Corella,2005, 29(3). 65-72

RECOVERIESOF SEABIRDSBANDED BETWEEN 1978 AND 1987AT RAINEISLAND, MACLENNANAND MOULTERCAYS AND SANDBANKS NO.7AND 8, NORTHERNGREAT BARRIER REEF, AUSTRALIA

KIRSTINA. DOBBS

Grert Brnicr Reef Marioe Prrk Aulhority,PO Box 1379.Townsville, '{810

R(d|ed. 2l Ausutt 2004

From 1979to 1987,7 080 birds,representing 17 species,were bandedat Rainelsland' and from 1979to 1985, 849 birds, represeniing3 species, were b;nded at Moulter Cay, Maclennan Cay, Sandbank No 7 and sandbank No. B. Atmostnait (45.5%,n = 3609) o{ the 7929 birds were banded as adultsl 20-6 per cent per (n = 881) as juveniles'Oi theT 1n=r OSalwere as chicks,15 per ceni (n = 1223) as pullusand 1'1 cent gZg lanOeObirds, 1 096 (14%)were recapluredin subsequentsurveys to the bandinglocations; 107 (1%) birds *uru ,e"uptrr"O away kom their bandingloca1ons. Distances travelled ranged from 100 kilometres(Wallace lsland) to 4000 iitometres(Tuvatu); countries inctudedt Australia (12), Caroline lslands (1), Indonesia(2), Kiribali.(1), lrom papua New cuinea i87), Sotomon lslands (2), and Tuvalu (2). The tates of the 107 birds recoveredaway these bandinglocations were: 22 capturedand releasedalive,26 dead,4 entangledin fishingline or hooks,4 predatedby:-crocodiles (2), eagle (1) or large fish (1)l 25 trappedfor lood' captivityor ceremonialpurposes' and 26 unknown.

INTRODUCTION STUDYLOCATIONS Between18,1,1 and December1982,,14 bird specieswere Detaileddescriptions of the live banding localionscan be lound in and Rayment(1992), Gourlay and Hacker (1991), Lalery cr dl recordedat Raine Island (King 1983).Warham (1961) Barry (1980), King er d/ (1983a,b,c).King and Limpus (1983). Sprat! end provided the first comprehensivelist of birds at Raine Associalcs(1994) and Sloddartzr dI. (l9El) Island and the surroundingislands. Warham (1977) also wrote the initial paperfor the inclusionof Rainelsland as METHODS a Seabirdlsland. In that publication,ll bird specieshad Band recovery rcports wcrc sourced f.om thc Australian Bird a0d Bat recordedbreeding at the island. King (1986) been Banding Scheme(ABBBS), field notcs from researchcrs,banding xnd publisheda revisionto Warham's1977 seabirdisland li!e rccovery schedules submi(cd 1() lhe ABBBS. band numbers paper,providing informationon three additionalbreeding recordedin QueenslandParks and Wildlifc Service(QPWS) reporls10 speciesthat had been noted and a banding programme that the Raine Island Corporalion,and RecoveryRound'up informationIn had beenestablished. issucs of Corslld. For thc purposes of this study, definitions of age classesfollow those Raine Island in the northern has been provided by the ABBBS and classilicationsused in lhe banding the site fbr detailed studies of seabird and sea turtle databasesAll chicks, whethcr they wcrc classificdas small fluffy or were as chicks for ease of grouping Olhe. populations 1979(Limpus et al. 2003;Batianoff and large fluffy classified since definitionswcrc used as follows: Pullus = a young bird, eilher in thc Cornelius 2005). Banding birds at Moulter Cay, nesr or out of the nest which, althoughit may bc nedged,is not yct Maclennan Cay, SandbankNo.7 and SandbankNo.8 ablc to flyt Juvenile = a young bird in juvenile plumage,*hich has began in 1979 and continueduntil 1985. In subsequent lefi thc nesl site and is able to fly, n+ = a bird within ils ulh year of (i il is a free'flying bird of unknown age) years, recapturesof banded birds back at the banding life or older e. locationsand from overseashave occurred. The numbers prcscnled in this rcport were developed from a masicr databaseof all Raine Island, Moulter Cay, Maclennan Cay, Sandbank Bandingseabirds can potentiallyprovide information on No. 7 and SandbankNo. 8 bandedbirds held by the QPWS. Banding wilh lhe dataset population structure.mrgration pallerns. remigralion details from the ABUBS were then compared QPWS where discrepancics were found betwecn dalasels, the QPwS dalabase intervals, fidelity to particular islands and mates, and $as usedlo generatevdluc' nresentcdherein movementsto feeding and breedingareas, which is the pre-empt the results of an on-8oing study, only recapture paper. (1986) this So as not to focus of this King briefly summarized information about Red-tailed Tropicbirds banded prior 10 the information in his revision of Raine Island as a Seabird commencement of the study in 1995 are presented. Island. Brief summariesof band recoverieshave been provided in annual reports to the Raine Island Corporation RESULTS (Miller 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995) and other information Banding history passedby Brian King, former Project Leader for seabird studiesat Raine Island (Limpus and Gyuris 1987).The Seventhousand and eighty birds were bandedat Raine objective of this project was to collate the seabird band Island during the period 1979 to 1987, comprising l7 recoveryinformation collected up to 1998 and to review species(Table la). Nearly 30 per cent of the banding movementpatterns. (n = 2 lO9 birds)occuned in 1981,although not all species K. A. Dobbs: Recoveriesof Seabirds banded between 1978 and 1987 Corella29(3) were banded in each year. Most banding occurred on three Twenty-five birds that were bancledand subseouentlv B.!*n Booby ^!a/a leucogaster :p^":l:.,- (27.5Vo,n= recapturedar RaineIslJnd. bur for which I 947). MaskedBooby (2g.lq. no intormation Suladactylatra n = 2OO1) could be found regarding and Red.tailed phaethon their original bandingdate were Tropicbirds rubricaudat12.lTo. designated'R?' = in the database.In the absenieof being n 860). Other speciesuere bandedonly when time able to turtherclarify original bandingdates, the recaptur! permittedor u hencircumstances were appropriale. dates were treated as banding dates and as recaptur€sat tne same A total of 849 birds rvere banded at Moulter Cay, tlme. Maclennan Cay, SandbankNo.7 and SandbankNo. g. One band number '11088721' comprisrnglhree had more than one speciestTable lbt: BrownBooby (g4.g%. speciesassociated = with the number in the databaseand n 720).Mrsked Boobyr6.4oi. n = 54) and Soory Tern further examination of the data could not resolye Ste n;ftrscctta(8.87o, n = 75). the speciesidentification. The band was listedas beingapplied

