Justification This species qualifies as Vulnerable because the population is restricted to a very small area when breeding, and remains at risk from the accidental introduction of predators and other catastrophes. If it succeeds in expanding its range, it may be downlisted to Near Threatened.

Family/Sub-family Procellariidae

Species name author Salvin, 1888

Taxonomic source(s) AOU checklist (1998 + supplements), Brooke (2004), Christidis and Boles (1994), SACC (2005 + updates), Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993), Stotz et al. (1996), Turbott (1990)

Synonyms Ardenna bulleri Christidis and Boles (2008)

Identification 46 cm. Large, grey, black-and-white shearwater with broad wings, buoyant flight and wedge-shaped tail (normally folded). Blackish-brown head, neck. Grey wings, back with large dark "M" across wings. Grey uppertail with black tip. White underparts, underwing. Slim, grey bill with dark tip. Similar spp. Unlike any other Pacific shearwater. Juan Fernández Petrel Pterodroma externa has dark leading edge to underwing. Voice Generally quiet at sea. Assorted howlings, wailings at colony.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

2,500,000

increasing

84,400,000 km²

Yes

Range & population Puffinus bulleri breeds only at the Poor Knights Islands, New Zealand. The species is restricted to two main islands, Aorangi and Tawhiti Rahi, and five other islets and stacks⁴. In the 1980s, one pair was found breeding on the Simmonds Islands, in the far north of New Zealand⁵. Between 1938 and 1981, the population on Aorangi increased from c.200 to c.200,000 pairs^2,3. The total population is estimated at 2.5 million birds⁴, but it is unclear whether the population on Aorangi is still increasing⁵. It migrates to the north Pacific Ocean, from Japan to North America and east to California, and is occasionally found off South America^3,5.

Important Bird Areas Click here to view map showing IBAs where species is recorded and triggers any of the IBA criteria.

Ecology: It nests in burrows or on rock-crevices and ledges, often under dense vegetation. It feeds on krill, small fish, salps and jellyfish^3,4.

Threats It was previously caught in north Pacific drift-nets¹, and is still potentially at risk from set-nets. It may be caught on longlines, in trawling operations and on hand and reel lines, but little documented evidence is available⁵.

Conservation measures underway The eradication of pigs from Aorangi in 1936 caused a massive increase in the population, the recolonisation probably coming from the nearby predator-free island, Tawhiti Rahi³. Fishing has been banned at the Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve since 1996 and entry onto the island reserve is prohibited⁶. The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) established the world's first mandatory "area to be avoided" (ATBA) for large shipping vessels, including oil tankers, around the islands in 2004⁶.

Conservation measures proposed Complete an accurate population census. Assess current status of breeding on Simmonds Islands. Identify any signs of prospecting on other island groups. Establish monitoring plots on Poor Knights to determine rate and pattern of colony expansion⁵. Quantify the impact of bycatch during fishing activities. If judged necessary, work with fisheries to develop bycatch reduction measures.

References 1. Gould et al. (1998). 2. Harper (1983). 3. Heather and Robertson (1997). 4. Marchant and Higgins (1990). 5. Taylor (2000). 6. Szabo in litt. (2004)

Text account compilers Phil Benstead (BirdLife International), Simon Mahood (BirdLife International), Rachel McClellan (BirdLife International)

Contributors Michael Szabo (Forest and Bird)

IUCN Red List evaluators Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Simon Mahood (BirdLife International)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Puffinus bulleri. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 9/2/2010

This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM and BirdLife International (2008) Threatened birds of the world 2008 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.

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