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The Grey Petrel Procellaria cinerea is listed as endangered by the Tasmanian Threatened Species Act of 1995 and is considered to be globally Near Threatened.  The species breeds on cool-temperate and sub-Antarctic islands during winter.  Macquarie Island is the only known breeding locality in Australia.

Grey Petrels were first recorded as breeding on Macquarie in 1900 but an 80-year absence followed and they were therefore considered to be no longer present. However, in 1999 three burrows were found with evidence of recently-fledged chicks. The timing of this discovery coincided with the final stages of the cat-eradication programme, suggesting the recolonization of the island by the species.  The last cat was killed in 2000.

Burrowing petrels are vulnerable to introduced mammalian predators, particularly to feral cats Felis catus and rats Rattus spp..  Shortly after the success of the cat eradication an adult bird was found incubating an egg and breeding activity on the island has continued to increase ever since.

The island's three largest colonies are monitored throughout the winter.  2011 has proven to be the most successful year thus far, with 62 chicks in burrows. It is expected that most of these chicks will survive and will fledge from their burrows in October.

Macquarie Island's Grey Petrel population is expected to continue to increase as a result of the recent and ongoing efforts by the Macquarie Island Pest Eradication Project to remove introduced European Rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus and rodents.

News edited from "This Week at Macquarie Island - 02 September 2011".

In contrast, Grey Petrels remain rare at South Africa's now cat-free Marion Island (but they may possibly have always been rare there).

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 4 September 2011