TABLE I Numb€r ofbirds banded al (a) Raine Island bctw-ecnt979 and 1987 and (b) Moulrer Cay, Maclenoan Cay, SandbankNo.7 and SardbankNo.8 berwccn 1979and 1985.Sp*i"., riO'= ni"*, uooby: BBR = Buff_ bindei.i RarL BN = Black Noddy: BNT = Black-napedTem; BT : Bridled Temr CN = Cornmon Noddyi CT = Crested Tem. cFR = Crerr Fn8arebirdt = petrell Hp iterald LFB = Ir;;; i,igur"o,.a, Mg = N4urt.a Booby; NNH = Nankren Nighr = Heronr RFB nea foot.O S;oUt; RT =--n"iay'f"-"""", Rr.r.ts = Red oiled Tropicbirdi SG = Silvcr cull. WTS = Wedse-railedShe;rwate.

1982 l.)84 I9E5 1986 l9fl7 BB 285 283 444 105 0 3t9 35(, 22 | 94',7 BI]R 0 084635 32 t'7 00138 BN 0 u lll 84 0 BNT 00195 00000 5 00 BT ,7 5 0 0100 0 00 CN 8 o 263 122 0 24 0 420 CT 0 0000 I 00 GFB I 0 r0000 00 HP I 0 03280 o 0013 LFB 0 {J 163 138 0 20 0 00321 MB '722 24 419 26 0 231 152 359 13 2 009 NNH 0 0026133 0 00 RFB 96 0 88 r34 62 0 160 40 039 523 RT 0 0 0 l0 0 0 00t0 RTTI] 23 12't 99 98 124 231 96 4 58 860 SG 0 00034 o2 WTS 9 0 0404820 38 00524 Total '719 332 122t 2 109 t61 241 | 102 444 t15 7 080

(D)

