female with a large chick undertook a non-stop 26-day 4,000 km return flight from Christmas Island via Sumatra and Borneo⁶. Replacement rate of pairs is thought to be extremely slow (15-25 years) rendering the population slow to recover following declines⁵.

Systems:

Terrestrial; Marine

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	About a quarter of the breeding area was cleared before 1946 for phosphate mining, and the Flying Fish Cove colony was largely deserted because of continuing dust fallout from phosphate dryers. Future habitat loss is possible through clearance for mining. A new application to mine a 250 ha area of rainforest¹² is currently under review. About two thirds of the nests are now located in a single colony, making the species vulnerable to cyclones. Poaching ceased in the 1980s. A possible threat is the introduced yellow crazy ant Anoplolepis gracilipes which formed super-colonies during the 1990s and spread rapidly to cover about 25% of the island or about 3,400 ha. Control measures have so far been unable to eradicate this non-native species, but to date frigatebirds have not apparently been adversely affected by them. However, ant super-colonies alter island ecology by killing the dominant life-form, the red crab Gecaroidea natalis, and by farming scale insects which damage the trees. This may alter the breeding habitat of the species in the medium- to long-term¹⁸. Less specific threats include over-fishing and marine pollution, plus clearance of vegetation and hunting on non-breeding roost islands^1,2,3,19. Approximately 10% of the population nests outside the national park and does not have any formal protection⁵. Clearance of vegetation within 300 m of nesting colonies should be avoided⁵. Frigatebirds are highly susceptible to entanglement in fishing gear, so intense fishing pressure in the South-East Asian waters and severe marine pollution there represent significant threats to the species⁶. Research is underway to establish whether a potentially new blood parasite poses a threat to the species¹⁸.

Major Threat(s):

About a quarter of the breeding area was cleared before 1946 for phosphate mining, and the Flying Fish Cove colony was largely deserted because of continuing dust fallout from phosphate dryers. Future habitat loss is possible through clearance for mining. A new application to mine a 250 ha area of rainforest¹² is currently under review. About two thirds of the nests are now located in a single colony, making the species vulnerable to cyclones. Poaching ceased in the 1980s. A possible threat is the introduced yellow crazy ant Anoplolepis gracilipes which formed super-colonies during the 1990s and spread rapidly to cover about 25% of the island or about 3,400 ha. Control measures have so far been unable to eradicate this non-native species, but to date frigatebirds have not apparently been adversely affected by them. However, ant super-colonies alter island ecology by killing the dominant life-form, the red crab Gecaroidea natalis, and by farming scale insects which damage the trees. This may alter the breeding habitat of the species in the medium- to long-term¹⁸. Less specific threats include over-fishing and marine pollution, plus clearance of vegetation and hunting on non-breeding roost islands^1,2,3,19. Approximately 10% of the population nests outside the national park and does not have any formal protection⁵. Clearance of vegetation within 300 m of nesting colonies should be avoided⁵. Frigatebirds are highly susceptible to entanglement in fishing gear, so intense fishing pressure in the South-East Asian waters and severe marine pollution there represent significant threats to the species⁶. Research is underway to establish whether a potentially new blood parasite poses a threat to the species¹⁸.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway CITES Appendix I. Listed as vulnerable under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999⁵. The Christmas Island National Park was established in 1980, and has since been extended to include two of the three current breeding colonies (90% of the population)¹. A recovery plan has been completed⁵ and a study using satellite telemetry to study movements has been underway since 2005^15,18. A control programme for A. gracilipes was initiated after 2000, including aerial baiting in 2002, and effectively eliminated the ant from 2,800 ha of forest (95% of its former extent)^1,11. However, the ant population continued to increase, covering upwards of 500 ha by 2006. Despite continued control efforts, ants remained persistent in 2009, and perpetual baiting may be the only means of controlling them¹¹. Efforts are underway to find alternative bait that is not toxic to invertebrates on the island¹¹. Plans have been established to control the scale bugs that the ants tend for their sugar secretions in order to reduce this food supply, but there remains no evidence that they are adversely affecting frigatebird colonies¹⁸. A census of Christmas Island was planned for April 2010¹⁸. Conservation Actions Proposed Implement the species recovery plan. Continue to control the abundance and spread of A. gracilipes. Develop and implement appropriate techniques to monitor the total/breeding population size and population structure⁵. Analyse existing data on breeding biology and success. Lobby to prevent mining close to colonies. Negotiate protection of all known and potential nesting habitat and appropriate buffers. If necessary, implement appropriate management in feeding habitat in South-East Asia to avoid bycatch etc. Maintain a quarantine barrier between Christmas Island and other lands to minimise the risks of new avian diseases establishing⁵.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
CITES Appendix I. Listed as vulnerable under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999⁵. The Christmas Island National Park was established in 1980, and has since been extended to include two of the three current breeding colonies (90% of the population)¹. A recovery plan has been completed⁵ and a study using satellite telemetry to study movements has been underway since 2005^15,18. A control programme for A. gracilipes was initiated after 2000, including aerial baiting in 2002, and effectively eliminated the ant from 2,800 ha of forest (95% of its former extent)^1,11. However, the ant population continued to increase, covering upwards of 500 ha by 2006. Despite continued control efforts, ants remained persistent in 2009, and perpetual baiting may be the only means of controlling them¹¹. Efforts are underway to find alternative bait that is not toxic to invertebrates on the island¹¹. Plans have been established to control the scale bugs that the ants tend for their sugar secretions in order to reduce this food supply, but there remains no evidence that they are adversely affecting frigatebird colonies¹⁸. A census of Christmas Island was planned for April 2010¹⁸.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Implement the species recovery plan. Continue to control the abundance and spread of A. gracilipes. Develop and implement appropriate techniques to monitor the total/breeding population size and population structure⁵. Analyse existing data on breeding biology and success. Lobby to prevent mining close to colonies. Negotiate protection of all known and potential nesting habitat and appropriate buffers. If necessary, implement appropriate management in feeding habitat in South-East Asia to avoid bycatch etc. Maintain a quarantine barrier between Christmas Island and other lands to minimise the risks of new avian diseases establishing⁵.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2010. Fregata andrewsi. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 24 May 2012.
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