Short tailed shearwaters “wrecked” on Lord Howe Island
In October 2013 we saw large numbers of Short-tailed shearwaters “wrecked” on the beaches at Lord Howe Island. These birds breed on the Bass Strait islands. After breeding they fly north in May, through the Tasman Sea, across the equator, past Japan, past the Aleutian Islands, down past Alaska then fly back to Tasmania. Along […]
Little terns at North Bay
Tour operator Anthony Riddle reported 3 Little Terns at North Bay on 14 October 2013. They stayed on the island until March 2014. They were often seen feeding on the surface in the North Passage, or sitting on North Beach. When they first arrived they were very skittish and it was hard to get within […]
First record of a Rose crowned fruit dove
On 23rd August 2013, eleven-year-old Ethan Kelly spotted this Rose-crowned fruit dove outside his kitchen window. This is a new species record for the island. The bird only was seen on that one day.
Taronga staff trial Woodhen and Currawong holding
In July 2013, four staff from Taronga Zoo Park were here to carry out trial captive holding of Woodhens and Currawongs. As part of the Rodent Eradication project, it will be necessary to catch and hold 200 Woodhens and 100 Currawongs and hold them in captivity on the island to avoid them taking baits or […]
Rare Nankeen night heron sighting
A Nankeen Night heron was observed in the creek bed behind Old Settlement Beach on 16 July. It stayed at least until early December and had been seen at Middle Beach Common, Ned’s Beach headland and Soldiers Creek, as well as the Old Settlement Creek.
Keep Australia Beautiful 2011/12 campaign
Following the filming of the autopsy on the dead Flesh footed shearwater chick at Lord Howe Island in May 2011, I approached Keep Australia Beautiful organization about using this footage to highlight the issue of plastic waste getting into the ocean. They were shocked by the tragic footage where one chick had died from 274 […]
Bird Week – November 2010
Those attending Birdweek November 2010 will be in for a rare treat – the opportunity to see all of the world’s three Tropicbird species. Red-tailed Tropicbirds breed at Lord Howe Island, but for several weeks now the other two – the White-tailed Tropicbird and the Red-billed Tropicbird have been seen around the Island. For the […]
Bird Week – March 2010
Eighteen people took part in Bird week Lord Howe Island that was held in March 2010. As well as the birds, all members were enthusiastic learning about the Island’s geology, flora and marine life. The warm water invited many snorkelling ventures, including two boat trips in the lagoon. A highlight for many was the pelagic […]
A new bird sighting
On Good Friday 2008, during a seabird cruise to Balls Pyramid as part of Birdweek Lord Howe Island, Ian Hutton and Jack Shick sighted a Tahiti Petrel. This is the first record from the Lord Howe Island area. Jack had stopped his boat Noctiluca half way to the Pyramid to berley up seabirds when amongst […]