Seabird Emergency Response Little Penguins Are Found in Colonies Scattered Along the Southern NSW Coast

Cormorants Terns Gulls

Pied cormorant 65-80 cm Crested tern 48 cm Silver gull 35-45 cm

Sub-family Phalocrocoracinae Family Laridae Family Laridae Black or pied waterbirds that frequent Terns generally have white breasts and Gulls are opportunistic feeders found estuaries, rivers, mangroves, coastal areas bellies, grey upperwings, a forked tail, in small to very large flocks in a variety and rocky coastal islands. characteristic V-shaped wings, and a straight of habitats along the NSW coast. They • Long necks and tails. pointed beak. They are found in coastal generally breed in colonies on offshore • Short legs with all four toes joined areas, offshore islands, bays, estuaries and islands and headlands between September by webbing. tidal inlets. and January. • Hooked beak. CreSted tern SiLver guLL Little black cormorant 58-65 cm • Swim and dive for fish, yabbies Common tern 38 cm • Stand-up crest, yellow beak, and Juvenile silver gull • Familiar and ubiquitous, white body and and shrimp. black legs. tail with silver-grey upperwings, adults • Wings are not water repellent so they • Dive for fish; nest on offshore islands have red legs, beak and eye-ring, juveniles spread their wings to dry. between March-December; common and black legs, beak and eye-ring. • Build a nest over water, breed most sedentary, resident. • Extremely varied diet including fish, months. Common tern invertebrates, seeds and eggs. • All common and nomadic. • Black beak and black legs. • Feed at water’s edge and on the surface. • Skim for fish on the water’s surface; • Common, nomadic, breeds and lives breed in Siberia, migrate to Australia in in Australia. WARNING October and depart in March. keLp guLL Little pied cormorant 55-65 cm All cormorant species have razor-sharp Little tern 25 cm LittLe tern Kelp gull 55-60 cm • Larger, white tips and spots on primary beaks with a large hook at the end that • Yellow beak, black eye-mask that extends feathers, adults have a yellow beak with a can cause serious damage. They can also to the beak. red spot on the lower mandible and green- strike with great speed. When handling a cormorant ALWAYS wear welding gloves • Dive for fish; migratory, breed in Australia grey to yellowish legs, juveniles have a and protective glasses. between October and January, migrate to black beak and pale legs. Japan in March. • Also extremely varied diet, able to dive Fairy tern briefly below the water’s surface and drop • Yellow beak, white face with black molluscs onto hard surfaces to break open eye mask. the shells. • Dive for fish; breed in Australia Great (black) cormorant 70-95 cm Fairy tern 27 cm (November-February). Juvenile kelp gull

