Seabird nesting 
Seabirds found in this area nest in 
several different ways. For example, 
a. Black noddies and eastern reef 
egrets make their nests in trees. 
b. Wedge-tailed shearwaters nest in 
burrows in the ground. * 
c. Silver gulls and bridled terns 
nest in vegetation on the ground 
d. Roseate, Wack-naped, crested, 
lesser crested terns and brown 
boobies nest in the open near the 
beach. 
Most seabirds nest during summer 
between October and March. 
However, the eastern reef egret 
nests in late winter to early summer 
around September and the white- 
breasted sea eagle nests during 
winter especially July and August. 
Summer nesting may be the result 
of several factors which optimise 
successful rearing of young: 
. during summer strong, persistent 
southeast trade winds often change 
to more gentle northerly winds with 
frequent calms which favour birds 
hunting for food in the open sea 
and reefs. 
. during summer more juvenile fish 
are available as prey for seabirds. 
Seabird nesting proceeds by three 
distinct stages: 
First - courtship, mating, and site 
selection 
Second - nest building and egg 
laying 
Third - chick rearing. 
Each stage is more vulnerable to 
disturbance than the next. Adults 
may easily abandon their nests 
leaving chicks and eggs to die from 
starvation or exposure, or be killed 
by predators. For seabirds to 
persist, nesting success must 
exceed the r>ormal rate of mortality 
from natural causes. 
Seabird conservation 
Seabirds can only be conserved if 
visitors to nesting islands are 
sensitive to the needs of these wild 
animals. While the Queensland 
National Parks and Wildlife Service 
tries to protect these birds in every 
way possible, it Is not possible to 
be everywhere. 
Rangers try to visit all the islands in 
the area frequently, however staff 
arxJ time are limited. It is up to all 
visitors to behave wisely while 
sharing the Island with seabirds. 
Seabirds using Great Barrier Reef 
islands for roosting and nesting are 
rx)w threatened by Increasing 
numbers of reaeational visitors. At 
present, the numbers of roseate "" 
and Wack-naped terns and white¬ 
breasted sea eagles are dedining in 
this area. Often rt is possible for 
people and birds to get along 
harmoniously, but this requires an 
approach of thoughtful sharing by 
people who oxne to these places. 
It requires an acknowledgement that 
seabirds like ail wild animals have 
rights; the right to live and 
reproduce In peace. 
Notes for island visitors 
Seabirds are most vulnerable to 
human disturbance during the 
nesting cycle. How can one tell 
when birds are nesting? 
There are three main indicators: 
. a group of birds are seen flying to 
and from a specific location, or 
when frightened will fly up and 
return to the same spot 
. a group of birds (or pairs) will 
become very noisy and aggressive 
as one approaches them 
. eggs or chicks are observed. 
Seabirds are most vulnerable to 
disturbance during the site selection 
and early egg-laying stages. At this 
time, if one person "walks through 
the colony it is possible that the 
entire colony will abort laying totally, 
even abandoning eggs and in some 
cases, chicks. 
Therefore it is most important that 
visitors to the islands are careful 
and watch out as they walk along 
the beach. This espedally applies to 
joggers out for their morning run 
along the beach. Please do not run 
through or near seabirds, indeed in 
many ways this form of exercise is 
not appropriate on these islands - 
try swimming Instead! 
In general, no person should 
approach closer than 50 meters to 
nesting birds. Exceptions to this are 
the black noddy, shearwater, bridled 
tern, gull, and egret. These birds 
appear to be less effected by the 
human presence. Birds which are 
especially sensitive to the human 
presence are: 
. roseate tern 
. black-naped tern 
. crested tern 
. lesser crested tern 
. sea eagle 
Be very careful when approaching 
these nesting birds. Walk very 
slowly using trees and shrubs for 
cover. When these birds become 
obviously nervous and begin to fly 
up - stop and retreat. 
The problem of human interference 
with seabird nesting Is compounded 
by the situation where silver gulls 
will sometimes kill eggs and young 
chicks of other birds which have left 
their nest at the approach of human 
intruders. 
This is a common occurence on 
nesting islands often resulting in 
very high mortality as gulls swiftly 
swoop in to peck open and devour 
eggs, while the distraught parent 
birds hover in the air nearby. 
Please do not feed these 
scavanging silvergulls as their 
numbers on these islands are 
already unnaturally high. 
During the summer months do not 
camp obstructing a shearwater 
runway. Shearwaters generally 
leave the islands where they are 
nesting by well-defined runways 
which resemble paths leading from 
the beach into the forest where they 
do not penetrate very far. 
A tent or other obstruction in such a 
location will receive a constant 
bombardment “during the early 
(predawn) hours of "the morning! 
Visitors to Lady Musgrave and 
North West Islands smould stay on 
clearly defined tracks. This is 
especially important when the 
shearwaters are nesting In their 
burrows. Walking in the Interior of 
the islands will result in burrows 
collapsing under the feet of the 
walker, often killing the occupant by 
crushing or suffocation. If you 
collapse a burrow clear the 
entrance. 
Avoiding pitching your tent directly 
underneath a tree or branch where 
abundant black noddies are nesting. 
Their copious dropping will soon 
paint your tent white. 
During summer the Pisonia arandis 
tree produces numerous stidky seed 
clusters which result in the deaths 
of some black noddies and 
shearwaters by sticking their 
feathers together and preventing 
them from flying. This rather 
distressing situation is a natural 
phenomenon occurring every year. 
Sometimes birds can oe saved if 
they are not too badly stuck, 
however attempts to free badly 
stuck up birds often only results in 
more trauma followed by death. 
Gener^y it is best to leave nature 
to its own course of action. 
Finally if you have children with you 
please make sure they do not 
disturb any seabirds tney see. 
Children are naturally curious and a 
valuable part of their island holiday 
experience should be to see the 
wildlife. Children are usually very 
sympathetic to the problems of 
mothers and their babies - they will 
understand that seabirds have 
similar problems. 
