64 GiBSon, Notes on Some Birds of the Abrolhos Islands. [isf'"J"(,t. 



Notes on Some Birds of the Abrolhos Islands (W.A.) 



By Chas. G. Gibson, Perth. 



The following few brief notes on some birds found breeding on the 

 Abrolhos Islands, W.A., may prove of interest. 



The notes were made during a short trip to the Islands between 

 the 9th and 19th of November last. The trip was to a certain 

 extent marred by bad weather, mild southerly gales being ex- 

 perienced during the whole of the time, and these prevented us 

 from getting about the islands as we had wished. Some notes on 

 this trip by Mr. A. W. Milligan have appeared in The West Aus- 

 tralian newspaper. 



The Islands consist in the main of three groups — Pelsart, Easter, 

 and Wallabi — these being separated by 10 or 12 miles of open 

 water. Pelsart Group is the most southerly, and Wallabi the 

 northern. The following islands were visited, viz. : — Pelsart 

 (Pelsart Group), Wooded Island, Rat Island (Easter Group), East 

 Wallabi and Pigeon Islands (Wallabi Group). 



The following is a list of the birds noted breeding on the various 

 islands : — 



White-bellied Sea-Eagle (Haliaettis leucogaster) had almost finished 

 breeding. About eight nests were noted, several with two large 

 young almost able to fly, and others that the young birds had 

 apparently just left. Nests built as a rule on the rocky promon- 

 tories, and close to the water. Noted only on the Wallabis. 



Osprey {Pandion leucocephalus) had almost finished breeding. 

 Nests noted on almost every island, and containing young in all 

 stages, from just hatched to almost able to fly. Several nests also 

 noted that the young had just left. No nests with eggs were seen. 

 Nests built on the coral heaps anywhere on the islands. 



Pelican [Pelecamis conspiciUatus). — These birds were not person- 

 ally noted breeding, but I was informed (on reliable authority) that 

 there was a small colony of them breeding on the west end of West 

 Wallabi Island, in company with the Pied Cormorants {Phala- 

 cocorax hypolencus). My informant told me that the Pelicans did 

 not build their own nests, but simply took possession of suitable 

 ones of Cormorants and laid two eggs therein. On our return to 

 Geraldton I was presented with a pair of eggs taken from this 

 rookery in October, 1907. There were said to be eight to a dozen 

 pairs breeding. 



Pied Cormorant {Phalacrocorax hypolencus). — A small colony of 

 these was noted breeding on Lagoon Island (Wallabi Group). W^e 

 were unable to land on this island, however, and so could not note 

 the contents of the nests, but the birds appeared to be sitting on 

 eggs or small young. There was also said to be a large colony 

 breeding on West Wallabi. 



Pacific Gull {Gabiamis pacificus). — These had practically finished 

 breeding. Several pairs of old birds were noted with their young 

 (two) "at heel." They were not plentiful. 



Silver Gull {Larus novce-hollandice).—On\y one small colony was 



