272 Campbell, Report on Miitton-Bird Rookeries. ^,^^^"^",.11 



(3) That oj^ening-up of l)urrows by removing earth or scrub 

 be not permitted, as it causes sand-drift. If an egg cannot he 

 withdrawn l)y ordinary egging-hook the burrow should l)e left 

 intact. 



(4) That no dogs be permitted on the rookeries (Dogs are a 

 great nuisance in more ways than one.) 



(5) That egging operations cease positively on the last day of 

 November each season. (It has been found that, after the date 

 mentioned, about 50 per cent, of eggs collected show signs of 

 incubation, and are commercially worthless.) 



(6) That the planting of marram grass be continued, especially 

 on the " reserve " at the neck of the cape. (A good object-lesson 

 in what might be done to prevent sand-drift is afforded on Mr. 

 Cleeland's property, where marram grass planted four years ago 

 is now well established. The major part of the reserve (over 

 200 acres) consists of moving sand-dunes, and these should be 

 vigorously attacked by plantations of marram grass, particularly 

 on the eastern fringe.) 



BiRDiNG Season.* 



We spent five days (23rd to 27th March, 1913) on the Cape 

 Wollomai rookeries. The weather generally was unpropitious, but 

 we were enabled between times to make ample observations regard- 

 ing the state of the rookeries. The young birds were hardly grown 

 enough for taking, but there was one party (four persons) camped, 

 fishing, shooting, &c., which took away about 50 birds. A local 

 fisherman also took a few. 



There is no doubt that the whole of the Cape rookeries appear 

 in a badly depleted state, presumably from over-raiding of recent 

 years, capped by the last two seasons' great gatherings, 

 including the heavy birding in April, 1912 Usually at the 

 end of the egging season it is stated that, notwithstanding 

 the amount of egging, a glut occurs — i.e., numbers of eggs are 

 deposited on the surface of the ground, under bushes, &c., there 

 being no burrows to accommodate them. We were careful to 

 remain till the end of last season (4th December), but no such 

 glut occurred. This was the first observation that aroused 'our 

 suspicion regarding the welfare of the birds. A second suspicion 

 occurred this visit, after taking up our usual position to view 

 the incoming birds at evening, when it was observed their numbers 

 had greatly decreased. After all eggers had departed from the 

 rookeries last November, we carefully surveyed the whole area 

 of the Cape, testing burrows here and there, and found the 

 majority empty through egging, and we particularly noted patches 

 entirely devoid of birds. 



It is popularly stated that Mutton-Birds return the same 

 season to lay again, if robbed, or other birds take their place. 



* This part of the report has been forwarded to Major Semniens, Chief 

 Inspector of Fisheries and Game, Victoria, at his request. 



