Herald petrel
Common name: Herald petrel
Scientific name: Pterodroma arminjoniana heraldica
Conservation status: The herald petrel is 'Endangered' in Queensland (Nature Conservation Act 1992) and 'Critically Endangered' nationally (Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999).
Description: The Herald petrel is a medium to large tropical gadfly petrel. It is polymorphic, with three main colour phases from dark to light, although with much variation. Most Australasian records are of the pale morph. Similar to other gadfly petrels, particularly the kermadec and providence petrels. It has a distinctive underwing pattern, with white patches at base of the primaries extending as pale wedge along greater coverts towards the body. The sexes are alike, with no seasonal variation.
Habitat and distribution: The distribution and habitat of this species are not properly understood. The Pacific Ocean breeding range extends from Australia in the west to Easter Island in the east. It also breeds on Trinidade Island and Martin Vaz Rocks in the southern Atlantic Ocean, and Round Island, Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. It nest on coral cays. The only Australian breeding records are from Raine Island, although breeding is suspected on North Keeling Island. It nests on the highest part of Raine Island, on sloping sand ridges with vegetation forming a low dense mat of shrubs, grasses and other species below 0.5m in height.
Behaviour and life history: Social organisation is not completely understood. Outside of the breeding season pairs or individuals are seen at sea, but sometimes up to 15 observed in mixed feeding flocks are sighted. It is found as pairs or in threes on Raine Island. It occasionally follows ships. There are no descriptions of feeding methods, although it has been recorded as feeding in association with wedge-tailed shearwater Puffinus pacificus. It performs a high speed courtship flight, with dives and loops, over breeding sites. Its most common call is a rapidly repeated single notes 'ti-ti-ti-ti-ti' lasting from 4-6 seconds.
At the Raine Island colony, the population is absent from at least November to January, which is in contrast to other pacific breeding colonies where continuous presence is reported.
Threatening processes: The silver gull may be a threat to eggs and chicks on Raine Island, and nesting turtles probably destroy some nests.
Recovery actions:
- Continue to monitor annual breeding effort at Raine Island
Further information:
Department of the Environment and Heritage. 2005 . Ten Seabird species Issues paper. Department of the Environment and Heritage, Canberra.
Last updated: 05 September 2006