Species

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Justification
This species is classified as Endangered as it has a very small and fragmented population which is continuing to decline. It is clear that invasive species are the primary reason for this decline, and although eradication at some locations has been conducted and further eradication programmes are planned for the future, this species remains highly threatened.

Taxonomic source(s)
Brooke, M. De L. 2004. Albatrosses and petrels across the world. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
Sibley, C. G.; Monroe, B. L. 1990. Distribution and taxonomy of birds of the world. Yale University Press, New Haven, USA.

Identification
25 cm. Large, polymorphic storm-petrel with broad rounded wings, lacking obvious bends along leading and trailing edges. Most common morph has brownish-black head, nape, mantle, upperwing and tail but white rump-band and greater-covert wing-bar. Moderately forked tail. White throat, brownish chest band, rest of underparts white. Extensive white on underwing-coverts, otherwise dark underwing. Intermediate morphs show dark flecking on white underparts. Dark morph is entirely sooty-brown. Similar spp. Dark morph similar to but larger than Tristram's Storm Petrel O. tristrami.

Distribution and population
Nesofregetta fuliginosa breeds in the Line and Phoenix Islands (Kiribati), Austral, Society (formerly Tahiti), Gambier and Marquesas Islands (French Polynesia), New Caledonia (to France) (3-4 pairs in 1996-1997 [V. Bretagnolle in litt. 1999], although repeated visits in 2007 failed to produce any records pointing to local extinction [J. Baudat-Franceschi in litt. 2007], but since sighted twice off the northern tip and may possibly breed on atolls off the northern end of the island [C. Collins in litt. 2011]), Sala y Gomez (Chile) (100 pairs in 1997 [Vilina and Gazitua 1999]) and, historically (perhaps even currently), in Vanuatu, Samoa and Fiji. In the Line Islands, c.1,000 pairs were present on Kiritimati (= Christmas Island) in the 1960s and early 1970s (Garnett 1983) but, in 1993, the population was estimated at several hundred (M. Rauzon in litt. 1999), supported by observations in 1999 and 2009 (D. Watling in litt. 1999, R. Pierce in litt. 2009). In the Phoenix Islands, c.1,400 birds were present on Phoenix and McKean Islands, but the total population on the two islands is now thought to be 40-100 and c.10 individuals respectively (Garnett 1983, R. Pierce in litt. 2009). In the Australs, tens of pairs occurred on Rapa and surrounding islets (Holyoak and Thibault 1984), and the situation was unchanged in 1990 (Thibault and Varney 1991). However, following Cyclone Oli in February 2010, 36 dead birds were found in the port of Tubuai, (possibly through the combined effects of light-attraction and strong winds), which may have had a significant impact on the small local population around Rapa and the long-term survival of the species in French Polynesia (Anon. 2009). In the Gambiers, 100-200 pairs occurred on Motu Teiku and 100-300 pairs on Manui in 1996, but it may have become extinct on two further islands (Thibault and Bretagnolle 1999). In the Marquesas, one pair was found on Ua Pou in 1989 (V. Bretagnolle in litt. 1999). No evidence was found of this species during a survey of the historical nesting site of Mt Washington (=Nabukulevu) on Kadavu (Fiji) in August 2004. There has been only one unconfirmed sighting in Fijian waters in the last three decades, and it is thought to be very unlikely that it still breeds in Fiji (D. Watling in litt. 2005).

Population justification
The current known population is as low as c.1,000-1,600 mature individuals, equivalent to c.1,500-2,400 individuals in total. However given that some surveys date back to the mid-1990s, and significant declines have been observed in previous strongholds, it is possible that the population may be lower than this. It is clear that data is lacking and a comprehensive survey needs to be conducted to assess the true population size.

Trend justification
Repeated estimates since the 1960s have indicated population declines of >50% on Kiritimati (=Christmas Island), a key breeding colony. Trend data from other colonies is lacking, but there may have been local extinctions, and the species appears not to coexist with rats and cats (Brooke 2004).

Ecology
It usually nests in loosely formed colonies throughout the year, peaking at different times on different islands (Holyoak and Thibault 1984, Carboneras 1992c). Burrows are often dug in sand (and can be extremely fragile) (V. Bretagnolle in litt. 1999), but it also nests under vegetation or in rock-crevices (Holyoak and Thibault 1984). It feeds on small fish, cephalopods and crustaceans (Holyoak and Thibault 1984, Carboneras 1992c).