Location Species Banding year Brown Booby MaskedBooby SootyTern MoulterCay 1980 t02 t02 l98l 4l I I982 124 149 1985 23 28 5l MacLennanCay 1980 t1 l4 1981 21 2l I982 28 i03 SandbankNo. 7 l98l 1982 2 2 SandbankNo 8 t979 99 99 l98l 133 133 1982 9l '720 9l Total 849 67 September,2005 K. A. Dobbs: Recovetiesof Seabirds banded behveen 1978 and 1987 to a Red-fiDted Booby Srla sula (1916/80)and to a The sexof ?6 per cent (n - 6 031) of bandedbirds could NankeenNighi Heren Nlc/icor.r-t caledotricus(91 12184). ln not be determinedor was not consideredessential to record examining the sequenceof band nurnbersus€d in the at the time of banding (Table2). Horvever,of the 7 929 birds 'l femaleand 1036 studies,the bandpreceding l0 88721' was usedto band banded,862 (10.8%)were identifiedas 'll0 (l3.l7o) was not determined a Red-footedBooby in I980 and the bandproceeding were identitiedas male. Sex Moulter Cay 88721'was usedto band a NankeenNight Heron in 1984. for any of the Masked Boobies bandedat 'Il0 Determiningwhich speciesband 88721' was placed Almost half @6%'.n = 3 609) of thc'7 929 birds were on could not be further clarified; therefore,both values bandedas adults;2l per cent (n - I 634) were chicks, 15 were kept in the database.Either the total numberof Red- pei cent (n = | 223) were pullus; ll per cent (n = 881) tbotedBoobies banded in 1984or the numberof Nankeen were juvenrles:lhc remaining7 per cenl were eithcr Night Heronsbanded in 1984 is incorrect.However, one immatures or able to be aged to a degree (Table 3) All of record incorrect in either case was not considered the adult MaskedBoobies were bandedat RaineIslandl at significantfor the overall presentationof thesedata. Moulter Cay, Masked Boobies were bandedeither as chicks

TABLE 2 Sex of bi.ds bandedat RaineIsland between 1979 and 1987and at MoulterCay, MacLennanCay, SandbankNo.7 andSandbank No. 8 belweeni979 and 1985.

Species Female Male UnknowD Total

Brown Booby 403 55r I 713 2 661 Buff'banded Rail 0 0 138 138 Black Noddy 0 0 r95 195 Black-naped Tem 0 0 5 5 Bridled Tern 0 0 Common Noddy 0 420 420 Crested Tern 0 I I Great Frigatebird 0 0 I I Herald Pcuel 0 tl i3 Lesser Frigatebird 30 ,11 250 321 425 oot I195 2064 Nankcon Nighl H€ron 96 96 Rcd,footed Booby I 521 522 Ruddy Turnstone 0 0 l0 t0 Red lailed Tropicbird 3 0 857 860 Silver Gull 9 9 '75 '75 Sooty Tern Wedge-lailed Shearwater 524 524 Total 1036 60ll 7 929

TABLE3 Ago classesof birds banded at Raine Island belween 1979 and 1987 and Moulter Cay. Maclennan Cay. Sandbank No. 7 and Sandbank No. 8 berween 1979 and 1985 Numbers in parcnlhesesare oumber of individuals recaplured back at Raine Island. Species: BB = Brown Boobyi BBR = Buff banded R^ili RN = Black Noddyr BNT = Black-naped Terni BT = Bridled Terni CN = Common Noddy: CT = Crested Ternt cFB = Greal Frigatebirdi HP = Hcrald Pctrelr LFB = Lesser Frigalebird; MB = Maskcd Doobyi NNH = Nankeen Night Heroni RFB = Red foored Booby; RT - Ruddy Tumslone: RTTB = Red tailed Tropicbird; SG = Silver Gulli ST = Sooty Ternr wTS = wcdgclxilcd Shcarwarcr

Age class

Specres l+ 2+ Chick lmmalurc Ju\ enile Unknown I]B 9 (6) 0 I o1'7(12) 0 5s4(9) 63 961(64) 3 (l) BUtt 53(2) 0 0 0 0 I l0 74(l l) 2 (6t BN r65(l) 0 0 0 0 l,r (2) l4 0 BNT 0 0 0 0 z 0 3 I]T 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 CN l l8 (2) 0 0 I 0 0 24 2',76 l CT 0 0 0 0 1 (l) CFIJ 0 0 0 I 0 0 HP 0 I 0 l2 (3) 0 LFI} 0 0 0 0 0 252 69 MB 2 (2) 0 336(80) I 579 (87) 93 (2,1) 9r8 (396) 135(,16)

