Greg et al,
I am quite interested in what it is that makes this island so good for
breeding. I have no training in marine science or geomorphology, so I
only ever guess. But I am guessing that the coincidence of the island
so close to the mainland makes the
seabed different from the surrounding coastline. Also being so close to the Tweed mouth, which
delivers nutrients and cloudy water, which attract the abundance of
baitfish upon which the adult Crested Terns feed their young. I have
watched endless streams of small fish being delivered by adults to
nests on the island.
But as I understand it, it requires an extra ingredient to bring the
baitfish to the surface for the terns to access them - predator fish. I
wonder if the table fish sport is good at the mouth of the Tweed. I
haven't noticed boats hanging around there all that much.
Perhaps there is someone on the list with the deep knowledge to throw
light on the factors which make this island so suitable for Crested
Tern breeding.
If this thread prompts people to take
a look, I suggest that viewing is better during the afternoon, as
morning gives only you a blinding view into the sunrise over the
island. I'll be going through there on Saturday, but I don't expect to
find much activity.
Greg, can you recall what month it was when you saw the 2000 Common
Terns?
Cheers,
Jill
Jill Dening
Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
26° 51' 41"S 152° 56' 00"E
Greg & Val Clancy wrote:
Hi John,
Cook Island is a nature reserve
managed by DECC (National Parks & Wildlife Service) and an entry
permit is required to land on the Island. You should check with the
Murwillumbah office of Parks & Wildlife (DECC) beforehand.
The Australian Bird Bander and its
morph 'Corella' have published a number of items on Seabird Islands
over the years. In 1973 an article on Cook Island was published. The
breeding seabirds listed were the Wedge-tailed Shearwater and Crested
Tern. Other seabirds recorded were
the Silver Gull, Great Cormorant and Eastern Reef Egret.
I did observe 2,000+ Common Terns
off the edge of the Island in 1994.
Regards
Greg Clancy
-----
Original Message -----
Sent:
Monday, March 02, 2009 9:56 PM
Subject:
Re: [Birding-Aus] Cook island, Tweed heads
Hi John,
Unfortunately I can't say I have been on the island, but I can say that
it's a significant site for Crested Tern breeding. There won't be any
breeding there now, as the juveniles arrive on the mainland from the
last week of January onwards. I have seen several thousand Cresteds
there at peak breeding, but always only through the scope. I am pretty
sure that gulls also breed there.
Do please post publicly when you have paddled across, as I am very
interested to learn what is there.
Cheers,
Jill
Jill Dening
Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
26° 51' 41"S 152° 56' 00"E
john hammond wrote:
Hi all.... Has anybody on the forum ever been over to cook island off Fingal heads. I have sat on the cliff at Fingal a couple of times wondering what the hundreds of birds flying over the island were, and i am thinking of paddling over there at easter. Its a fair old paddle over so i wouldnt mind having some idea on what to expect bird wise. Thanks for the help.....John
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