Seasonal and decadal changes in seabird abundance in inshore waters at subantarctic Macquarie Island

Land-based surveys at Macquarie Island reveal significant inter-annual variation in the diversity and abundance of non-breeding seabirds visiting inshore waters, with notable increases in breeding petrel populations following invasive species eradication. The study, comparing data from 2017–2018 and 2022–2023 against a baseline of 2002–2003, documented 41 out of 43 seabird species observed during the baseline period. Nocturnal spotlight surveys also uncovered the first mainland colonies of Common Diving-petrels on Macquarie Island and provided circumstantial evidence for storm-petrel recolonization. While less reliable for detecting changes in penguin abundance or smaller seabirds like prions, diving-petrels, and storm-petrels, these surveys offer valuable insights for marine spatial planning and regional environmental trend monitoring, complementing established on-island studies.

Bird, J. P., Travers, T. D., & McInnes, J. C. (2025). Seasonal and decadal changes in seabird abundance in inshore waters at subantarctic Macquarie Island. Emu - Austral Ornithology, 125(2), 108–122. https://doi.org/10.1080/01584197.2025.2478028