NNH 0000 63 (2) t2 2o I '70 RFI] 2l (3) 0 19(l) 8 l9 (2) (1) 136(4) 246(s0) I RT 000 0 0 0 t0 RTTI] 9(3) 9(3) 0 I r45(14) 6 t92 (2O) 49r (207) 1(7) SG 000 3 I I z 2 (l) ST 000 0 15 0 wTs 000 0 0 s23(13) I (l) 'Ibiar 179(19) 913) 19(! I I 63:1(108) 21 (2) I 221 (100) 881(s0) 3 609 (?46) lsO (61) 68 K. A. Dobbs:Recoveties ot Seabirdsbanded between 1978 and 1987 Corella29(3)

(n = 26) or pullus (n = 28). Over (3ZZo) one_third of the have been from Boobies (Brown, Masked and Red-footed) Brown Boobiesbanded at Rainelsland uere chicks.33 oer and the Red-tailedTropicbirds (Table 4). centwere adults. 27 percent were pullus. 2 per..nt *.r" juveniles,less than 1 per cent were l+ and liss than I per Recqpturesat banding locatiotts cenl uere unknown. Collecrively at Moulter Cay, Twelve of the 17 species banded at Raine Island have Maclennan Cay, SandbankNo. 7 and SandbankNo. S.4S been recaptured during subsequentsurveys of the island per cent of the bandedBrown Boobieswere chicks.45 oer (Table 5). The five speciesnot recapturedwere: Black- cenl wereadults: 3 per cent werepullus and 3 per cint napedTem Stema sumatrana (n = 5), Bridled Tern Sterncr wereJuveniles. anaethetus(n = 8), Great Frigatebird Fregata minor (n = Tittreto recovery 1), Lesser Frigatebird Fregate ariel (n = 321), and Ruddv TurnstoneArenaria interpres{n = I0). Up to 1994.it is All recaptures are detailedin Table4. The lonsesttime not known if equal effort was placed to recapture banded between recoveries.I7 years.was of a MasLedBooby birds on all l7 specres.Since 1995.the o;ly inrensive Lrriginally brndedon l9 Junel9E0 and recrptured back ar effort to read band numbers at Raine Island has been the Rrine Island in lare Janurry/earlyFebruaiy 1997.The ongoing studiesof Red-tailedTropicbirds. Three Masked shortesttime b€tween recoverieswas one day. when a Boobies were recapturedat Raine Island after 1987,but Bu[l brnded RL'tl Gallirallus philippensi:was found dead no informationcould be found on their original banding the day after being banded.The longest recoverytimes place.These three birds have not beenincluded in any of the year totals in Table I; however,they are represented TABLE .1 in Ihelotal number ot birdsrccaptured ai Raineislrnd. Mrnimum and mirximurn lime betwcen banding aod recovery of birds One thousand four hundred ninety-two birds were brndedJl Rrine lslrnJ berwecntq_a rnLi to8? Li _ dr!s. \ _ \ear. recapturedat Raine Island between1979 and 1997(Table slc(rcr Range Number of recrprujes 5), representingI 090 individuals(15% of 7 080 banded). Brown llooby 0-15.5y 170 Most of these recapturedbirds were Masked Boobies Iluf bandedRail l)-1 y 1.1 (6O.'7lo,n = 905) and Red-tailedTropicbirds (23.5V", n = lllack Noddy 251-371d 3 351).The recapturesat Raine Islandrepresented 817 birds Black nitpcd Tero 1y 2 recapturedonce (81 Brown Boobies, Connnon Noddy r-o y 5 l8 Buff BandedRails, Crcslcd ltnl 3 Black Noddies Anous t,tinutus.2 Common Noddies l5 d I -lern Herald Pelrcl l2v 4 Anous stolidus, I Crested Sterna bergii,2 Herald, Masked Booby 0 17y 922 PetrelsPterctdrona anninjoniana,463 Masked Boobies, 2 NankccnNighl Hcron 59 187d 6 NankeenNight Herons,49 Red-footedBoobies, l8l Rcd-imted Ilooby tI-14 y 101 Red Tailed Rcd-t.riled Tropicbird t}-l,l v 351 Tropicbirds,I Silver Gull Ltrus novaehollundiae, Wedge lililcd Shcarwxter l4 14 WedgeTail ShearwatersPuffinus paciJicus); 184 rwice (ll Brown Boobies,I Buff BandedRail, 1594 I Herald Petrel, 107 Masked Boobies, ll Red-fboted Boobies. 53 Red

