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Northern Giant Petrel (Macronectes halli)

The Northern Giant Petrel is a large seabird that visits southern Australian waters, including NSW waters, and breeds at Macquarie Island. Its pelagic habitat and breeding sites on subantarctic islands are relevant when considering marine activity and works near colonies.

Conservation status

Commonwealth, EPBC Act 1999: Vulnerable.

New South Wales, Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016: Vulnerable.

Victoria, Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988: Endangered.

Queensland, Nature Conservation Act 1992: Vulnerable.

Tasmania, Threatened Species Protection Act 1995: Rare.

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

Fledglings leave their natal colonies from late January to March.

Seasonal evidence: From published sources for this species.

Timing varies between sites and years.

  • Fledgling departure: Fledglings leave their natal colonies from late January to March.

Identification: Appearance

This large seabird can reach 95 cm in length, with a wingspan of 150 to 210 cm. It has a dark grey-brown body, pale colouring around the bill and face, and mottling at the borders; males are larger and have heavier bills than females.

This large seabird can reach 95 cm in length, with a wingspan of 150 to 210 cm. It has a dark grey-brown body, pale colouring around the bill and face, and mottling at the borders; males are larger and have heavier bills than females.

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 has a circumpolar pelagic range and visits southern Australian waters, arriving about a month earlier than the Southern Giant Petrel. It is a common visitor in NSW waters, particularly off the south-east coast in winter and autumn, and breeds at Macquarie Island.

The species has a circumpolar pelagic range and visits southern Australian waters, arriving about a month earlier than the Southern Giant Petrel. It is a common visitor in NSW waters, particularly off the south-east coast in winter and autumn, and breeds at Macquarie Island.

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

Northern Giant Petrels range over Southern Ocean waters, including open ocean and coastal waters. They also use subantarctic islands for breeding and may forage around seal and penguin colonies.

Northern Giant Petrels range over Southern Ocean waters, including open ocean and coastal waters. They also use subantarctic islands for breeding and may forage around seal and penguin colonies.

Foraging habitat: Diet

At sea, Northern Giant Petrels feed on fish, cephalopods, birds and crustaceans, including krill. Males also scavenge on penguin and seal carcasses on land, and both sexes may scavenge around fishing vessels.

At sea, Northern Giant Petrels feed on fish, cephalopods, birds and crustaceans, including krill. Males also scavenge on penguin and seal carcasses on land, and both sexes may scavenge around fishing vessels.

Breeding habitat: Breeding

In Australian territory, breeding is limited to Macquarie Island and occurs in spring and summer. Pairs usually nest apart from one another, and raise a single chick.

In Australian territory, breeding is limited to Macquarie Island and occurs in spring and summer. Pairs usually nest apart from one another, and raise a single chick.

Sheltering habitat: Shelter

Nests are placed in broken terrain, often among tussocks in dense vegetation or behind rocks, ridges and other sheltered features. The species may nest singly or in semi-colonial groupings.

Nests are placed in broken terrain, often among tussocks in dense vegetation or behind rocks, ridges and other sheltered features. The species may nest singly or in semi-colonial groupings.

Threats: Threats

Threats include mortality from long-line fishing, oil spills, and entanglement in marine debris or fishing gear. Predation by introduced cats and rats, habitat degradation by rabbits, and disturbance at breeding colonies are also identified as concerns.

Threats include mortality from long-line fishing, oil spills, and entanglement in marine debris or fishing gear. Predation by introduced cats and rats, habitat degradation by rabbits, and disturbance at breeding colonies are also identified as concerns.

Threats: Works risk

Vessel and fishing activity may harm birds through long-line hooks, bycatch, entanglement in fishing gear, or disturbance around breeding colonies. Oil spills and marine debris can also pose risks.

Survey methodology: 1. Commonwealth guidance

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

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: 2. 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