Resights, Recaptures and Recoveries of Australasian
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ESIGS, ECAUES A ECOEIES O AUSAASIA GAES Mr rrtr EEIG I O II AY , ICOIA F. I. NORMAN Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, Department of Natural Resources and Environment, 123 Brown Street, Heidelberg, Victoria 3084 Received: 3 March 2001 Cln f Atrln Gnnt Morus serrator n rt hllp , tr, trtd th thr nt t Wd ht n 666, nd hv n xpndd bth n z nd nbr thr r n bt 000 nnt brdn t ht rtfl t n th . tn 6 nd 2000, 6 nnt h r bndd t t n rt hllp , tl t p E ( nd Wd ht (4, ff Qnlff. rn bnt td, nl t p E nd fr 88 nrd, bnd nbr r btnd fr dlt prnt t brdn t prtbl. htn (r rptr f brd (2 bndd h r rvd n rltn t r, nd vnt btn t n rt hllp . vr (brd fnd dd} f 4 brd bndd h (.% f th bndd n rt hllp r dd th rpt t pt bndn nd ltn th rrn f lv brd n rhblttn ntr l ntd. ht nd rptr t brdn t n rt hllp hv, ntll, bn f brd bndd thr. brd hv bn rhtd fr rn , th jr trn brdn t, hh h tlf l xpndd (nd n t tblhd n th nrb nlnd. 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INTRODUCTION In this note, aspects of resightings, recaptures and recoveries of Australasian Gannets banded as chicks at sites Australasian Gannets Morus serrator breed at relatively in Port Phillip Bay from 1967 onwards, or fledged from few sites in Australia and colonies are restricted to Lawrence Rocks and resighted in Port Phillip Bay, are Tasmanian and Victorian waters (Marchant and Higgins reviewed. Such observations are considered in relation 1990). In 1980/1981 Wodzicki et al. (1984) considered that to the expansion of the Victorian population generally. The the species' population was around 53 000, with 6 700 at general locations of the Victorian sites mentioned in the Australian colonies and the remainder in New Zealand. text are shown in Figure 1. Marchant and Higgins (1990) included reference to 2 463 pairs at the n Victorian colony (Lawrence Rocks, near Portland), but numbers there, at sites in Port Phillip Bay, METHODS Victoria and elsewhere in the species' range have increased Study sites since then (Waghorn 1983; Wodzicki et al. 1984; Hawkins 1988; Norman et al. 1998; Bunce et al., in prep.). The BACKGROUND colony at Wedge Light in Port Phillip Bay was initiated in Norman and Menkhorst (1995) provided details of the Wedge Light 1966, perhaps including birds from Lawrence Rocks and Pope's Eye colonies, off Queenscliff, in southern Port Phillip Bay (Wheeler 1972), and that at Pope's Eye (also in Port Phillip and Norman et al. (1998) gave some information regarding other Bay) in about 1985 (Norman and Menkhorst 1995). Victorian sites (see also Bunce et al., in prep.). The artificial, wooden platform at Wedge Light (about 25 ²m) was fully occupied by around Nesting at these sites and at several newer, and smaller 1980/1981; removal of the central hut (in June or July 1992; G. Pearce, colonies elsewhere in Port Phillip Bay (all on artificial pers. comm.) temporarily increased nesting area. Some 58 nests were structures), has increased in recent years and the Victorian present in 1996/1997, including two on cross beams below the platform, breeding population has been materially enhanced by the and 62 were recorded in 1999 (A. Bunce, pers. comm.). The Pope's establishment of a mainland colony at Point Danger, Eye colony, initially established on a wooden platform, expanded onto concrete structures and newer wooden platforms by 1992. Nearby, opposite Lawrence Rocks (completely occupied by 1995, artificially-placed rocks (about <2 m above high water) were in- Norman et al. 1998). Norman and Menkhorst (1995) and creasingly used: by 1994 about 140 nests were present, the total was Norman et al. (1998) indicated that colony growth at over 160 by 1997 and reached 194 nests in the 1999/2000 breeding Pope's Eye involved birds fledged from Wedge Light; more period (Norman and Menkhorst 1995; Norman et al. 1998; Gibbs et recently established colonies elsewhere in Port Phillip Bay al. 2000; A. Bunce, pers. comm.). have also included birds produced at Wedge Light or Nesting at the number 6 navigation marker (a wooden triangular pile Pope's Eye (Norman et al. 1998). off