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Amsterdam Albatross (Diomedea amsterdamensis)

The Amsterdam albatross is a large seabird that breeds only on Amsterdam Island. Outside breeding, adults may range into pelagic waters off Western Australia, where longline fishing can cause accidental bycatch.

Conservation status

Commonwealth, EPBC Act 1999: Endangered.

Western Australia, Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016: Critically endangered.

Commonwealth, EPBC Act 1999: Listed migratory. Listed migratory species are a matter of national environmental significance, so a significant impact needs referral.

Commonwealth, EPBC Act 1999: Listed marine. A listed marine species under Part 13 of the EPBC Act. Killing, injuring, taking or moving it in a Commonwealth area needs a permit.

Seasonal planning

No species-specific activity or breeding months were found in the published sources used. Use the following as a works-planning prompt, not as seasonal biology.

Seasonal knowledge: Not documented in the sources used.

The month values are a general planning prompt only and do not represent known activity or breeding months for Diomedea amsterdamensis.

  • Plan checks before disturbance: General planning window only. Check the work area before disturbance whenever works are scheduled.

Identification: Appearance

Adults have chocolate-brown upperparts, with a white face mask, throat, lower breast and belly, and a broad brown breast band. They are 107 to 122 cm long, with a wingspan of 280 to 340 cm.

Adults have chocolate-brown upperparts, with a white face mask, throat, lower breast and belly, and a broad brown breast band. They are 107 to 122 cm long, with a wingspan of 280 to 340 cm.

Identification: Confirming identity

Confirm the identity of any suspected record with a specialist and a photograph or voucher, as required by the relevant permit.

Distribution: Known range

The species breeds only on Amsterdam Island in the southern Indian Ocean. Non-breeding adults venture into pelagic waters off western Australia and eastern Africa.

The species breeds only on Amsterdam Island in the southern Indian Ocean. Non-breeding adults venture into pelagic waters off western Australia and eastern Africa.

Distribution: National mapping

The Commonwealth species distribution model (SNES) maps where the species or its habitat is known, likely or may occur. Use it with local records and site inspection.

Habitat: Habitat

At sea, the species uses pelagic waters, including waters off western Australia. Its only known nesting habitat is open marshy ground on the Plateau des Tourbières, at 500 to 600 m elevation on Amsterdam Island.

At sea, the species uses pelagic waters, including waters off western Australia. Its only known nesting habitat is open marshy ground on the Plateau des Tourbières, at 500 to 600 m elevation on Amsterdam Island.

Foraging habitat: Diet

Its diet is not well understood, but is believed to include squid, crustaceans and fish.

Its diet is not well understood, but is believed to include squid, crustaceans and fish.

Breeding habitat: Breeding

Amsterdam albatrosses breed every two years on open marshy ground. Both parents incubate the egg in alternating stints of about a week; incubation lasts around 80 days, and chicks take about 230 days to fledge.

Amsterdam albatrosses breed every two years on open marshy ground. Both parents incubate the egg in alternating stints of about a week; incubation lasts around 80 days, and chicks take about 230 days to fledge.

Sheltering habitat: Shelter

Not documented in the published sources used for this profile.

Not documented in the published sources used for this profile.

Threats: Threats

Longline fishing poses a risk of accidental bycatch at sea. At the breeding site, habitat degradation and introduced animals, including ship rats, feral cats and cattle, are concerns.

Longline fishing poses a risk of accidental bycatch at sea. At the breeding site, habitat degradation and introduced animals, including ship rats, feral cats and cattle, are concerns.

Threats: Works risk

Longline fishing can harm the species through accidental bycatch.

Survey methodology: 1. Species-specific methods

Use methods consistent with the Commonwealth survey guidelines and engage a specialist with the right permits.

Satellite tracking has been used to follow incubating adults and juvenile birds, documenting their movements and foraging distribution.

Survey methodology: 2. Commonwealth guidance

For EPBC Act referrals, survey effort and methods should be consistent with the survey guidelines for Australia's threatened birds, read with the Significant impact guidelines 1.1.

Survey methodology: 3. Limits

A non-detection is not proof of absence. Match survey timing to the species and season, and record effort.

Vegetation associations: Wetland or sedgeland

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

Its only known nesting habitat is open marshy ground on the Plateau des Tourbières, at 500 to 600 m elevation on Amsterdam Island.

Automatically indexed from existing profile text. Not a verified preference, mapped occurrence or habitat requirement. Check the original source and regional qualifiers before use.

Evidence: Unreviewed profile-derived candidate

Confidence: Not independently verified

Region: Scope as described in the quoted profile text; not independently verified. Profile states: WA.

Habitat use: general

Ecosystem associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific ecosystem association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Soil and substrate associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific soil association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Water and wetland associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific water association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Fauna records and mapped habitat: Not yet analysed

Record locations can be overlaid with mapping, but record frequency alone does not measure habitat preference. No species is excluded from desktop assessments by this analysis.

No quality-controlled record-to-map analysis has been completed for this species. The existing generalised distribution dots and indicative range polygons have not been treated as precise occurrence coordinates.

A defensible run needs dated, independently attributable records, coordinate uncertainty, duplicate and captive-record checks, layer versions and regional scope. Preference and absence require additional survey-effort and detection evidence.

Habitat limitations and contrary evidence: No supported exclusion recorded

Not recorded is not the same as cannot occur. Low suitability, resident habitat, breeding habitat and occasional movement are different conclusions.

This library has not established a vegetation, ecosystem or soil-type exclusion for this species. This does not mean all habitat is suitable; the evidence needed to justify an exclusion has not been assembled.

Habitat limitations and contrary evidence: Before using a negative association

  • Confirm the taxon, geographic region, life stage and habitat function covered by the evidence.
  • Check survey methods, season, repeated effort and detectability before interpreting non-detection.
  • Investigate credible contradictory records and microhabitats absent from broad mapping.
  • Do not convert a missing map class, low record count or failed data request into species absence.

Before disturbance: 1. Desktop and approvals

Confirm whether the project could affect the species before works begin.

Check national mapping, state records and recent surveys for the site. An action likely to have a significant impact on this nationally listed species needs EPBC Act referral, and state permits apply where it is state listed.

Before disturbance: 2. Plan to avoid

Plan in-water works, vessel movements and lighting to avoid known habitat and sensitive periods, and set observer and shutdown procedures before works start.

During disturbance: 1. Controls

Keep works inside the approved footprint and conditions.

Use spotters and exclusion zones for in-water works and vessels, and pause works if the species is seen within the zone.

During disturbance: 2. Stop and report

If the species is found unexpectedly, stop work at that spot and contact the project ecologist and the relevant agency.

After disturbance: 1. Records

Record outcomes.

Record sightings, habitat lost or retained and any injury or death, and report them under the approval conditions.

Rehabilitation: 1. Restore

Restore disturbed habitat where possible.

Remove temporary structures, restore natural flow and substrate, and monitor water quality until it returns to baseline.

Sources