Flesh-footed Shearwaters found breeding at a new locality on Phillip Island

A pair of Flesh-footed Shearwaters, photograph from the Norfolk Island National Park and Botanic Garden

The Norfolk Island National Park and Botanic Garden reports on Facebook that the Near Threatened Flesh-footed Shearwater Puffinus carnepeis has expanded its breeding grounds on Phillip Island (190 ha) offshore of Norfolk Island, an External Territory of Australia located in the Pacific Ocean between New Zealand and the French Territory of New Caledonia,

“Once only found near Red Knoll, about 20 pairs have now been discovered by long-term seabird researchers Nicholas Carlile and Terry O’Dwyer in a new forest patch near the track from Parks Hut to Owen Evans’ camp”, identified by their distinctive calls at night.

“From October to May, these birds return to reunite with partners, spruce up burrows, and mate.  Their growing numbers are more than just a rare sighting, as they play a vital role in island regeneration, enriching soil with ocean nutrients through their guano.”

The Flesh-footed Shearwater was identified at a 2019 ACAP meeting as a species for listing on the Agreement’s ANNEX 1 but as yet no formal proposal has been made to the Parties.

The bird has been well studied, especially in relation to ingested plastic, on Lord Howe Island (click here).  The species has also been studied in New Zealand.

It has been proposed that the species be renamed the Sable Shearwater; Pale-footed is also an option.

Read about petrels on Phillip Island here.

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 17 November 2025