birding-aus

Short-tailed Shearwater wreck in Port Melbourne

To: Tim Jones <>
Subject: Short-tailed Shearwater wreck in Port Melbourne
From: Tom Tarrant <>
Date: Sun, 10 Nov 2013 18:06:05 +1000
Discussed the same thing with Nikolas Haas this weekend, surely a
*possibility* of correlation with these ranges, has anyone tested the
corpses for increased radiation levels?

Tom

On Sun, Nov 10, 2013 at 2:55 PM, Tim Jones <> wrote:

> I wonder if the stuff I have read about regarding potential ecological
> disaster in the pacific linked to Fukushima has anything to do with this.
> After all this seems to relate to a large part of their wintering range?
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> > On 10 Nov 2013, at 4:59 pm, "Debbie Lustig" <>
> wrote:
> >
> > The same thing was happening at St Kilda on the same day (Saturday
> 9/11), albeit on a slightly smaller scale. The strong birds were gliding
> and swooping over the waves while the rest either bobbed about, resting,
> doing nothing to avoid the numerous kite-surfers, or lay dead on the sand.
> I watched one weak bird pounded and dragged about in the waves for a while,
> and felt that it was worth trying to rescue. I sought help from an animal
> rescue professional. He arrived and we debated the options of who to take
> it to. Several phone calls later, we learned the following:
> > Melbourne Zoo and the DEPI's protocol is to euthanise any ST Shearwaters
> > A Frankston carer had 40 ailing birds handed in and none survived longer
> than three hours. Apparently, they can't handle the stress of being rescued
> and being in captivity
> > All the birds handed in were well below their normal weight and had
> breastbones 'like razors' ie they were wasted and starving
> > There are some wildlife rehab people who specialise in seabirds but none
> near the inner city beaches
> > Someone in St Kilda (illegally) rescued two birds, which died soon after
> > None of this should put people off trying to rescue other injured birds.
> The hard part can be finding an experienced carer to nurse them back to
> health. All vets are supposed to at least assess injured or sick animals
> and hopefully send them to an appropriate wildlife carer. Or you can try
> Wildlife Victoria, who do a good job but are overworked.
> > I share Richard's sadness at this awful situation, and wish we could
> help. But it seems we can't. All I can suggest is we go out and watch the
> birds that are still capable of flight, and enjoy the spectacle of them
> while we can. If I'm not mistaken, you need to get right out on the ocean
> to see ST Shearwaters, normally.
> >
> >
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-- 
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Tom Tarrant
Kobble Creek, Qld

http://www.aviceda.org
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