birding-aus

Just how many birds are there?

To: John Tongue <>
Subject: Just how many birds are there?
From: Ian May <>
Date: Thu, 11 Oct 2007 10:38:08 +1100
Hi John

The whole population appeared to be at Binalong Bay last Saturday. In glassy calm conditions, massive rafts of Short-tailed Shearwaters could be seen as far as the eye could see, many of them vigorously diving and filling their bellies to a noticeable bulge. Presently their population on the east coast of Tassie almost defies description and local commercial fisherman are remarking on their exceptional numbers. Having just arrived back in the last two weeks, many birds have very worn primary feathers and with their bulging bellies, in calm conditions, it is reluctantly and with some difficulty they rise from the water when disturbed by a boat.

Regards


Ian


John Tongue wrote:

I know they're a great evening spectacle just at the moment, before they head off to the Antarctic to fatten up for breeding.

John Tongue
Ulverstone, Tas.

On 11/10/2007, at 7:13 AM, Dave Torr wrote:

That's the number that the Handbook of Birds of the World use for
global population and they quote a lot of references for the
shearwater article, so I assume (maybe wrongly!) there is some
justification behind it. Estimate 5.6 million pairs in Tassie.

On 11/10/2007, John Tongue <> wrote:

Hi David et. al.,

I have read where Australia's most prolific bird is the Short-tailed
Shearwater, with numbers estimated around 23 Million - not sure
whether that's just propaganda from the Mutton-birders to justify
their 'harvest' each year???

John Tongue
Ulverstone, Tas.

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