Srrnt, -4 bv water, with a platform area of about 17 m²) Figure 1. The locations of colonies of Australasian Gannets Morns serrator in Victoria. was reported in 1993; 35 nests were counted in 1997 and 39 in October 1993 and 1994, chicks were banded but only incidental records of 1999. A similar pile nearby (number 10) had about 20 nests in 1997 banded adults were made. and 36 in October 1999. The 'dolphin' (an artificial concrete caisson There was an intensive study at Pope's Eye in 1994/1995, when off the explosives jetty at Point Wilson, about 50 ²m and about 3 m chicks were banded and many band numbers of marked gannets above high water mark) was first occupied as a nesting site in 1996 obtained: banded birds were often distinguished as breeding (at a nest) when 24 nests were present (Norman et al. 1998). In 1999 there were or non-breeding (Gibbs et al. 2000). Four visits were made to Pope's 82 nests; five active (and nine old) nests were also found at the Eye and Wedge Light in 1996/1997, three to the new colony at Point Hopetoun Channel inner mark (platform area about 4 ²m), and nine at Wilson, and one to the navigation markers (numbers 6 and 10) off the outer mark (about 4-5 ²m). Removal of the superstructure at South Sorrento. At Pope's Eye, Wedge Light and Point Wilson, chicks were Channel Pile, and its renovation in mid-1998, provided about 45 ²m of banded and resights or recaptures of adults made whenever possible. potential nesting area which was rapidly occupied, holding about 30 Between 1997 and 2000 there was an extended study in which chicks nests in December 1998, and 79 in October 1999. were banded and numerous resightings (but not recaptures) made (Bunce 2000; A. Bunce, pers. comm.). The South Channel Pile colony was DATA COLLECTION visited twice in 1998/1999 and all colonies were examined in 1999/ 2000, when two new sites were found off Point Wilson (inner and outer Initial observations were made at Wedge Light once or twice each markers of the Hopetoun Channel). During visits, particularly those to breeding period between 1966 and 1981, when chicks were banded and Pope's Eye, band numbers of marked adults were obtained. Here, (presumably all) banded adults resighted or recaptured (Wheeler 1972; resightings or recaptures are accepted as taking place within nominated Harris and Norman 1981; Blakers et al. 1984; Norman and Menkhorst breeding periods, considered 12 months apart, although the intervening 1995; Australian Bird and Bat Banding Scheme (ABBBS) records). Both time may have been slightly less or more. Pope's Eye and Wedge Light were visited briefly in January 1987, when some banded adults were resighted and seven chicks banded. Between Recoveries (here = found dead) of banded birds are routinely reported 1988 and 1992, visits to both sites were made at about 14 day intervals to the ABBBS. In this review, details available and processed up to 30 throughout breeding periods (Norman and Menkhorst 1995); chicks June 2000 are considered: where known, recovery locations are were banded whenever possible and frequent attempts made to identify considered to be within Port Phillip Bay, near its entrance, or more banded adults (using binoculars; 8-10x40). During trips to colonies in distant. RESULTS recorded at Pope's Eye, two at Wedge Light, and four elsewhere. Banding totals While no birds banded as chicks at Lawrence Rocks Summaries of the banding of gannet chicks at the Port were resighted at Wedge Light between 1967 and 1987, Phillip Bay colonies are presented for breeding periods two (one banded in 1965/1966, the other in 1966/1967) between 1966/1967 and 1999/2000 in Table 1. Of 1 116 were found dead (shot) there in February 1972, together chicks banded, most were marked at Pope's Eye (759, with three other adults (one banded as a chick at Wedge 68.0%) or Wedge Light (354, 31.7%). To an extent, Light in 1967/1968, one in 1968/1969). Subsequently, particularly at Wedge Light in earlier periods, banding another nine have been recorded in Port Phillip Bay, seven totals may reflect annual productivity as the breeding at Pope's Eye and one each at South Channel and Point population increased.