Fauna
Masked Booby
- Birds
- Mammals
- Reptiles
- Invertebrates
- Amphibians
- Freshwater eels and other fish
- Fauna of Phillip Island
Birds
The island boasts a bird list of one hundred and sixteen species. Of these sixty-six are vagrants or non-breeding migrants. A number of the seabirds which nest on Phillip Island are subject to agreements which Australia has entered into with the Governments of Japan and the People's Republic of China.
Many species of birds widespread in the southwest pacific have established themselves in Norfolk Island since European settlement. Some are probably self introductions while others were bought to the island from other places and deliberately released.
For management purposes the birds can be classified broadly into the following groups [some species may be represented in more than one group]
- Seabirds which regularly breed there [16 species, 3 of which no longer occur there]
- Land or Freshwater birds which are resident or regularly breed there [26 species, including 15 endemic species or subspecies, of which 6 are extinct]
- Migratory Birds
- Vagrants
Two of the Islands endemic species are extremely rare and are subject to recovery actions. Both the N.I. Boobook Owl, Ninox undulata and the N.I. Green Parrot, Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae are the subject of assisted wild breeding programmes.
International Agreements
Australia is party to two international agreements of direct relevance to the management of Phillip Island. These are the Agreement between the Government of Japan and the Government of Australia (JAMBA), and between the Government of the Peoples Republic of China and the Government of Australia (CAMBA), for the Protection of Migratory Birds and Birds in Danger of Extinction and their Environment.
Waterbirds
White-faced Heron, Ardea novaehollandiae
Pacific Black Duck, Anas superciliosa
Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos
Buff-banded Rail, Rallus philippensis
Spotless Crake, Porzana tabuensis
Purple Swamphen, Porphyrio porphyrio
Seabirds
Black-winged Petrel, Pterodroma nigripennis
White-necked Petrel, Pterodroma cervicalis
Kermadec Petrel, Pterodroma neglecta
Providence Petrel, Pterodroma solandri
Little Shearwater, Puffinus assimilis
Wedge-tailed Shearwater, Puffinus pacificus
Australian Gannet, Morus serrator
Masked Booby, Sula dactylatra
Red-tailed Tropicbird, Phaethon rubricauda
Sooty Tern, Sterna fuscata
Common Noddy, Anous stolidus
Black Noddy, Anous minutus
Grey Ternlet, Procelsterna albivittata
White Tern, Gygis alba
Migratory Waders
Lesser Golden Plover, Pluvialis dominica
Ruddy Turnstone, Arenaria interpres
Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus
Bar-tailed Godwit, Limosa lapponica
Australian Kestrel, Falco cenchroides
Green Parrot
Forest and Farm Birds
Feral Chicken, Gallus gallus
California Quail, Lophortyx californicus
Feral Pigeon, Columba livia
Shining Bronze-Cuckoo, Chrysococcyx lucidus
Long-tailed Cuckoo, Eudynamis taitensis
Scarlet Robin, Petrocia multicolor
Welcome Swallow, Hirundo neoxena
Song Thrush, Turdus philomelos
Scarlet Robin, Petroica multicolor
Long-billed White-eye, Zosterops tenuirostris
Golden Whistler, Pachycephala pectoralis xanthoprocta
Grey Fantail, Rhipidura fuliginosa pelzelni
Grey Gerygone, Gerygone igata modesta
Grinnell or Silvereye, Zosterops lateralis
Emerald Dove, Chalcophaps indica
Nuffka Sacred Kingfisher, Halcyon sancta vagans
Norfolk Island Starling, Aplonis fuscus fuscus
Norfolk Island Boobook Owl, Ninox novaeseelandiae
White-breasted White-eye, Zosterops albogularis
Guava Bird, Turdus poliocephalus poliocephalus
Green Parrot, Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae cookii
European Blackbird, Turdus merula
European Starling, Sturnus vulgaris
Crimson Rosella, Platycercus elegan
Extinct Species
New Zealand Pigeon, Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae
Norfolk Island Ground Dove, Gallicolumba norfolciensis
Norfolk Island Kaka, Nestor productus
Long-tailed Triller, Lalage leuopyga
Norfolk Island Starling, Aplonis fusc
Mammals
Two species of bats are the only native land mammals recorded from Norfolk Island. They are the Norfolk Island free-tail bat, Tadarida norfolkensis, and Gould's wattled bat, Chalinolobus gouldii. Only the latter has been seen in recent years.
Amongst the more prominent introduced mammals are rats and mice. The Polynesian Rat [Rattus exulans] arrived with Polynesian sailors. The rat was used as a source of food on their great voyages and released on islands en route. It is blamed for the removal on Norfolk Island of two native species of reptile and a large endemic centipede prior to European Settlement.
The Ship Rat [Rattus rattus] also known as black, bush, roof or house rat apparently appeared on Norfolk during the 1940's. This rat poses a threat to Norfolk's endemic land birds as it preys on eggs and nestlings. It also eats seed from the rarer trees and reduces their regeneration prospects.
Control measures for the rats are being introduced in the National Park to protect nesting birds and help the propagation of rare trees whose seed is eaten by the rats. It is important that Phillip and Nepean Islands are kept rat-free as they can provide refuges for birds and other fauna threatened by rats.
The House Mouse [Mus musculus] probably also made its appearance in the early days of European Settlement.
Feral cats, Felis catus, are common around the island and seriously affect populations of both land and sea birds. Their devastation effects can be seen in most of the seabird nesting colonies on the Island.
Domestic cattle have severely affected the integrity of the native forest by eating seedlings and trampling vegetation. They have also been a vector in the transport of seeds of introduced plants. Since their exclusion from the Mt Pitt area (by fencing) there has been a marked improvement in the condition of native forest areas.
Reptiles
Just two terrestrial reptiles, a geckoPhyllodactylus guentheri and a skink Leiolopisma lichenigerum occur in the Norfolk Island group. Both species are shared only with Lord Howe Island. There is fossil evidence that the gecko was present on Norfolk about 700 years ago but only occurs on the smaller islands today. The skink is restricted to Phillip Island.
The First Settlers were quick to take advantage of nesting turtles, probably the Green Turtle, Chelonia mydas. Turtles remained reasonably common until at least February 1839 when a hunting party was sent to catch a large group seen in on of the bays. None nest on the island although they are occasionally seen in surrounding waters.
Invertebrates
A number of endemic invertebrates occur including one species of Collembola, 30 moths, 11 booklice, 65 beetles and one particularly impressive centipede which grows up to 150 mm long and 17 mm wide. The centipede Cormocephalus coynei was recorded on Phillip Island by King in 1792, but it was not described until recently. It is restricted to Phillip and Nepean Islands.
Amphibians
The only known record of any amphibian fauna occurring on Norfolk Island is a statement by Cunningham in 1830 saying 'frogs inhabit the waters'. There are no frogs on Norfolk now.
Freshwater Eels and other Fish
The only native freshwater fish recorded are two eels, the Longfinned Eel, Anguilla reinhardtii and the Shortfinned Eel, Anguilla australis. An introduced freshwater fish Poecilia reticulata has established in some streams on the island.
Fauna of Phillip Island
In the absence of exotic predatory fauna such as rats, cats and cockroaches Phillip Island still provides an important breeding ground for seabirds and a vital refuge for some of the indigenous and endemic fauna. Only two terrestrial reptiles have been recorded. These are a gecko and a skink. Twenty-five species of Collembola and other soil fauna have been identified and a total of 76 of butterflies and moths have been collected. Many species of spiders, centipedes and mollusks occur on Norfolk Island but it is unknown how many of these are present on Phillip Island.
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