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Soft-plumaged Petrel (Pterodroma mollis)

The Soft-plumaged Petrel is a pelagic, burrow-nesting seabird, with small Australian breeding populations on Maatsuyker Island, Tasmania, and Macquarie Island. It uses marine, oceanic waters and comes ashore mainly at offshore breeding colonies, where it nests in burrows on vegetated slopes.

Conservation status

Commonwealth, EPBC Act 1999: Vulnerable.

Tasmania, Threatened Species Protection Act 1995: Endangered.

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

At Maatsuyker Island, laying occurs from mid-December and fledging from late April.

Seasonal evidence: From published sources for this species.

Timing varies between sites and years.

  • Present year-round in Western Australian waters; mainly September to April in so: At Maatsuyker Island, laying occurs from mid-December and fledging from late April.

Identification: Appearance

Usually encountered well offshore, it flies in towering, roller-coaster patterns and sometimes follows boats.

Usually encountered well offshore, it flies in towering, roller-coaster patterns and sometimes follows boats.

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

In Australia, it breeds on Maatsuyker Island in Tasmania and Macquarie Island. It occurs in south-eastern Australian waters mainly from September to April, while in Western Australian waters it occurs throughout the year, especially from May to September.

In Australia, it breeds on Maatsuyker Island in Tasmania and Macquarie Island. It occurs in south-eastern Australian waters mainly from September to April, while in Western Australian waters it occurs throughout the year, especially from May to September.

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

It is a highly pelagic species of temperate and subantarctic waters and rarely approaches land except at breeding colonies. Nesting sites include steep slopes with tussock grass or ferns, along the coast or inland.

It is a highly pelagic species of temperate and subantarctic waters and rarely approaches land except at breeding colonies. Nesting sites include steep slopes with tussock grass or ferns, along the coast or inland.

Foraging habitat: Diet

It forages over oceanic waters, feeding mostly by surface seizing; occasional scavenging has also been reported.

It forages over oceanic waters, feeding mostly by surface seizing; occasional scavenging has also been reported.

Breeding habitat: Breeding

It breeds colonially on offshore islands. At Maatsuyker Island, laying occurred from mid-December and fledging from late April.

It breeds colonially on offshore islands. At Maatsuyker Island, laying occurred from mid-December and fledging from late April.

Sheltering habitat: Shelter

It nests in long burrows on steep slopes, often in tussock grass or fern vegetation.

It nests in long burrows on steep slopes, often in tussock grass or fern vegetation.

Threats: Threats

Not documented in the published sources used for this profile.

Not documented in the published sources used for this profile.

Survey methodology: 1. Species-specific methods

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

At breeding sites, searches for burrows and nest monitoring have been used. Adults have also been detected by listening for calls and observing birds flying at night.

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: Tussock grassland

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

Nesting sites include steep slopes with tussock grass or ferns, along the coast or inland.

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: SA, TAS, VIC, 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