http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s1119348.htm
Monday, May 31, 2004. 11:22am (AEST)
Australian scientist helps in rare bird rescue bid
The Carribean island state of Bermuda has asked an Australian
scientist to help rescue a rare bird, the Bermuda petrel.
Thought extinct for 300 years, 18 breeding pairs were found on a tiny
rock islet off Bermuda in the early 1950s.
Although no other species of seabird is known to have survived from
such small numbers, the petrels somehow managed to weather cyclones and
deadly attacks from much larger birds to reach 70 breeding pairs.
Australian wildlife specialist Nick Carlile from Illawarra in New
South Wales will try to take some of the chicks to an easier home at
nearby Nonsuch Island.
"Our Australian program has seen a dramatic rise in bird numbers in a
short period of time so we are hopeful that we can urgently replicate
its success with the Bermuda Petrel, after all no-one wants to see this
magnificent seabird end up like the Dodo," Mr Carlile said.
The recovery of the Australian Gould's petrel has brought it back
from the brink of extinction, with only 200 breeding pairs, to 900
breeding pairs by last estimates.
Fourteen of the 29 Bermuda petrel chicks expected to be born this
year will be introduced to Nonsuch Island.
"We will be replicating a lot of the techniques used successfully in
the Australian scheme but also taking into account the unique
conditions in Bermuda," Mr Carlile said.
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