Memorandum to:         The Director of Birds Australia

 

From:                           Birds Australia Rarities Committee (BARC)

 

Date:                            24th July 2007

 

 

Voting Members:         Andrew Silcocks            Glenn Holmes

Mike Carter                   John Hatch

                                    Tony Palliser                 Jamie Matthew

                                    Rohan Clarke                 Danny Rogers

                       

cc.                                                       

 

 

Submission No. 499: Westland Petrel Procellaria westlandica, Off Southport, QLD (27º 52.87’S 153º 48.58’E), 19th August 2006. Submitted by: Paul Walbridge

 

Verdict: Accepted

 

This submission concerns the sighting of a bird at sea off Southport, SE Queensland on the 19th August 2006. The bird was attracted to berley allowing close viewing and photographic opportunities.

 

Careful analysis of size, combined with all dark plumage and bill colour, in particular the ungues, which were entirely blackish, extending from the maxillary unguis along the culmen to the nasal tubes provided ample evidence to eliminate the very similar Black Petrel P. parkinsoni.

 

With an excellent series of photographs supporting the claim members voted unanimously in favour of acceptance, convinced that the size (quoted in the submission as 25 - 30% larger than Wedge-tailed Shearwater) and the dark unguis eliminated P. parkinsoni

 

This is the 4th record of Westland Petrel to be accepted by BARC and the first for Queensland although as pointed out in the submission there are two previous records of beachcast birds from Fraser Island, Qld. Both were from 75 Mile Beach the first near Poyungan Rocks, 24 June 1997 and the second near Dundabbura, 14 September 1997. The latter was found alive but subsequently died and is retained as a specimen  QMO.31184.

 

 

References and Bibliography:

 

·       Enticott, J. & Tipling, D. 1977. Photographic Handbook of the Seabirds of the World, New Holland, London.

·       Harrison, P. 1983. Seabirds: an Identification Guide. Croom Helm, Kent.

·       Harrison, P. 1989. Seabirds of the World: A Photographic Guide. Christopher Helm, London.

·       Marchant, S. & P.J. Higgins. (Eds). 1990. Handbook of Australian, New Zealand & Antarctic Birds, Volume 1 (part A). Oxford University Press, Melbourne.

 

 

Tony Palliser

Chairman, Birds Australia Rarities Committee