organs shrink, their heart grows and their blood thickens. Like an overinflated football Migratory shorebirds with wings, they set off southward, flapping constantly and burning fat at up to one The two million migratory shorebirds that visit Australia each year are born in the gram per hour. arctic tundra of Russia and Alaska or the rugged deserts and steppes of Mongolia The most difficult part of the journey is navigating the huge distances of up to 13,000 km and northern China. Shorebirds have to grow up incredibly fast in order to take on a with no parents to guide them. Evidence suggests that these birds can navigate by the migration that is virtually unmatched in difficulty. When chicks are only six- to seven- position of the sun and moon, and the movement of the stars, as well as seeing the lines weeks-old the parents often leave on their southward migration. By eight weeks old of polarity in the sky (like seeing a compass). They fly non-stop for days at time, refuelling the chicks are fully grown, without their parents, and must fly south or risk freezing in at rich intertidal areas along the East Asian Australasian flyway (B). Unfortunately, these the coming snows (A). critical areas are being destroyed at an alarming rate, driving population declines in In order to undertake the migration to the southern hemisphere, juveniles begin a many shorebird species. Juveniles who make the distance remain here for one to five feeding frenzy that packs on weight at an incredible 2-5% per day, increasing their years before migrating to the northern hemisphere to breed as adults. A B body mass by up to 80% until they are 55% fat. Just before they leave their feeding Gannets Penguins Pelicans Contact info Family Spheniscidae Seabird emergency response Little penguins are found in colonies scattered along the southern NSW coast. australian Seabird rescue (aSr) At only around 1kg they are the smallest 0428 862 852 of these flightless, southern hemisphere seabird species. national parks & Wildlife • Slate-blue back feathers and flippers Service (npWS) with white underside, silver eye and 131 555 black beak. This project has been funded by the • Large webbed feet and modified wings NSW Environmental Trust. The Trust is an (flippers) used to ‘fly’ through the water. independent statutory body established by the • Feed on fish caught underwater NSW government to fund a broad range of at sea. projects that enhance the environment of NSW. The Trust is administered by the NSW • Nest in burrows in colonies, and breed Office of Environment and Heritage. between July and March. Australasian gannet 80-90 cm, and juvenile (inset) • Moult between February and April, Australian pelican 170-190 cm when they are not waterproof and must Family Sulidae Little penguin 30-33 cm remain on land. Family Pelecanidae The Australasian gannet is generally found foraging in coastal waters of NSW The Australian pelican is during winter when adults and juveniles migrate along the east coast from found at beaches, estuaries, colonies in Bass Strait or across the Tasman Sea from colonies in New Zealand. wetlands and waterways. • Adults are white with black wingtips and dark webbed feet, a buff-yellow head • Adults are black-and-white (juveniles are brown-and-white) with a long with a bluish ring of skin around the eyes, and a blue-grey beak with striking How to avoid entanglements and injuries hooked bill and fleshy pouch, and distinctive yellow ring around the eye. black borders and small, extremely sharp, backward-pointing serrations; • Feeds in shallow water on fish and crustaceans. juveniles are greyish-brown with white freckling. • Breeds after rains when water levels are sufficient, nest in colonies on the • Plunge dives into shoals of fishes. ground at inland waterways (notably Lake Eyre). • Breeds October to November. • Common, nomadic, travels long distances in V-formation, and uses thermals to soar to great heights. WARNING Gannets have an extremely sharp serrated beak and a powerful neck. When handling a gannet ALWAYS wear welding gloves and protective glasses. • Take only photos, leave only • If you hook a seabird DO NOT CUT footprints: take ALL rubbish with you THE LINE. Gently reel the seabird in. and collect any you find. • Be aware of seabirds around you • Avoid fishing near feeding seabirds. when you’re fishing, they will wait for • Do not leave set fishing lines you to cast your line. Juvenile pelican unattended. • Be seabird aware when boating.

Seabird first aid – how you can help Report sightings of seabirds that need assistance to your local wildlife group or NPWS

entanglements • Loosely wrap the bird in a towel to transporting birds Fishing tackle prevent further injury. Move the bird to a • Immobilise the dangerous parts of the • If possible, disentangle the bird. shady position and ensure the bird does bird (beak, feet) with a firm hold. The rest • Do not cut any line trailing from not overheat through wrapping too tightly. of the birds body should be restrained the beak. • Any injury requires immediate gently. If the bird struggles it is important • Do not cut any line if the skin appears veterinary care. Please take the bird to avoid holding the bird more firmly. to have grown over it. directly to a local vet. • For safety reasons birds should be held • Call your local wildlife group or at waist-height not near the handler’s face. oil spill seabird National Parks and Wildlife Service • When handling birds with long legs, hold Shipping related (NPWS) office for assistance. the legs of the bird at the top where they • Phone 131 555 to report oil spills. • In cases of severe entanglement or meet the body. • Do not handle oiled birds without where a hook has been swallowed, please emergency training that is particular to the incident. • Protect your eyes and other body parts take the bird directly to a local vet. • Oil spills are highly hazardous situations from birds with sharp beaks and claws. 1.01 injuries that require a specialist response. • Birds should not be held around the neck Boat strike, collisions, dog attack • Contact your local wildlife group as breathing can be restricted and muscles • Generally, injuries will be obvious – by or NPWS to report sightings of oiled damaged. the presence of blood and/or abnormal seabirds or to find out how you can help. • Towels can be used to wrap around the you can help!! posture, limb positions or visible bones. bird’s body and wings to aid restraint.