Memorandum to: The Director of Birds Australia
From: Birds
Australia Rarities Committee (BARC)
Date: 13th
February 2007
Voting Members: Tony
Palliser Mike Carter
Rohan
Clarke Jamie
Matthew
Andrew
Silcocks Danny Rogers
John Hatch Glenn Holmes
cc. Keith
Brandwood
Submission No
490: Broad-billed Prion Pachyptila vittata. Bensville, NSW. 7th June
2006 (Unpublished). Submitted by: Alan Morris
Verdict:
Accepted
This submission relates to a Broad-billed Prion Pachyptila vittata blown ashore during a
storm on the 7th June 2006. It was found in Bensville, NSW approximately 12 km
from the entrance to the sea at Ettalong. The bird died about three hours after
it was found.
The large, broad, dark grey to black bill combined
with the measurements rule out all other Pachyptila
comfortably. Committee members accepted the record unanimously. The broad black
bill is compelling evidence and the biometrics confirm
the identity beyond all doubt.
Although
numerous beach-cast reports exist (HANZAB 1990) this is only fourth confirmed
live record for Australia and a first record for the NSW central coast.
Selected Bibliography:
·
Enticott,
J. & Tipling, D. (1997), Photographic Handbook of the Seabirds of the
World, New Holland, London.
·
Marchant,
S. & Higgins, P.J. (Eds) (1990), Handbook of Australian, New Zealand
& Antarctic Birds. Vol. 1, Ratites to Ducks, Oxford University Press,
Melbourne.
·
Harper,
P.C. (1980), ‘The Field Identification and Distribution of the Prions (genus
Pachyptila), with Particular Reference to the Identification of Storm-cast
Material’, Notornis 27: 235-286.
·
Harrison,
P. (1983), Seabirds: an identification guide, Croom Helm, Beckenham,
Kent.
·
Harrison,
P. (1987), Seabirds of the World: A Photographic Guide, Christopher
Helm, London.
Tony Palliser
Chairman, Birds
Australia Rarities Committee