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White-bellied Storm-Petrel (Tasman Sea) (Fregetta grallaria grallaria)

This small seabird spends most of its life at sea and breeds on remote islands, including islands in the Lord Howe group. In Australia it occurs over the Coral and Tasman seas, with records of foraging in nearshore Queensland waters; offshore island nesting habitat is relevant to works.

Conservation status

Commonwealth, EPBC Act 1999: Vulnerable.

Seasonal planning

A seabird guide gives March to August and notes that birds are thought to disperse northwards into the tropics after breeding.

Seasonal evidence: From published sources for this species.

Timing varies between sites and years.

  • Seasonal period: A seabird guide gives March to August and notes that birds are thought to disperse northwards into the tropics after breeding.

Identification: Appearance

It has sooty black upperparts and a white belly and rump.

It has sooty black upperparts and a white belly and rump.

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 Tasman Sea subspecies breeds in the Lord Howe Island group and has a mainly tropical distribution, ranging or migrating as far as the Coral Sea. Individuals have also been recorded foraging over nearshore waters off Queensland.

The Tasman Sea subspecies breeds in the Lord Howe Island group and has a mainly tropical distribution, ranging or migrating as far as the Coral Sea. Individuals have also been recorded foraging over nearshore waters off Queensland.

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 primarily pelagic, using open sea and sometimes nearshore waters for foraging. Breeding colonies occur on remote offshore islands, where nests are placed in crevices or burrows.

It is primarily pelagic, using open sea and sometimes nearshore waters for foraging. Breeding colonies occur on remote offshore islands, where nests are placed in crevices or burrows.

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

In the Tasman Sea region, it breeds on islands in the Lord Howe group. Breeding sites are dispersed colonies, with grass-lined nests in crevices and burrows.

In the Tasman Sea region, it breeds on islands in the Lord Howe group. Breeding sites are dispersed colonies, with grass-lined nests in crevices and burrows.

Sheltering habitat: Shelter

Nests are grass-lined and built in crevices or burrows on offshore islands.

Nests are grass-lined and built in crevices or burrows on offshore islands.

Threats: Threats

Biosecurity is identified as a management need for this subspecies.

Biosecurity is identified as a management need for this subspecies.

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