Chick Sooty Shearwater
46th ANNUAL ASSESSMENT OF SHEARWATER BREEDING SUCCESS ON MONTAGU ISLAND, 25 - 30 MARCH 2005
Michael A. Crowley, Peter J. Fullagar, Petrus C. Heyligers and Amy L. Jorgensen
Format of this report and the abbreviations used therein are consistent with those in previous annual reports (e.g. Fullagar et al. 2004). The study area on the south-eastern side of the smaller northern part of Montagu Island is known as NISA (293 square m); the two study areas at the northern end of the southern part are known as SISA (428 square m) and THISA (third study area; 293 square m). Their position is shown on the maps in the report on the size of the shearwater breeding population on Montagu Island (Fullagar and Heyligers 1998). The bird records for the island have been reviewed by Fullagar (1989). Names of vascular plants follow those used by Heyligers and Adams (1989, 2004).
Weather and Habitat Conditions
We were delayed in our departure for two days by strong southerly winds and heavy seas but throughout the survey we had mostly sunny weather with favourable wind conditions. The survey started on the 25th March with the investigation of THISA when we were sheltered from the residual southerlies. The next day, when we worked on SISA, the wind had turned to the south-west. During the third day, when we surveyed NISA, we were protected from a northerly breeze and it actually was quite hot on the study area. We could not have wished for better! During the last three days we walked along the fringes of North and South Island, respectively and assessed of the birdlife around the dense stands of Coastal Wattle Acacia longifolia var. sophorae, which had reached heights of two to three metres since they were planted in 2002.
The vegetation was in good condition, but unlike last year Black Nightshade Solanum nigrum s.l. was not so obvious among the Spiny-headed Mat-rush Lomandra longifolia and the Bracken Pteridium esculentum, while the ground cover species Scurvy Grass Commelina cyanea and Kidney Weed Dichondra repens were occupying larger patches than usual. In SISA the mat-rush tussocks previously smothered by Kikuyu Grass Pennisetum clandestinum had regained their old vigour and there was no sign of kikuyu regrowth. However, the continued advance of Rambling Dock Acetosa sagitta in this study area and on THISA may in due time again suppress the growth of mat-rush.
Front row: Mike, Vanesa, Sophie and David
Back row: Peter, Phil, Amy and Petrus
This year’s team comprised a record number of eight people: Sophie Hall-Aspland, Vanessa Place and Phillip Kingston; Amy Jorgensen (Charles Sturt University and National Parks and Wildlife Service of NSW); David Priddel (National Parks and Wildlife Service of NSW); and Michael Crowley, Peter Fullagar and Petrus Heyligers (MIPartners).
Adult Short-tailed Shearwater
We found 51, 10 and17 Wedge-tailed Shearwater Puffinus pacificus chicks and 26, 20 and 57 Short-tailed Shearwater P. tenuirostrischicks on the three study areas NISA, SISA and THISA respectively. Although these counts were lower than those of the previous breeding season, they were mostly above the long-term averages of 30, 12 and 9 Wedge-tailed Shearwater chicks and 34, 17 and 55 Short-tailed Shearwater chicks, respectively, from these same three study areas. One Sooty Shearwater P. griseus chick was found on THISA. The highest number of chicks of this species ever recorded for any one survey was in 1973, when five chicks were found on SISA. In general, the condition of the chicks was not as good as last year and although there were a few chicks with a very high body weight, many more were still quite light. Also, most of the chicks were still completely covered in down.
There are signs that the shearwater colony is expanding. In November 2004 ALJ found burrows with Wedge-tailed Shearwaters west of the large rock outcrop on which the light station stands, while on the last day of our visit she discovered two short-tailed shearwater chicks south of the large cove on the eastern side of South Island. These chicks occupied tunnels between the dense mat of herbicide-killed kikuyu grass and the soil surface rather than ‘proper’ burrows. This particular location harboured a small outlier Short-tailed Shearwater colony in the 1980s (Fullagar et al. 1991), but was later abandoned. Another remarkable record pertains to a Wedge-tailed Shearwater chick found on the surface under a mat-rush tussock on 29th November 2004 by ALJ. The nest was located on the S side of North Island and was discovered during a Little Penguin Eudyptula minor transect survey. This would imply an extremely early egg lying date for Montagu Island where as a rule egg laying by this species starts in mid November and generally coincides with the highly synchronous laying date of the Short-tailed Shearwater (Serventy 1963).
Working THISA - Kingo, Sophie, Vanessa and Dave
Mike and Petrus processing a chick
N side of SISA. Cliff top to the left
The middle distance was once infested with Kikuyu grass
The system of ropes used to delineate grid squares for mapping purposes can be seen
Another view along the N side of SISA and the area once infested with Kikuyu grass
View N across the gulch from SISA to the cliff face below NISA.
Peregrine Falcons regularly nest on this cliff face
View S from near to NISA across the gulch.
SISA is in the middle with its lower edge near the cliff top
Mike and Phil at the end of work on NISA
Birds
Apart from observations made while on the study plots we explored North Island on the 28th before a strong southerly wind arrived at midday and South Island in pleasant conditions on the 29th.
Little Penguin Eudyptula minor. Little recent activity ashore except for evidence of some late breeding birds. No counts of birds coming ashore in the evenings were made. Few calling birds heard overnight but some occasionally heard at sea during the day.
Black-browed Albatross Thallasarche melanophris. Adult seen E of South Island on 25th in strong southerly conditions.
Yellow-nosed Albatross Thallasarche chlororhynchos. One seen on 25th E of South Island in strong southerly conditions and probably another NW of North Island in the late morning on 29th.
and one during crossing to Narooma on 30th.
