MEETING OF THE WATERS A journey on the marine side of Australia’s Coastal Wilderness

Part 6 –

Australian Gannet

The Birds

The Birds This region is a bird-watcher’s paradise, and birds associated with the ocean, bays and beaches are many. They can be categorized in three groups – those that breed in Bass Strait and make their home here; those that migrate here each year; and those that arrive accidentally or haphazardly blown beyond their ranges by storms. Some are best seen offshore by boat, others can be readily observed from beaches, in estuaries, lagoons and lakes. The birds described are just a few of the conspicuous species that can be seen here, highlighting those with spectacular flight behaviour, the highly visible, those in sheer numbers and the recognizable ‘regulars’. It does not do justice to the extent and diversity of the region’s wonderful avifauna. Keen bird watchers should refer to publications such as “Birds of Southeastern Australia” or try the various visitor centres or National Parks and Wildlife Offices (Merimbula and Narooma) for pamphlets.

Ocean birds Albatross are commonly seen on southern Australian coasts in winter and spring as they escape the cold sub-Antarctic and Antarctic. Albatross breed on the sub-Antarctic Islands. They include the large Wandering Albatross, the Black-browed Albatross and the Yellow-nosed Albatross. These are large seabirds with wide wing-spans. The Wandering Albatross is the largest with a wing-span of up to 3.5 m and weighing up to 8 kg. Albatross can be seen following the wake of boats and large schools of fish, gracefully sweeping and soaring above the waves.

Wandering Albatross

Black Browed Albatross

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Yellow Nosed Albatross

Southern Giant Petrel

Cape Petrel

Petrels are medium to large seabirds that can be seen wheeling in high arcs or gliding. The Southern Giant Petrel is a large brown seabird with a massive pale cream bill, with a greenish tip. It is a scavenger and predator, feeding on live squid, dead penguins and carcasses of beached whales, dolphins and seals. The medium-sized mostly checkered black and white Cape Petrel dives for food, feeding mainly planktonic crustaceans, squid and fish, offal and beached carcasses. Storm Petrels characteristically have rather rounded wings and very long legs. They skip and bounce over the waves often running with wings spread. Most breed in the sub-Antarctic except the White-faced Storm Petrel which breeds in Australian waters.

White-faced Storm Petrel

The Fairy Prion is a medium-sized blue-grey bird with white under parts and black markings on the wings and back. Its flight is distinctive, as it ‘bounces’ over waves, skimming along the surface with its head under the water or swimming just under surface and bobbing up to swallow food.

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Fairy Prion

The Fluttering Shearwater is easily recognized by its flight habit - quick fluttering of the wings and short glides, just skimming the water surface with amazing accuracy. They feed in huge numbers, diving underwater.

Short Tailed Shearwater Sooty Shearwater

Fluttering Shearwater

Short-tailed Shearwaters are migratory species that breed in the summer months in burrows on offshore islands along the southern Australian and Tasmanian coasts. In this region a notable nesting ground is on Montague Island 8 km off Narooma. Over 20 million Short-tailed Shearwaters follow our shoreline each year, en route to their breeding sites. They are heroic world fliers, having travelled from as far away as the Arctic to get to Australian waters, flying a staggering 15,000 km in approximately six weeks. Thousands of shearwaters are seen from our shores. The upwellings of food generated by the convergence of the East Australian Current and cold waters from the Southern Ocean provide them with a valuable meal of krill, squid and fish. After a storm there is often a distressing sight of countless dead birds washed up on our beaches, as they succumb to weakness from the stress of their journey and battering by the storm.

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The shearwater migration occurs from September to April, coinciding with the southern humpback whale migration. From places like Green Cape it’s not uncommon to see whales cruising close to shore with the sky above darkened by thousands of shearwaters, both creatures moving southward together.

Gannets are large white birds with black wing quills and middle tail feathers with a pale yellowish-buff head. Their flight is strong and direct, often low over the water in ‘follow the leader’ style, wing beats alternating with glides. When fishing they make spectacular dives with wings streamlined half shut from up to 50 m, plunging in salvos into schools of fish, especially pilchards and mackerel. Seeing them fish like this is quite an exhilarating experience. They breed in large colonies on rocks off the Victorian and Tasmanian coasts.

Australian Gannets diving

A Gannet preparing to dive

Penguins are flightless seabirds, varying in size from under 0.5 m to 1.2 m. Most are confined to southern oceans. Only one of the world’s 18 species, the Little Penguin, is recorded as breeding in Australian waters. The other 17 species breed on sub-Antarctic islands, the Antarctic coast, South America, South Africa and New Zealand. Most penguins nest in colonies. The Little Penguin (also known as the Fairy Penguin) is medium sized – around 400450mm, steel blue on the back with white under parts, grey bill and pinkish white legs. They travel in small groups in the ocean, feeding on fish, squid and crustaceans. But they nest in very large colonies at several sites along eastern Australian and Tasmania. The Little Penguin nests in burrows under tussocks and rocks. There is a major breeding ground on Montague Island where there is a colony of around 10,000 pairs. They have also been sighted in local waterways, such as Merimbula Lake, but those individuals are usually visitors from Montague Island. You can take a short boat trip to Montague Island from Narooma, or a longer trip from Bermagui. Depending on the time of year, you will not only see

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penguins, but also terns and gulls that also nest on Montague Island. In late spring, in addition to the thousands of penguins, thousands of Crested Terns and Silver Gulls jockey and squabble over nesting burrows on the island. It’s a journey worth taking, not only for the spectacle (and noise) of the birds but also for the colonies of Australian and New Zealand Fur Seals.

