| Case Summary for:
Submission No 369: Broad-billed Prion Pachyptila vittata.
Off Southport, QLD 20th July 2002 (Unpublished). Submitted by: Paul Walbridge. Verdict: Accepted This submission relates to the sighting of four Broad-billed Prions aboard a privately chartered vessel (M.V. Skybird III) off the coast of Southport, QLD (28.01'S 153.57"E). The birds were in view for approximately 30 minutes in association with Antarctic Prion. P. desolata and Fairy Prions P. Turtur and were seen by all 22 observers aboard. Excellent views were obtained to distances within 10 metres, providing ideal photographic opportunities. The description carefully eliminates other Pachyptila species, including the various races of Salvin's Prion P.salvini by the massive black bill, larger, darker head and longer periods of gliding during flight. The massive 'broad-based' all black bill held at a 45-degree angle was (as to be expected for this species) the most striking feature. And it is well described in the submission and corroborated further by photographs. Committee members accepted the record unanimously, commenting that the very dark crown, dark eye-line, short, narrow, white supercilium, extensive, broad, very dark collar, as well as the bill colour and structure, confirm the identification. Although numerous beach-cast reports exist (HANZAB 1990) this is only
second confirmed record involving live birds for Australia.
· Enticott, J. & Tipling, D. (1997), Photographic Handbook
of the Seabirds of the World, New Holland, London. Tony Palliser
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