| Birding
On My Own - Australia and New Zealand 2002 Emmalee Tarry |
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Phillips Island |
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The owner of the campground tells me about Forest Cave Beach, a short drive from the campground. When his children were young he saw the burrows there and thought they were Penguin burrows. Thinking he could save the cost of admission to the Penguin Parade, he took the kids there one evening to wait for the Penguins. None came. Later he figured out these were Mutton Birds or Short-tailed Shearwaters. The only penguin colony at Phillips Island is at the far end surrounding the visitors center. There are several Mutton Bird colonies along the island.
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This is a view of Forest Cave Beach Park from the road. The
boardwalk and stairs climb the sandy ridge that separates the beach on the far
side from the farm and the road. The Short-tailed Shearwater colony covered
both sides of the ridge on either side of the boardwalk. The small building in the parking lot is a solar toilet for the public beach.. The only protection for the birds is a sign asking people to stay on the boardwalk and not climb on the dunes. |
| I visited Forest Cave Beach in the afternoon and photographed
this burrow by the boardwalk. It is October and the first shearwaters mostly males return to the colony to establish dominion over and clean out old burrows. First time breeders are trying to find burrows either by taking over unclaimed burrows or digging new ones. Competition for burrows can be fierce. Breeding will start in November. I saw a pair of Hooded Plovers on the beach here in the afternoon. |
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That evening I went back to Forest Cave Beach arriving about 6 PM. Three surf fishermen were assembling their gear in the parking lot. I climbed the stairs to the viewing platform overlooking the ocean. It was a beautiful, clear evening with gentle waves on a rising tide. While I waited I watched the fishermen surf casting and I can understand why they enjoy their hobby.
A small black-backed Albatross made two passes parallel to the beach. A Silver Gull watched the fishermen who didn't seem to be catching much. About 6:40 I see the first Shearwaters circling over the ocean too far from shore to see with the naked eye. As it got darker, the shearwaters came in closer until they circled back and forth just beyond the surf.
Not until it was totally dark did the first bird swoop over the land. It was soon joined by several other birds. Standing at the top of the dark ridge, they were flying back and forth over my head. I was impressed by how much larger they looked overhead then when you see them from a boat. They fly over the land just like they do at sea. A little wing flutter is followed by long glides on stiff wings.
A rustle of the dry grass means that one has landed. Then another. Soon they are landing all around me. I had a flashlight (torch) and tried to find them in the grass with no luck. I suspect that the birds at the top of the ridge are the more dominant and experienced of the colony. They must land and go into the burrow immediately. The sky is filled with swooping birds. On either side I hear grunts and groans from the burrows.
After a time a great cacophony of high pitched squabbling comes from the burrows at the bottom of the boardwalk. I walked down the stairs. There are birds everywhere. Some are flopping around with wings spread chasing and jumping up on other birds. Others are just sitting at the entrance of the burrow. I use my torch cautiously not shining it in the birds eyes, but keeping it above them. One bird is digging furiously under a bush. I watch him until he is out of sight in his new burrow. Only flying sand indicates he is in there still working away.
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I took a few pictures using my flashlight and the small flash
on my camera. I tried only a few and they didn't come out too great. I do not
want to do anything to disturb these beautiful birds. I watch for an hour or so
before leaving for the campground. The fishermen are still out there.
This was the most thrilling experience of my trip. I would like to spend several months here watching this colony every night. The next morning I went back to Forest Cave Beach and found that one of the shearwaters had tried to dig a new burrows in the path. You can see the fresh footprints in the sand. This bird may have started digging here after I left and was later scared off by the fishermen returning to their cars. |
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