This very
rare pelagic bird breeds in the Southern Atlantic and Southern Indian Oceans.
It was unknown in the Australian region until a specimen was found in 1926. It
is often seen among the pack ice but seldom seen in Australian seas. However –
this poor bird was caught up in the “perfect storm” being blown across from the
big system in West Australia then caught up in the East Coast low that caused
havoc over the weekend of the 5th and 6th June. It must
have been like being in a big washing machine – scary for a 36cm bird with a
wingspan of 81cm.
 |
| The rare Kerguelen Petrel blown into NSW South Coast shores during a storm. |
He was found
in a backyard at Callala Bay approx 1 1/2 hours south of Wollongong.
Not being
able to identify him from the photos I asked Australian Seabird Rescue team
member Lisa to send photos directly to Lindsay of Southern Ocean Seabird Study
Association (SOSSA) who is an absolute expert on seabirds. Lindsay wanted to
measure the birds feathers etc for absolute identification. So he drove an hour
south (for which I am very grateful) and Lisa drove 45 mins north to meet and
for him to bring the bird back. He of course was correct in his identification
from the photos but found the bird to be only half the weight he should be. Due
to the rarity of the bird Lindsay looked after him through the night but he just
didn’t have any fight left in him and very sadly died quietly. He is now off to
the Australian Museum in Sydney for display.
A great big
thank you to Lisa for collecting and transporting him and Lindsay of SOSSA for
driving south to bring him back and care for him.
It has to
be stressed again the importance of getting these seabirds to specialist care
and identification. Dead birds are invaluable also for research.
Betty.
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