Threats
Birds do not appear to survive in the presence of rats or cats (Garnett 1983, Holyoak and Thibault 1984, Jones et al. 2008). Predation of eggs and small chicks by house mouse Mus musculus (E. Flint in litt. 2000), human exploitation (Carboneras 1992c) and increasing cultivation of islets, e.g. on Rapa (V. Bretagnolle in litt. 1999), are additional threats.

Conservation actions underway
On Kiritimati, a cat eradication programme has failed to limit predation by feral cats outside villages (M. Rauzon in litt. 1999, E. A. Schreiber in litt. 1999) but, at Jarvis Island National Wildlife Refuge (200 miles from Kiritimati), a colonisation programme has been successful and, in March 2000, three N. fuliginosa were observed displaying (Flint and Aycock 2000). A total of 23 motu in the central lagoon area have been targeted for rat eradication, with more eradication on additional motu planned for the future (R. Pierce and D. Brown in litt. 2009). In New Caledonia, the Société Calédonienne d'Ornithologie was due to implement a rat eradication program on 18 islets including the site of the only previously known colony in 2007-2008 to restore suitable breeding conditions for the species (V. Chartendrault in litt. 2007). Rabbit and rat eradication occurred on McKean and Phoenix Island in 2008, though the results have not been confirmed (R. Pierce et al. in litt. 2008, R. Pierce in litt. 2009).

Conservation actions proposed
Survey all nesting islets (M. Rauzon in litt. 1999) including those off the main Samoan islands (SPREP 1999). Eradicate rats and cats from key small islets within its breeding range, e.g. Temoe Island (M. Rauzon in litt. 1999, G. Wragg in litt. 1999), and throughout the Line and Phoenix Islands (A. K. Kepler in litt. 2000).

References
Garnett, M. C. 1983. A management plan for nature conservation in the Line and Phoenix Islands, Part 1: description.

Holyoak, D. T.; Thibault, J. -C. 1984. Contribution à l'étude des oiseaux de Polynésie orientale. Memoires du Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle - Serie A: Zoologie 127: 1-209.

Thibault, J.-C.; Varney, A. 1991. Breeding seabirds of Rapa (Polynesia): numbers and changes during the 20th century. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 111: 70-77.

Carboneras, C. 1992. Hydrobatidae (Storm-Petrels). In: del Hoyo, J.; Elliott, A.; Sargatal, J. (ed.), Handbook of the birds of the world, pp. 258-271. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain.

Thibault, J.-C.; Bretagnolle, V. 1999. Breeding seabirds of Gambier Islands, Eastern Polynesia: numbers and changes during the 20th century. Emu 99: 100-107.

SPREP. 1999. Proceedings of the Polynesian Avifauna Conservation Workshop held in Rarotonga, 26-30 April 1999.

Vilina, Y. A.; Gazitua, F. J. 1999. The birds of Sala y Gomez island, Chile. Waterbirds 22(3): 459-462.

Flint, E.; Aycock, D. 2000. Trip report - Howland, Baker, Jarvis islands, March 9 to April 7, 2000.

Jones, H.P., Tershy, B.R., Zavaleta, E.S., Croll, D.A., Keitt, B.S., Finkelstein, M.E. and Howald, G.R. 2008. Severity of the effects of invasive rats on seabirds: a global review. Conservation Biology 22(1): 16-26.

Further web sources of information
View photos and videos, and hear sounds of this species from the Internet Bird Collection

Text account compilers
Anderson, O., Calvert, R., Mahood, S., McClellan, R., O'Brien, A., Stattersfield, A., Temple, H.

Contributors
Baudat-Franceschi, J., Bretagnolle, V., Chartendrault, V., Flint, B., Kepler, A., Pandolfi, M., Pierce, R., Rauzon, M., Schreiber, E., Watling, D., Wragg, G.

IUCN Red List evaluators
Butchart, S., Symes, A.

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2013) Species factsheet: Nesofregetta fuliginosa. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 24/05/2013. Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2013) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 24/05/2013.

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.

To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife

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Additional resources for this species

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