Submission No 396:  Antarctic Petrel Thalassoica antarctica Maquarie Island, TAS. 16^th July 2003. (Unpublished) Submitted by: M. Shultz.

Verdict: Accepted

This submission relates to a specimen found and photographed on the north side of Eagle Bay, west coast of Macquarie Island (54 30' 46" 158 52'27") on the 16^th July 2003.  The specimen has been frozen and we understand submitted to the Tasmanian Museum.

Three photographs of the specimen form the basis of the submission. A combination of brown and white plumage, broad white wing bar extending across the secondaries and the white tail, unmarked except for a dark terminal tip, leave no doubt as to the identification 

The committee voted unanimously in favour of acceptance. Although there are a number of specimen records and other unconfirmed reports (HANZAB 1990) this is the only the second to be presented to the committee.

Selected Bibliography: 

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

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

Tony Palliser
Chairman Birds Australia Rarities Committee (BARC)