On Sunday, 25 May 1997, we conducted a monthly bird-of-prey
survey of Pumicestone Passage.
This lies between Bribie Island and the mainland, about 50 km
north of Brisbane, Queensland and extends for over 30 km from
Sylvan beach at the southern end of Bribie Island to Caloundra
in the north. In the middle there are some very shallow patches,
so the count has to be done at high tide. Even then my little
boat "Tegwane" touches bottom at times.
Departed 1055, returned 1510, after lunch at Mission Point.
Observers: Ian MacRae, Lois MacRae, Helen Horton, Peter Woodall
Weather was excellent, clear skies, warm, slight breeze,
This survey is funded by COASTCARE.
Species seen:
Whistling Brahminy Osprey White-bellied Total
Kite Kite Sea-eagle
NORTH 18 8 13 3 43
SOUTH 20 10 8 1 40
[totals include some unidentified BOPs]
Total numbers similar to previous counts, but more ospreys than
normal.
Other birds - Black Swan, Ea Curlew, Bar-t Godwit, Black-w Stilt, Pied
Oystercatchers, Aus Pelican, etc.
Also seen: Bottle-nose Dolphins (c.6), Dingo (1).
These surveys are confirming my impressions of very high densities of
BOP in the passage. Can anyone match them??
Peter
Dr Peter Woodall email =
Division of Pathobiology
School of Veterinary Science Phone = +61 7 3365 2300
The University of Queensland Fax = +61 7 3365 1355
Brisbane, Qld, Australia 4072 WWW = http://www.uq.edu.au/~anpwooda
"hamba phezulu" (= "go higher" in isiZulu)
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