Pseudobulweria rostrata

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	PROCELLARIIFORMES	PROCELLARIIDAE

Scientific Name:

Pseudobulweria rostrata

Species Authority:

(Peale, 1848)

Common Name/s:

English	–	Tahiti Petrel
Spanish	–	Petrel de Tahití

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Near Threatened ver 3.1

Year Published:

2010

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

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

Contributor/s:

Bretagnolle, V., Kretzschmar, J., Barré, N., Dutson, G., Spaggiari, J., Bell, D., Rauzon, M., Pandolfi, M., Raust, P., Thibault, J., Meyer, J.

Justification:
This species is classified as Near Threatened because, although it breeds on a relatively large number of islands, it still has a moderately small population which is declining owing to predation by introduced mammals, and, locally at least, mining.

History:

2008	–	Near Threatened
2005	–	Near Threatened
2004	–	Near Threatened

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Pseudobulweria rostrata breeds in the Marquesas, Society (race rostrata) and Gambier (recorded in 1995, probably rostrata^13,14) Islands, French Polynesia, Fiji, American Samoa and New Caledonia (to France) (trouessarti). Genetic research may show that the Samoan population is genetically distinct¹⁸. It used to breed in Vanuatu³ and may breed on Rarotonga, Cook Islands¹¹, as well as on other islands. In the Marquesas, it breeds on Nuku Hiva, Hiva Oa and Tahuata, totalling less than 500 pairs⁶, and birds have been heard at night (possibly breeding) at Ua Pou, Ua Huka¹⁵ and Fatu Hiva⁸. In the Society Islands, it breeds on Tahiti and Moorea (and perhaps Bora Bora¹²), where the populations were estimated at less than 1,000 pairs and several thousand pairs respectively⁶, although recent visits suggest a substantial decline². In the Gambiers, there are 12-26 pairs on Mangareva, Akamaru and Manui¹⁴. In Fiji, it breeds on Gau and Taveuni¹⁹, while, in American Samoa, it breeds on Ta'u and Tutuila⁵. Hundreds of pairs may nest on Taveuni, where >150 were seen offshore in October 2003 and where the low open forest on steep unstable hill-sides is similar to nesting areas on New Caledonia¹⁹. Nesting may also occur on Gau Island, where >20 individuals were seen following chumming in 2008²⁵. In New Caledonia, it breeds on Grand Terre in unknown numbers, particularly in the high mountains such as Massif du Koniambo where there are at least 200-400 pairs, and it also breeds on 11 (out of 70) islets in the southern lagoon where there are estimated to be less than 100 pairs. There are signs of a substantial decline on at least one of these islets, with 50 pairs in 1986 reduced to less than 10 pairs in 1998^9,23. However, the extensive Whitney South Sea Expeditions only collected this species in French Polynesia, suggesting that the apparently large populations in New Caledonia and Fiji may have increased in the last few decades¹⁶. In the non-breeding season it disperses widely, and birds have been recorded as far east as Peru and Mexico²¹, and as far west as the Mozambique Channel²⁰.
Countries:	Native: American Samoa; Australia; Fiji; French Polynesia; Guam; New Caledonia; United States; United States; United States Vagrant: Mexico; New Zealand; Solomon Islands Present - origin uncertain: Chile; Colombia; Cook Islands; Costa Rica; Ecuador; El Salvador; French Southern Territories (the); Guatemala; Indonesia; Japan; Kiribati; Marshall Islands; Nauru; Nicaragua; Niue; Norfolk Island; Northern Mariana Islands; Palau; Panama; Papua New Guinea; Peru; Philippines; Pitcairn; Samoa; Tokelau; Tonga; Tuvalu; United States Minor Outlying Islands; Wallis and Futuna
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	The overall population of the species probably does not exceed 10,000 pairs (i.e. 20,000 mature individuals) and 30,000 individuals (Brooke 2004)
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Population:

The overall population of the species probably does not exceed 10,000 pairs (i.e. 20,000 mature individuals) and 30,000 individuals (Brooke 2004)

Population Trend:

Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	Eggs are laid in burrows on rocky slopes or in open upland forest. Breeding appears to occur throughout the year, although on Tahiti at least there appears to be a peak between March and July²². In New Caledonia, most of the recently discovered colonies are small (<10 pairs) and spread over large areas of several thousand square metres⁴.
Systems:	Terrestrial; Marine

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	In the Marquesas and Society Islands, rat predation is an observed but unquantified problem. It is likely to have coexisted with black rats Rattus rattus for decades and they perhaps do not pose a major threat¹⁶. Young birds are also attracted by lights at night, mainly on Tahiti in the urban areas around Papeete¹² and in New Caledonia around Noumea, rural villages and active mining sites. Electric powerlines in the mountains of French Polynesia may also be a problem¹⁷. On Grand Terre, wild pigs, feral cats and dogs, and rats Rattus spp. may pose a threat to remaining colonies (although rats have been eradicated from all islets in the southern lagoon¹).The newly discovered sites in New Caledonia are all in areas threatened by nickel mining²³. In colonies where the soil is deep enough for Wedge-tailed Shearwaters to nest there can be intense competition for burrows²². Local people are known to take birds to use their white feathers for fishing lures⁶.

Major Threat(s):

In the Marquesas and Society Islands, rat predation is an observed but unquantified problem. It is likely to have coexisted with black rats Rattus rattus for decades and they perhaps do not pose a major threat¹⁶. Young birds are also attracted by lights at night, mainly on Tahiti in the urban areas around Papeete¹² and in New Caledonia around Noumea, rural villages and active mining sites. Electric powerlines in the mountains of French Polynesia may also be a problem¹⁷. On Grand Terre, wild pigs, feral cats and dogs, and rats Rattus spp. may pose a threat to remaining colonies (although rats have been eradicated from all islets in the southern lagoon¹).The newly discovered sites in New Caledonia are all in areas threatened by nickel mining²³. In colonies where the soil is deep enough for Wedge-tailed Shearwaters to nest there can be intense competition for burrows²². Local people are known to take birds to use their white feathers for fishing lures⁶.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway In New Caledonia a plan to reduce the impact of mining exploitation on the Koniambo massif has been recently proposed to the KNS Mining Society. On the same island SCO has begun a campaign to collect and release birds that are desoriented by lights. In June 2007, an at sea transect from Noumea to the Chesterfield was established; repeated surveys along this line will be used to monitor long-term population trends. Conservation Actions Proposed Monitor key populations. Investigate whether the species nests on Taveuni. Quantify the levels of chick predation by black rats and other nest predators. Continue to eradicate predators from known breeding islands. Discourage the killing of birds for their feathers for fishing lures, providing white chickens as a substitute. Implement projects to tackle the threat of light pollution.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
In New Caledonia a plan to reduce the impact of mining exploitation on the Koniambo massif has been recently proposed to the KNS Mining Society. On the same island SCO has begun a campaign to collect and release birds that are desoriented by lights. In June 2007, an at sea transect from Noumea to the Chesterfield was established; repeated surveys along this line will be used to monitor long-term population trends.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Monitor key populations. Investigate whether the species nests on Taveuni. Quantify the levels of chick predation by black rats and other nest predators. Continue to eradicate predators from known breeding islands. Discourage the killing of birds for their feathers for fishing lures, providing white chickens as a substitute. Implement projects to tackle the threat of light pollution.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2010. Pseudobulweria rostrata. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 26 May 2012.
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