Pterodroma leucoptera

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:

Pterodroma leucoptera

Species Authority:

(Gould, 1844)

Common Name/s:

English	–	Collared Petrel, Gould's Petrel
Spanish	–	Petrel de Gould

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Vulnerable B2ab(v);D2 ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2008

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Mahood, S., Butchart, S.

Contributor/s:

Bretagnolle, V., Priddel, D., Hannecart, F., Dutson, G., Spaggiari, J.

Justification:
This species qualifies as Vulnerable because it has a small breeding range and a small number of breeding locations, and may be declining overall owing to predation by introduced mammals. Although the Australian breeding population is currently increasing through conservation action, the New Caledonian population is undoubtedly in decline.

History:

2007	–	Vulnerable
2005	–	Vulnerable
2004	–	Vulnerable
2000	–	Vulnerable

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Pterodroma leucoptera mainly breeds in Australia and New Caledonia (to France). There is also a small colony on Raivavae, Austral Islands, French Polynesia². In Australia, leucoptera breeds on Cabbage Tree (0.3 km²) and adjacent Boondelbah (0.1 km²) Islands. On Cabbage Tree, population estimates indicated a decline from 2,004 birds in 1970 to 1,157 in 1993⁸. However, conservation action undertaken since 1993 has seen the number of nesting pairs increase annually from <250 to c.1,025 in 2001¹⁰. Following a translocation programme, approximately 20 pairs breed on Boondelbah¹⁰. In New Caledonia, three main breeding sites of caledonica of 1,000-2,000 pairs are known between Mts Dzumac and Poya, at 350-650 m¹⁵. The breeding population probably numbers c.1,000-10,000 pairs, more colonies are likely to lie undiscovered in isolated massifs on New Caledonia^1,2,7,12,15. Petrels known historically from Vanuatu (possibly still extant) may be this species², or an undescribed taxon¹⁵. Australian birds presumably disperse with New Caledonian birds to the Tasman Sea and the far east Pacific^1,5,6,7. Three individuals have been sighted over the waters around Fiji¹⁶.
Countries:	Native: American Samoa; Australia; Cook Islands; French Polynesia; New Caledonia; New Zealand; Niue; Norfolk Island; Peru; Pitcairn; United States; United States; United States; United States; United States; Wallis and Futuna Vagrant: Antarctica Present - origin uncertain: Ecuador; Fiji; Kiribati; Samoa; Tokelau; Tonga; Tuvalu; United States Minor Outlying Islands; Vanuatu
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	V. Bretagnolle in litt. (1999, 2000), Garnett and Crowley (2000), D. Priddel in litt. (2000).
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It breeds in small, loose ciolonies of 10-50 paris in burrows on steep, vegetated slopes on New Caledonia between 350 and 650 m, and among rocks and debris of cabbage tree palm Livistona australis in Australia^2,8,9,12. It may feed on cephalopods in offshore waters^1,6, but significant numbers are also seen inshore^3,6. Banded adult birds have lived to more than 30 years of age¹⁰.
Systems:	Terrestrial; Marine

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	The Cabbage Tree population declined as a result of predation by Pied Currawong Strepera graculina and Australian Raven Corvus coronoides, and entanglement in birdlime tree Pisonia umbellifera fruit. Introduced rabbits have probably changed the island's vegetation to favour increased populations of S. graculina and Pisonia⁸, as well as making the birds more susceptible to predation. On New Caledonia, introduced pigs excavate chicks from burrows⁴, and cats are another potential threat. Black rats Rattus rattus have been found predating both eggs and adults and this may constitute a major threat: a previously rat-free colony declined from 125-250 pairs in 2002 to perhaps fewer than 20 nests in 2005 after the invasion of rats ¹⁵. Tens of birds probably are accidentally killed annually between January and April around Noumea when they are attracted to lights, continuing urbanisation is likely to make this situation worse¹³. In 1995, egg abandonment on Cabbage Tree suggested unidentified marine threats, although it was con-incident with an Australia-wide die-off of pilchards Sadinops sagax neopilchardus^8,11.

Major Threat(s):

The Cabbage Tree population declined as a result of predation by Pied Currawong Strepera graculina and Australian Raven Corvus coronoides, and entanglement in birdlime tree Pisonia umbellifera fruit. Introduced rabbits have probably changed the island's vegetation to favour increased populations of S. graculina and Pisonia⁸, as well as making the birds more susceptible to predation. On New Caledonia, introduced pigs excavate chicks from burrows⁴, and cats are another potential threat. Black rats Rattus rattus have been found predating both eggs and adults and this may constitute a major threat: a previously rat-free colony declined from 125-250 pairs in 2002 to perhaps fewer than 20 nests in 2005 after the invasion of rats ¹⁵. Tens of birds probably are accidentally killed annually between January and April around Noumea when they are attracted to lights, continuing urbanisation is likely to make this situation worse¹³. In 1995, egg abandonment on Cabbage Tree suggested unidentified marine threats, although it was con-incident with an Australia-wide die-off of pilchards Sadinops sagax neopilchardus^8,11.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway On Cabbage Tree, Pisonia is being removed, rabbits have been extirpated, S. graculina and C. coronoides are controlled, and other predators are monitored¹¹. Two hundred fledglings have been translocated from Cabbage Tree to Boondelbah where a small colony is now established. In New Caledonia SCO have implemented an annual campaign to save petrels which are attracted to lights¹³. In 2007, 9 birds were found and 5 released alive, but numbers must be higher and SCO hopes to make this campaign a major event¹³. In New Caledonia, the local government is funding a rat control program near a large breeding colony¹⁵. Poison is set in October each year, before the petrels arrive and before the wet season¹⁵. Conservation Actions Proposed Determine status on Austral Islands. Clarify taxonomy. In New Caledonia, survey other potential breeding areas. Monitor at least two colonies. Assess breeding success and predation levels. Control introduced mammals. Monitor Australian populations biennially. In New Caledonia, study the impact of light pollution (and urbanisation) on the species. Increase the scope of the campaigns to save birds attracted to lights in the Noumea area.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
On Cabbage Tree, Pisonia is being removed, rabbits have been extirpated, S. graculina and C. coronoides are controlled, and other predators are monitored¹¹. Two hundred fledglings have been translocated from Cabbage Tree to Boondelbah where a small colony is now established. In New Caledonia SCO have implemented an annual campaign to save petrels which are attracted to lights¹³. In 2007, 9 birds were found and 5 released alive, but numbers must be higher and SCO hopes to make this campaign a major event¹³. In New Caledonia, the local government is funding a rat control program near a large breeding colony¹⁵. Poison is set in October each year, before the petrels arrive and before the wet season¹⁵.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Determine status on Austral Islands. Clarify taxonomy. In New Caledonia, survey other potential breeding areas. Monitor at least two colonies. Assess breeding success and predation levels. Control introduced mammals. Monitor Australian populations biennially. In New Caledonia, study the impact of light pollution (and urbanisation) on the species. Increase the scope of the campaigns to save birds attracted to lights in the Noumea area.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2008. Pterodroma leucoptera. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 09 February 2012.
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