TABLE 5 Recaplurcs of banded birds at Rainc Island and rccovered al Raine Island. BB = Brown Booby, BBIi = Butlbanded ltail, BN = Black Noddy, CN = = Common Noddy, CT Cresled Tem, HI'= Herald Petrel, MB = Masked Booby, NNH = Nankccn Nighr Heron, RFB = Ited fooled Booby, i{m8 = Red raited Tropicbird, Sc = Silver Cull,WTS = Wedge tailed Shearwarer. Sp€cies AB I]AR BN CN CT HP MB NNH RFR 1980 3 0 0 0 550 130 '7220 0 62 t98l 6 0 0 0 0 0 700 105 1982 1Z 8 2 0 0 0 8l 0 l0 34 0 t2 159 1983 I I I 0 0 2 620 55 0 68 198.1 22 6 0 I 0 940 32 r08 0 264 1985 8 5 0 0 I 2 6',7 0 t5 72 I 0 t7| 1986 t7 0 0 l0l 0 0100 I l9 1987 7 0 0 I 0 0 I]5 0 t2240 0 t19 1988 0 0 0 0 00000 0 1989 0 0 0 0 000000 0 '79 1990 2 0 0 0 1',7 0 0000 l99l ,{ 0 0 U 0 830 0200 88 1992 1 0 0 0 480 0000 55 1993 4 0 230 8 ll 0 2 48 1994 9 0 0 0 13 0 0000 22 t995 I 0 0 0 000'70 8 1996 0 0 0 0 0 000 r0 0 0 t0 t991 0 0 0 0 0 520 t200 55 Toral 103 20 4 905 2 86 351 I l4 | 492 No. birds 92 l9 3 635 2 o4 254 I t4 l 090 % banded 13.8 1.5 0.5 100 23.r 31.6 2.1 t2.2 29.5 l 1.l 2.'l t5.4 September,2005 K. A. Dobbs: Recovetiesof Seabirds banded between 1978 and 1987

time betw€en TailedTropicbirds); 63 three times (43 Masked Boobies, in PapuaNew Guinea (Table 6) The elapsed years. The 5 RedJbotedBoobies, l6 Red TailedTropicbirds);20 tbur sightings has ranged from 12 days to 15.5 birds times(16 MaskedBoobies,4 Red TailedTropicbirds); four seneral trend of movements has been for the banded with Masked Boobies each recaptured tlve times; one Masked io travel north and east from their banding location, (Common Booby recaptured six times, and one Masked Booby distancescovered ranging from 100 kilometres 4 kilometres recapturedseven times. The sex of recapturedbirds was Noddy recovered at Wallace Island) to 000 (Table Two of the only recorded at the time of banding for about half of the (Brown Booby recovered in Tuvalu) 6). lbr Brown (247o male,369o female, 409c unknown) and recoveries have been the longest movements recorded (4 000 km)' Masked Boobies (21o/omale,309o t'emale,4370 unknown) the species:Brown Booby recoveredin Tuvalu in the Willis Age classwas recorded,usually at time of banding,for 94 Red-iooted Booby recoveredon South Island per cent of the I 090 birds recapturedat Raine Island:68 lsland Group (829 km), Coral Sea Islands Territory' per cent adults; l0 per cent chicks, 9 per cent pullus; 4 Generally, Brown Boobies moved farther than the other per centjuveniles; 1.7 per cent I year or older; lessthan speciesrecovered. I per cent 2 yearsor older; lessthan I per cent immatures The fate of the 107 birds recoveredaway from the and less than I per cent 3 years or older (Table 3) northern Great Barrier Reef was not always able to be Each of five female Brown Boobies and one unknown determined (Table ?). Although the ABBBS attempted to sex Masked Booby bandedat Moulter Cay were recaptured contact the band finder, this was not always possible were onceat Moulter Cay in subsequentsurveys. No birds Twenty-two of the birds were captured and then either reclptured at MaclennanCay, SandbankNo. 7 or Sandbank released alive after the band numbers had been recorded No.8. and/or the bands removed. Eleven of the 26 birds recorded dead had died from injuries or sickness.Rehabilitation was Recoveriesaway fronr batdittg locations attemptedon someof thesebirds, but was successfulonly Seven of l7 species banded at Raine Island and two of once; a Brown Booby was releasedafter it regainedits three speciesbanded at Moulter Cay, Maclennan Cay, and health.Of the threebirds entangledin fishing lines/hooks' SandbankNo. 8 have been recoveredat sites other than both Brown Boobies survived,while the Masked Booby the banding locations (Table 6). No bird banded at died. Two Brown Boobies were preyed upon by crocodiles, SandbankNo.7 has been recoveredaway from that site. anotherby an ergle rnd a MaskedBtnby was consumed Island Four Masked Boobies originally bandedat Raine by a largefish. Bands from thesebirds were found in the (87 km north, north-west were recapturedat Moulter Cay stomachsof the predators.Three of the 25-trappedbirds were of RaineIsland). keot tbr aviaries.I I were either killed for tood, their feathers Of the 7 929 birds banded, 107 (1.37o) have been or for a ceremonialpurpose or died from being tnpped; the recovered away from their banding place, most (n = 87) fate of the remainingtrapped birds was not reported.

