Memorandum to:         The Director of Birds Australia

 

From:                           Birds Australia Rarities Committee (BARC)

 

Date:                            13th November 2007

 

 

Voting Members:         Andrew Silcocks            Glenn Holmes

Mike Carter                   John Hatch

                                    Tony Palliser                 Jamie Matthew

                                    Rohan Clarke                 Danny Rogers

                       

cc.                                                       

 

 

Submission No. 513: Westland Petrel Procellaria westlandica, Narrabeen, NSW, 23rd December 2006. Submitted by: Chris Brandis

 

Verdict: Accepted

 

This submission concerns the live recovery of a bird found at the Narrabeen Fire Station on the 26th December 2006. The bird was rehabilitated by staff at Taronga zoo and subsequently released at sea off Wollongong on the 8th January 2007.

 

At the time of release a captured Black Petrel Procellaria parkinsoni was photographed along-side this bird providing the perfect opportunity for comparison and further corroborating the identification.  The larger size and the greater extent of black on the maxillary unguis were considered typical and conclusive.

 

Members voted unanimously in favour of acceptance. This is the 6th record of Westland Petrel to be accepted by BARC.

 

 

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