Mutton Birds Die In Thousands Of Starvation

Press, Volume C, Issue 29514, 16 May 1961, Page 14

Mutton Birds Die In Thousands Of Starvation

Thousands of mutton birds or sooty shearwaters have died at their burrows in the islands south of New Zealand or collapsed during their annual migration to the Northern Hemisphere because food for them and their parents is insufficient. In the last few days hundreds have been found dead or exhausted along the east coast of the South Island. Numbers of dead or exhausted birds were taken to the Canterbury Museum for identification yesterday, and it does not want any more The acting-director (Mr E. G. Turbott) said that the birds were obviously starved and overcome by weakness early in their flight north. Five hundred dead birds were counted on Wakanui beach, Ashburton. Sardine Shortage Southland reports indicate that a shortage of food for parent birds is responsible for the condition of this year’s migrants. Parent birds, which usually gorge themselves until they can scarcely rise from the water, have been seen this year too weak to rise because of lack of food. Two years ago, sardines were so thick in Southland and Stewart Island waters that they were gathered m the shallows to fill car trailers This year this sea food is so short that mutton-bird-ers south of Stewart Island have found scores of young ones dead in the burrows or on the tracks outside. Others captured for marketing are so small that it took 55 instead of 40 to fill the usual tin. Those in the business predict that this will be the worst season for 30 years Last year about 350°°°. brought back to Bluff in the Government vessel Matai and about 150,000 on fishing vessels. This year the muttonbirders have returned much earlier than usual with a meagre haul. Migratory Habit ••In New Zealand these birds breed on various islands but they are specially numerous about Island and on the Chatham Islands and sub-Antarctic islands. The young have nearly all left the burrows by the end of April and the birds then follow a rnigration route taking them round the Pacific to the coast of California.” Mr Turbott said yesterday. Large numbers of mutton birds pass northwards close to the New Zealand coast at this time of the year. During the last few days numbers have been brought into the Canterbury Museum from New Brighton and from central Christchurch where they were found alive but exhausted on the roads. •‘Deaths numbering hundreds have been reported from beaches further south as far as Ashburton.” Mr Turbott said. "There, also, some birds came ashore alive but exhausted.

"It seems likely that because of recent stormy weather the birds have been starved. Those brought into the museum have been extremely thin,’’ said Mr Turbot t. Care of Live Birds He suggested that any live mutton birds found should be put out to sea again. If they were unable to fly. they should be released on calm water on the open coast. A suitable place near Christ-

church would be the breakwater at Sumner. It might be possible to feed very weak birds with fish. Halibut oil capsules would also help to restore strength. Mr Turbott said mutton birds should be recognised easily They were a little larger than the common redbilled gull and totally dark brown in plumage There was a white or greyishwhite patch on the under side of the wing. The beak and feet were dark brown. 500 at Wakanui

An estimated 500 mutton birds were washed on to Wakanui beach, Ashburton, during the week-end. They were discovered on Sunday afternoon by two 13-year-old schoolgirls, Pamela Bourke, of Christchurch, and Anne Stewart, of Orari. The girls counted the birds in a two-mile area while collecting shells. They imme-

diately rushed back to Mr D Wilson’s farm, where they are on holiday, and he notified the inspector for the Ashburton branch of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Mr J. R. Reeves). Accompanied by the two girls. Mr Reeves inspected the area yesterday morning and brought several of the birds back to Ashburton. Sunday night’s high tide had washed some of the birds back to sea but there were still several hundreds lying along the higher ground. Mr Wilson observed some live birds floating off the coast on Sunday but there was no sign of these yesterday. Many of the dead birds found were in very poor condition. Some of the birds had been stripped to the bone, possibly by fish or seagulls. Mr Reeves advised the Marine Department in Wellington early yesterday afternoon and was told that the matter would be referred to museum authorities for investigation.