4.2 Pacific seabird colony database

The Pacific seabird colony database is a record of known seabird colonies in the region by species and location. Data has been collected by a variety of researchers over many years including published and unpublished data and contributed to the database. BirdLife International Pacific collated the original database, and it has now been placed on an interactive platform on SPREPs INFORM data portal. Data can be entered and uploaded via an online form which is then curated (checked and verified for accuracy) by a database management team.

The database currently captures information on over 1000 seabird colonies. There are significant gaps in the colony database in terms of distribution of information across the Pacific. More than 20% of the records come from French Polynesia alone and over half of the colonies across Oceania have not been counted since 2000. For identification of Key Biodiversity Areas this is also a significant gap as data should be no more than 10-12 years old.

There are 10 species of globally threatened seabirds which breed in the region, these are Beck’s Petrel (CR), Fiji Petrel (CR) and Heinroth’s Shearwater (VU) (unknown breeding locations are hampering conservation efforts; Polynesian Storm-petrel (EN), Phoenix Petrel (EN), Henderson Petrel (EN), Fairy Tern (VU), Gould’s Petrel (VU), Vanuatu Petrel (VU) and Collared Petrel (VU). Collecting regular information on the populations and trends and impact of conservation actions should be a priority for this group.

The purpose of the database is to provide a shared resource for both managers and scientists. Managers can use the data to enable reporting on biodiversity assets as part of national reporting obligations. It can also be used to prioritise monitoring needs and to support the development of national seabird plans. Scientists and researchers are encouraged to submit data to the database and to consider supporting Pacific countries with technical assistance in monitoring of seabirds.

It is important to remember that even if a species’ status is not threatened on a global scale, it may be highly threatened on a national scale, i.e., in individual countries. The loss of a species from a country also represents a contraction in range and a loss of biodiversity from that country with all the associated ecosystem benefits. Furthermore, with the looming threat of climate change, every colony is important to help increase the chances of the long term stability of individual species and ecosystem resilience. Pacific seabird colony database

Figure 128. Screenshot of portal open to a data entry. Image supplied by SPREP.