Fauna Spotters logo

Gould's Petrel (Pterodroma leucoptera leucoptera)

Gould's Petrel is a small, dark-hooded gadfly petrel that breeds on offshore islands in New South Wales and spends much of its life at sea. Its nesting habitat is steep rocky scree gullies with a canopy of palms and fig trees.

Conservation status

Commonwealth, EPBC Act 1999: Endangered.

New South Wales, Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016: Vulnerable.

Seasonal planning

First arrivals on Cabbage Tree Island are reported from mid to late September; colony return is also reported around November to December, and fledging occurs in April to May.

Seasonal evidence: From published sources for this species.

Timing varies between sites and years.

  • Colony attendance and breeding: First arrivals on Cabbage Tree Island are reported from mid to late September; colony return is also reported around November to December, and fledging occurs in April to May.

Identification: Appearance

A small, dark-hooded gadfly petrel.

A small, dark-hooded gadfly petrel.

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 principal breeding site is Cabbage Tree Island off Port Stephens, with a smaller population on nearby Boondelbah Island; breeding on Montague Island has also been reported. At sea, its range is not well known, but it is believed to extend to sub-Antarctic waters between Macquarie Island and Tasmania, with records north to the Queensland border and west to the south coast of Western Australia.

The principal breeding site is Cabbage Tree Island off Port Stephens, with a smaller population on nearby Boondelbah Island; breeding on Montague Island has also been reported. At sea, its range is not well known, but it is believed to extend to sub-Antarctic waters between Macquarie Island and Tasmania, with records north to the Queensland border and west to the south coast of Western Australia.

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

Nesting habitat is concentrated in steep gullies with sloping rock scree and a canopy of cabbage tree palms, figs and native plum. Petrels nest mainly in natural rock crevices.

Nesting habitat is concentrated in steep gullies with sloping rock scree and a canopy of cabbage tree palms, figs and native plum. Petrels nest mainly in natural rock crevices.

Foraging habitat: Diet

Not documented in the published sources used for this profile.

Not documented in the published sources used for this profile.

Breeding habitat: Breeding

Gould's Petrels breed colonially, with nests often clustered less than a metre apart. First arrivals on Cabbage Tree Island occur from mid to late September; young fledge in April to May.

Gould's Petrels breed colonially, with nests often clustered less than a metre apart. First arrivals on Cabbage Tree Island occur from mid to late September; young fledge in April to May.

Sheltering habitat: Shelter

As well as natural rock crevices, nesting sites include hollow fallen palm trunks, mats of fallen palm fronds and cavities among fig-tree buttresses.

As well as natural rock crevices, nesting sites include hollow fallen palm trunks, mats of fallen palm fronds and cavities among fig-tree buttresses.

Threats: Threats

Petrels have been reported killed when they take to the air and collide with palms.

Petrels have been reported killed when they take to the air and collide with palms.

Threats: Works risk

Works that disturb or remove steep nesting gullies, rock crevices, fallen palm trunks or frond cover could affect the petrel's nesting habitat. Palm collisions have also been reported when birds take to the air.

Survey methodology: 1. Species-specific methods

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

Calling birds have been detected by listening at burrows; two birds were heard calling from a burrow on Montague Island.

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

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

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

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