Hi Birders,
Earlier this month it was reported that the
Queensland Minister for Environment & Heritage said in a press release on 3
November 2000, that of 63 Short-tailed Shearwaters found dead or dying on North
Stradbroke Island and the Gold Coast, 58 died of symptons consistent with oil
toxicity and veterinarians found a black oily substance in the gastro-intestinal
tracts of the birds! Veterinarians working with QPWS & Currumbin Sanctuary
have suggested that the most likely cause of death, despite no oil being found
on the feathers, was oil toxicity.
Other people have suggested that the black-oily substance referred to above
may have been the oils normally found in Shearwater stomachs.
Can anyone advise whether there is further information on the death of the
short-tailed Shearaters in Queensland?
Alan Morris
