Changing fortunes of the Black-winged Petrel Pterodroma nigripennis following the Lord Howe Island Rodent Eradication Project - interactions with other recovering species

The Lord Howe Island Rodent Eradication Project (REP) led to a dramatic increase in the breeding success of Black-winged Petrels (Pterodroma nigripennis), from as low as 2.5% before rodent removal to 67% in 2020 and 50% in 2021, suggesting decades of suppressed reproductive output due to invasive ship rats (Rattus rattus). The study used surveillance cameras to assess nest failure causes pre-REP and monitored breeding success post-REP. However, emerging pressures from a recovering predatory rail (Lord Howe Woodhen) and burrow competition from Little Shearwaters (Puffinus assimilis) may threaten sustained success. Despite this, the petrel population is expected to surge, with hundreds of fledglings annually, potentially benefiting island biodiversity and nutrient cycling.

O’Dwyer, T., Carlile, N., O’Neill, L., & Halpin, L. R. (2022). Changing fortunes of the Black-winged Petrel Pterodroma nigripennis following the Lord Howe Island Rodent Eradication Project - interactions with other recovering species. Bird Conservation International, 33. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0959270922000132