Vol. XII. 

 1913 



1 Campbell, Report on Mutton-Bird Rookeries. 271 



Report on Mutton-Bird Rookeries, Cape Wollomai. 

 By a. J. AND A. G. Campbell, Ms.R.A.O.U. 



Egging Season. 

 We were camped on the Mutton-Bird rookeries. Cape Wollomai, 

 from the 27th November to 4th December, 1912. Eggers were 

 found far more numerous than on years of previous observations. 

 On Sunday, ist December, there were probably 200 persons on 

 the rookeries, but many were merely sight-seers. 



Towards the end of our stay many bird-burrows in different 

 parts of the rookeries were examined and found to be empty — ■ 

 i.e., birds had departed on account of their eggs having been 

 taken. The important question is. Are these burrows tenanted 

 again and eggs laid by the robbed bird or others ? This can 

 only be proved by some observers examining the rookeries again, 

 say, about the end of December, or later. If the burrows are 

 not again occupied, then, it is believed, the birds are greatly 

 interfered with through excessive egging. 



Again, there appeared to be no " glut " this season. (Hundreds 

 of eggs are usually deposited upon the surface of the ground, 

 through lack of unoccupied burrows.) This may have been caused 

 by the great raiding during last (1911) season, when the number 

 of eggers (owing chiefly to increased local population) was greatly 

 increased, compared with former years, and last egging season 

 was the heaviest known. The planting of marram grass has been 

 successful in places, but the efforts to stay the largest sand-dunes 

 have failed so far, the sand having moved much towards the 

 rookeries since observations were last made. The fences placed 

 to keep out sheep should have plain wire on the topmost rows, 

 for the barbed wire now there is responsible for the entanglement 

 and death of numerous birds. 



Owing to the scientific interest and economic value of these 

 Petrels (Mutton-Birds), they should be protected — at all events 

 partially — by limiting the raiding by eggers during November, 

 and especially birding in autumn. Referring to the previous 

 reports and recommendations in The Emu {vide vol. ii., p. 195, 

 and vol. viii., pp. 209-10, the following proposals are again 

 suggested to the authorities : — 



(i) That campers pay a nominal fee, as do those on the shores 

 of Port Phillip Bay, or that a small toll per dozen be levied on 

 eggs (or birds) collected. 



(2) That the names and addresses of all visitors to the Cape 

 Wollomai rookeries be registered, and, for statistical purposes, 

 the numbers of eggs taken. (This plan was adopted as an 

 experiment by Mr. C. W. Maclean, C.E., then Chief Inspector of 

 Fisheries and Game, during the season of 1902, and worked well. 

 Eggers and visitors registered their names at either Cowes or 

 San Remo. The fact of having to register one's name appeared 

 to keep away the " rough element " — persons who occasionally 

 visit the rookeries " for sport.") 



