Chapter 3 North Carolina Species
The South Atlantic Migratory Bird Initiative (SAMBI) Pelagic Bird Conservation Plan (SAMBI 2008) and the Southeastern Waterbird Conservation Plan (Hunter et al. 2006) are resources that identify conservation and management actions for pelagic bird species in the southeastern United States. While outdated, these plans identify information on ecology and status, priority species, species suites, and habitat requirements, population issues, habitat issues, implementation recommendations and opportunities, conservation strategies, inventory and monitoring needs, research needs, education and outreach needs, and potential partners. The following sections highlight specific conservation issues related to pelagic seabird SGCN and their habitats. This is not an exhaustive list of species-specific conservation concerns but rather highlights some of the concerns to species that occur in North Carolina’s offshore waters. Recommendations for priority survey, monitoring, and research studies, conservation actions, and partnerships are outlined in Section 3.11.7. 3.11.2 Conservation Concerns Table 3-20 (Appendix 3) provides a list of SGCN pelagic seabirds based on USFWS, NOAA, and Atlantic Coast Joint Venture priorities. Three seabird species are federally protected by the ESA: Roseate Tern (two distinct populations), Black-capped Petrel, and Bermuda Petrel. Two SGCN species are listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as endangered (Bermuda Petrel, Black-capped Petrel). A taxon is listed by IUCN as endangered when the best available evidence indicates that it meets any of the evaluation criteria and is therefore considered to be facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild. IUCN evaluation criteria can be found online at https://www.iucnredlist.org/resources/categories-and-criteria. The 2025 State of the Birds (NABCI 2025) report notes American seabird populations are in steep decline. Seabird colonies in low-lying islands are at risk from rising sea levels. Marine heatwaves are disrupting food sources, mortality from bycatch, habitat loss, infectious diseases (i.e., highly pathogenic avian influenza), and microplastic pollutions are contributing to the population declines. Band-rumped Storm Petrel, Bermuda Petrel, and Black-capped Petrel are red-alert tipping point species with extremely low populations and steep declining trends (NABCI 2025) . The South Atlantic Migratory Bird Initiative (SAMBI 2008) is a conservation planning process to implement the Atlantic Coast Joint Venture (ACJV) and a partnership of federal, state, non- governmental, and private organizations and individuals. The SAMBI Integrated Approach to Conservation of All Birds Across All Habitats (Watson et al. 2005) and the Southeast United States regional waterbird conservation plan (Hunter et al. 2006) are key resources that identify conservation and management actions for pelagic bird species in the southeastern United States. Bird Conservation International published a global assessment of seabird conservation status, threats, and priority actions (Croxall et al. 2012) . These resources are dated but provide relevant information on ecology and status, priority species, species suites, habitat requirements, population issues, habitat issues, implementation recommendations and
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2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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