I have just returned from an intensive 20-day search for the White-chested
White-eye - none was seen, heard or suspected and I conclude that it is
extinct. The other endemic birds are easy to find in the National Park,
although the Green Parrots (Norfolk Island/ Tasman Parakeets) are heard far
more often than seen. The long-established feral species are common although
the Mallard are all hybrids. There was a scatter of migrant shorebirds,
especially at the beginning of the trip, including a Little Curlew. There
were many displaying and nesting seabirds all of the islands including tens
of Black-winged Petrels displaying over rocky headlands on Norfolk itself
but the only Little Shearwaters seen were wrecked, usually dead, birds. I
spent two days on Phillip Island, where I saw about a thousand Black-winged
Petrels, six White-necked Petrels and a single Kermadec Petrel. I would be
very grateful for any recent records (confirmed or suspected) of
White-chested White-eye, or any counts or estimated numbers of breeding
seabirds.
Guy Dutson
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