As someone who has studied STSH for more than 8 years I find this article
inaccurate and alarmist. First, STSH are crustacean specialists (krill). They
only take "fish" in small amounts (and in my experience only at certain times
of the the year i.e. provisioning chicks in Jan to March with post larval
fish). Cephalopods make up the rest of the diet. Secondly, female birds are
absolutely not carrying eggs on migration. STSH breeding biology is well known
- birds arrive at their colony in late Sept/Oct. They copulate in late Oct and
exit on their 3 week honeymoon period in late Oct to Nov. 85% of eggs are laid
3 days either side of the 25/26 Nov.
Wrecks of varying degrees occur every single year. This wreck isn't anything
unusual. Every year there were hundreds, if not thousands of dead and dying
birds on Flinders Island, Tasmania. No population declines have been recorded
at these colonies but studies are continuing. The population still stands at 23
million breeding birds and Skira et al. did suggest they were increasing!
My tracking data suggests it takes an average of 18 days for STSH to cross the
Pacific back to their colonies. There's no indication that they feed during
this time so adequate body reserves are critical to complete the journey.
Encountering bad weather, adverse winds or no wind will absolutely affect a
birds ability to successfully make the trip back.
Thankfully these birds are long-lived and have an opportunity to replace
themselves in the population. The oldest banded STSH recorded is ~49 years old
(See ABBBS website). If we start seeing wide spread declines over the breeding
range then it's time to be concerned. Unfortunately, there's too few colonies
studies adequately at present.
Cheers,
Mark
> From:
> To:
> Date: Thu, 31 Oct 2013 05:16:22 +1100
> CC:
> Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] more dead Short-tailed Shearwaters
>
> A possibly related article in today's Age:
> http://www.theage.com.au/environment/-2wgzd.html
>
> Muttonbirds are dying in their thousands nearly every year and much more
> frequently than ever before, washing up on the coast from Coffs Harbour to
> Tasmania.
>
> On South Melbourne and Port Melbourne beaches on Wednesday beach cleaning
> contractor David Martinez picked up more than 150 short-tailed shearwater
> birds, a species of muttonbird. One day last week, he picked up a similar
> number.
>
> At Lord Howe Island this month, 200 shearwater birds washed up for the first
> time in many years, Monash University seabird biologist Jennifer Lavers said.
> These deaths en masse, known as "wrecks", have been reported along the coast
> from Coffs Harbour to Tasmania, she said.
>
> The short-tailed shearwater birds migrate 10,000 kilometres from the Bering
> Sea, between Alaska and Japan, to Australian shores in late September to
> nest. Dr Lavers said they have eaten little on their journey and are
> exhausted by the flight.
>
> She said it was normal for wrecks to occur every 10 years, and this usually
> indicated a particularly "poor year" for the birds with storms or no fish
> available on arrival. However, major wrecks had occurred every second year
> since 2007, pointing to a wider problem, she said.
>
> "We need to start asking the question of what is going on in the marine
> environment," Dr Lavers said.
>
> "This isn't just a hiccough. This isn't just a freak event. It is not just
> that the fish have decided to relocate themselves for one or two years or
> three years. This is obviously an indication of a much wider problem."
>
> Dr Lavers said the birds started washing up on the beach in late September.
> By this time, the female birds are often carrying their only egg for the year
> and journey to sea to hunt for food with breeding males. Dr Lavers
> hypothesised that they may have failed to find fish and this may have
> contributed to the deaths.
>
> "You don't want to lose your adult breeders. It spells trouble for species,"
> she said.
>
> Department of Environment and Primary Industries senior biodiversity officer
> Mandy Watson said in a statement that the feed available in the northern
> summer could affect the birds' journey as well as storms.
>
> "Stormy weather and strong winds make it difficult for birds if they are
> already in poor condition from the long migration and this can be enough to
> cause their death," Ms Watson said.
>
> "It is common for large numbers of short-tailed shearwaters not to make it."
>
> Dr Lavers agreed that weather could play a role.
>
> "Heavy winds will do great things to them, but is it just the wind? I would
> say no," she said.
>
> Weather bureau forecaster Andrea Peace confirmed that Melbourne Airport wind
> records since 1971 show October had been the equal windiest month on record,
> based on average winds. The average wind speed was 23 km/h for the month.
>
> Dr Lavers said there were many bird rescue groups in Melbourne and advised
> untrained beachgoers not to touch them. She said that even after a long
> journey they were often "feisty" and could leave bloody gashes on hands and
> arms.
>
> Ms Watson said all native wildlife was protected in Victoria. "Because of the
> risk of being bitten or any disease the birds may carry unqualified people
> should avoid handling the birds if possible," she said.
>
> Anyone who sees sick or injured wildlife is advised to call the department on
> 136 138 or RACV Wildlife Connect on 13 1111.
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
> > On 30 Oct 2013, at 2:57 pm, "Chris Sanderson" <>
> > wrote:
> >
> > Hi Philip,
> >
> > I know someone that has autopsied quite a few Short-tailed Shearwaters that
> > have been wrecked and they have all had some plastic in their gut, though
> > this doesn't prove a link between their death and the plastic.
> >
> > Cheers,
> > Chris
> >
> >
> > On Wed, Oct 23, 2013 at 6:35 PM, Philip Veerman <>wrote:
> >
> >> This has always happened. Do you know if they are also vulnerable to eating
> >> plastic rubbish? As are some other sea birds. If so, surely that would
> >> drastically increase the natural problems of being exhausted and
> >> underweight. If they are found dead, this could be investigated or maybe
> >> already has been............. I don't know.
> >>
> >> Philip
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From:
> >> On Behalf Of Janine Duffy
> >> Sent: Wednesday, 23 October 2013 3:42 PM
> >> To: Birding-aus
> >> Subject: [Birding-Aus] more dead Short-tailed Shearwaters
> >>
> >>
> >> There are several dead or dying Short-tailed Shearwaters on my local beach,
> >> Port Melbourne. I have one in care right now (weight 420g). There are
> >> also
> >> about 20 near shore, still alive and swimming, but probably exhausted and
> >> underweight. I was on Kerferd Rd pier earlier watching them, and on a whim
> >> asked the nearby fisherman for a fish scrap. I threw it to the nearest
> >> shearwater, which took it readily.
> >>
> >> I don't know if this is appropriate or not, but is it worth trying to
> >> prevent a few deaths by looking out for exhausted but still living birds
> >> near piers or boats and offering food (fish)? Surely these still living
> >> birds have the best chance of recovery - waiting until they wash up and
> >> rushing them to overworked wildlife carers is a bit like closing the door
> >> after the horse has bolted.
> >>
> >> Also, could Vic birders check their local beaches for beach-washed, still
> >> living birds? They are vulnerable to dog attack if left on the beach. A
> >> cardboard box with a towel is a good transport option. Take to local
> >> wildlife carer, or vet. Call wildlife victoria 13 000 94535 or Aware
> >> (Frankston area) on 0412 433 727 .
> >>
> >> Janine
> >>
> >> --
> >>
> >>
> >> JANINE DUFFY Director Marketing ECHIDNA WALKABOUT PO Box 370 Port
> >> Melbourne,
> >> Victoria 3207 AUSTRALIA
> >> E: Web: www.echidnawalkabout.com.au
> >> <http://www.echidnawalkabout.com.au/>
> >> Ph: +61 (0)3 9646 8249 Mob: +61 (0)427 808 747 Fax: +61 (0)3 9681 9177
> >> OPERATIONS & GROUP enquiries contact: Roger
> >> <> Smith
> >> <> Director Operations A.B.N. 72 716
> >> 985 505
> >>
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