Little (Fairy) Penguin Bay birds – Gulls, Terns and Cormorants Cormorants are instantly recognizable – they are the birds that stand and hang out their wings to dry. They are large water birds with long necks and hooked bills and short legs. They often fly in formation. They are a familiar sight around beaches and lagoons and in flight over coastal waters or drying out on jetties and rocks. There are five species in Australia, all found along the coast but only the Black-faced Cormorant is confined to the coast. The others are also found in freshwater habitats. They are various combinations of black and white or all black. They are mainly fish eaters, but also feed on prawns, eels, frogs and insects and have been known to sneak into coastal properties and steal goldfish from ornamental ponds.

Black Faced Cormorant

Pied Cormorant

Black Cormorant

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The Black-faced Cormorant is a large black bird with white under parts. Flight is low over water and dips its feet on take-off. It fishes singly or in flocks from rock, jetties and buoys. It nests on rock stacks, ledges and shelves. The Pied Cormorant looks similar to the Black-faced Cormorant but is distinguishable by its orange-yellow facial skin. It congregates in large flocks that fly in a ‘V’ formation. They are moderately common on sheltered coasts and lakes on mainland Australia. The Black Cormorant is the largest cormorant, distinguishable not only by its size but also its yellow bill and yellow facial skin. It is quite shy, and can be seen roosting on jetties, buoys and sand-spits. It often flies in flocks in a ’V’ formation. It makes a guttural, croaking and coughing sound. Terns and Gulls are conspicuous members of the coastal bird community. Twelve of the 22 Tern species from Australian waters breed in southeastern Australia. Three non-breeding species (White-winged, Common and Arctic) are regular summer visitors from the Northern Hemisphere. Six species (Gull-billed, Caspian, White-fronted, Little, Fairy and Crested terns) have all been recorded as breeding species during summer in southeastern waters.

Silver Gull

Pacific Gull White-winged Black Tern

Arctic Tern

Little Tern

The Little Tern is between 210 – 240 mm, pearl-grey above, white forehead and under parts while the nape, crown and the line between the beak and eye are black. Their flight is swift, buoyant and erratic and they hover before diving. They move in flocks in the summer months, nesting between November and February. The Crested Tern is the bird found nesting on Montague Island with gulls and penguins. It is a medium to large bird, grey with black crown and nape, white forehead and under parts, and a yellow bill. As its name suggests, it has a crest of head feathers. Another distinguishing feature is the deeply forked tail. It congregates in small flocks, often with Silver and Pacific gulls, resting on edges of sheltered water. When feeding, it takes to the air with food in its beak and swallows in mid-air.

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Crested Terns on Montague Island

The Gulls are gregarious birds rarely diving for food, either feeding from the surface or scavenging along the shoreline. The Pacific Gull is large aggressive heavy-billed scavenger. It is generally white with a black back, wings and sub-terminal tail band. Its yellow bill has a red tip. They are often seen with Silver Gulls. Silver Gulls are a very familiar site along coastal Australia, and may be seen well inland where they often breed. They are a grey and white bird with long red legs. Like the Pacific Gulls, they are gregarious, aggressive scavengers that have become accustomed to humans and will ‘beg’ for food. They are excellent fliers and soar beautifully. Immature birds have brownish-grey markings and are notable for their constant squawking at their parents for food. Huge White-bellied Sea Eagles nest on our cliffs and can be seen wheeling over the headlands right along the coast. These magnificent birds fly quite low over the beach and coastal vegetation allowing close inspection.

White Bellied Sea Eagles

Black Swan

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Australian Pelican

Birds of estuaries, lakes and lagoons Cormorants, seagulls, gannets, terns and herons intermingle on all the beaches, all enjoying the protection of our national parks and designated wilderness zones where they are safe from domesticated animals and other threats. A favourite local water bird is the Australian Pelican, with large numbers in lakes and estuaries, particularly Merimbula and Wallaga Lake just north of Bermagui. This very large white bird with a massive pouched bill is a majestic site in flight or simply floating on calm waters. Pelicans and Black Swans can be seen together in large numbers, with many other waders, on Wallaga Lake. To see them quietly floating, reflected on the glassy water at either dawn or dusk is a truly sublime experience. Another distinctive resident is the Pied Oystercatcher, which is found in pairs or small flocks on quiet beaches, mudflats and tidal flats. Wallaga Lake, Wonboyn Lake, Wapengo Lake and Merimbula Lake are good places to see them. Occasionally you will see one of the rare Sooty Oystercatchers with the Pied Oystercatchers. Both oystercatchers have impressive crimson or scarlet beaks designed for prying open molluscs and picking at crustaceans. The beaches along this coast - especially Short Point, Middle Beach Mimosa Rocks National Park and Disaster Bay Beach Wonboyn - are very important nesting areas for the critically endangered Hooded Plovers, These dainty little birds (190-230 mm) can be identified by their distinctive black head, orange beak tipped black and pink legs. This little bird is rare and its numbers are decreasing. One reason is that they lay their eggs directly on the sand which makes the vulnerable to trampling and interference from domestic pets.

Wapengo Lake

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