Wedge-tailed Shearwater Puffinus pacificus, Sooty Shearwater P. griseus and Short-tailed Shearwater P. tenuirostris. See text above. Only small numbers of Wedge-tails and Short-tails seen at sea in daytime.
Fluttering Shearwater Puffinus gavia. Two seen 28th flying S off North Island.
Australasian Gannet Morus serrator. Small numbers seen every day both adult and immatures. 400 birds seen feeding SE of island on 30th June 2004 (Amy Jorgensen).
Red-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon rubricauda. One adult flew high over the North Island about 1100hr on 27th and continued S.
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo. Seen every day but few present with maximum number of 13 seen on rocks near South landing at midday 29th.
White-faced Heron Egretta novaehollandiae. One seen flying SW over north end of South Island on 27th.
Eastern Reef Egret Egretta sacra. One seen near South landing on 28th.
Cattle Egret Ardea ibis. Observed on three occasions; two at S end of South Island on 25th and again on 28th and one at N end of North Island on 28th.
Ospey Pandion haliaetus. One adult female seen flying S off the W shoreline in the early morning of 29th.
Black-shouldered Kite Elanus axillaries. One hawking over South Island on 29th.
Whistling Kite Haliastur sphenurus. One bird seen every day both on North and South Island.
White-bellied Sea-Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster. Observed every day with a maximum of 5 individuals; aged as two adults, one near adult, one 2nd year and one first year.
Swamp Harrier Circus approximans. No more than one bird observed most days on North Island.
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus. One male seen on 27th and 30th. Breeding success this season confirmed by observation of one flying young with two adults on 28th November 2004 (Amy Jorgensen).
Nankeen Kestrel Falco cenchroides. Male present on South Island.
Male Nankeen Kestrel
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres. Two seen at north landing 12th October 2004 (Amy Jorgensen).
Sooty Oystercatcher Haematopus fuliginosus. Maximum of six birds seen. Three birds on rockshelf on N side of North Island on 27th and 3, including an immature individual, on SE corner of South Island on 29th with a conspicuous feeding midden nearby.
Silver Gull Larus novaehollandiae. Small numbers observed at sea every day. About 50 were present on rocks adjacent to the seal haul-out site on W side of North Island on 28th.
Caspian Tern Sterna caspia. One seen 26th and 27th in gulch and again one seen off N end of North Island on 28th.
Crested Tern Sterna bergii. Few seen at sea and 3 present with gulls near the seals on 28th.
Common Tern Sterna hirundo. At least twenty seen at north landing on 26th October 2004 (Amy Jorgensen).
Pallid Cuckoo Cuculus pallidus. One seen near graveyard on 12th October 2004 (Amy Jorgensen).
Grey Fantail Rhipidura fuliginosa. One in ravine NE side of North Island on 28th and another in Pohutakawa at lightstation same day.
Australian Pipit Anthus novaeseelandiae. No more than one seen. Most often found on mown lawns in area near the shed N of lightstation.
Australian Pipit
Little Grassbird Megalurus gramineus. Calls heard occasionally and seen a few times. Appeared to be widespread on both islands.
Golden-headed Cisticola Cisticola exilis. Not vocal and difficult to detect but a few birds evidently present.
Silvereye Zosterops lateralis. Small party heard during the day on 27th. Not observed on 28th or 29th.
Mammals
House Mice Mus musculus were present and conspicuous in the lighthouse buildings. Seen also at the well in the garden area on 28th and at the S end of South Island on 29th. No European Rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus were observed and no sign of activity was noted.
Counts on 28th of Australian Fur Seals Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus on the haul-out site on the headland at the south end of Pebble Beach on the W side of North Island gave a minimum figure of 126 individuals. A large pup considered to be a year old individuals was amongst them. Three other adults were seen off the N side of North Island and one more near the old haul-out site on the NE side of North Island. An individual was hauled out on rocks S of the South landing on the 29th. No obvious New Zealand Fur Seals Arctocephalus forsteri were identified.
Fur Seals on west side of North Island - south arm of Pebble Beach 
Adults with a youngster that scrambles into view
Few skinks were seen and none were identified to species.
Acknowledgments
We are indebted to the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service for hospitality while on the island and thank Ross Constable for assistance with transport. The efficient contribution of the other team members has in no small measure contributed to the speed and success of the survey this year and is gratefully acknowledged.
References
Fullagar, P.J. (1989). The birds of Montagu Island, NSW. Nature in Eurobodalla 2:27-35.
Fullagar, P. J. & Heyligers, P. C. (1998). Montagu Island shearwater population survey March 1997. M I Partners Report No. 7 (iv + 10 pp).
Fullagar, P. J., Davey, C. C., van Tets, G. F. and Heyligers, P. C. (1991). Is the Short-tailed Shearwater colonizing New South Wales? Nature in Eurobodalla 5, 51-56.
Fullagar, P. J., Perkins, H. D. and Heyligers P.C. (2004). 45th annual assessment of shearwater breeding success on Montagu Island, 26-29 March 2004. Nature in Eurobodalla 18: 57-63.
Heyligers P.C. and Adams L.G. (1989). Vascular flora of Montagu Island, NSW. Nature in Eurobodalla 2: 36-40.
Heyligers, P.C. and Adams L.G. (2004). Flora and vegetation of Montagu Island – past and present. Cunninghamia 8(3): 285-305.
Serventy, D. L. (1963). Egg-laying time-table of the Slender-billed Shearwater, Puffinus tenuirostris. Proceedings XIII International Ornithological Congress 1, 338-343.