TABLE 6 Disranccs and localions travelled by birds baoded at Raine lsland, Moulter Cay, Maclennan Cay. and Sandbank No. 8 and recovered away from those banding locatiors. Number of Specics Banding locations Recovery locations Distance (km) recaplures

Black'napedTcm Raine Island Papua Ncw Guinea 440 I Brown Booby Maclennan Cay Papua New Guinea 265431 2 Moulter Cay Papua New Guinea 400-1064 4 Raine Island Australia (Herald lsland) 864 Easl CarolineIsland 2 600 lndonesia I 200 Kiribati 3 50s I'apuaNew Cuinea 290 | 216 42 Solomon Islands | 561 I Tuvalu 4 000 I SandbankNo. 8 lndonesia 1968 I Papua New Guinea 480-l 380 l0 Tuvalu 3 800 I Common Noddy Raine Island Australia (Cape Crenville) 100 I Papua New Guinea 430 I Masked Booby Moulter Cay Papua New Guinea 400-1 064 2 Raine lsland Australia (Bell Cay) | 3't4 I Australia (Green Island) 610 I Papua New Guinea 353-l 002 l9 Solomon Islands | 139 I Nankeen Night Heron Rainc lslaod Papua New Guinea 285-463 3 Red-footed Booby Raine Island Australia (Bramble Cay) 300 I Australia (Coral Sea Islands Territory) 8I3-82S 7* Papua New Guinea 410-450 2 Red'tailed Tropicbird Raine Island Papua New Guinea 255 I *Representsfour Red-footedBoobies: two recapturedonce, one recapturedtwice, one recapturedthree times. K. A. Dobbs: Recovetiesof Seabirds banded between i97a and 1987 Corella 29(3) TABLE 7 Fates of birds recovered lrom Raine Island. Moulter Mac[€nnan Sandbank No. 7 and Sandbank No. 8. Captured,/ 5pecrrs Reledsed Dcrd Enranpled .l ftedJred rapped Unhrown .tbtal urown BoobvBooby l2r r 19 3 Black-napcd 3 t2 1'7 66 Tem 0 I 0 Common 0 0 0 Noddy 0 2 0 I Masked 0 0 0 2 Booby 2 4 I ,7 Nankeen I Nighl Hcron 0 0 Red,foorcd 0 2 I 3 Booby 7 0 Red U 2 I t0 txiled Tropicbird I 0 0 Total 0 0 I 22 26 4 ^. 4 26 07

DISCUSSION surprisingas the effort put into banding birds and recording Raine Island is one the most significant seabird-breeding those already banded varied considerablybetween surveysl Recaptures sites within the Great Barrier Reef (King 19g6, 1993] of banded birds dependedon a number of Ogilvie and King 1990;Taplin and Blaber i993; Batianofi lictors including:catchabrlity of species{i.e. Brown ttoobles and Cornelius20051. especialll in rermso[ numberof were not ls approachabjeas Masked Boobiesr. breedingserbird species 1n = l4) ar one location.Also. priorities of suryey team (most recaptureswere made bv recent researchindicates that the Wedge-tailedShearwater lurtle researchers).time of year {breedinguarrus non'_ population should be teated as a distinct managementunit breedrngseason). and number of team members.The from the shearwaterpopulation that breed at Hiron Island duration of suryey at an island, the observer's interest in (Peck and Congdon 2002). There has been extensive and skill at bird identificationand the seasonof the year res"arch on the island's birds, resulting in numerous all affect the amount of information that is obtained on a publicarions grven and reportstmrny unpublishldeueensland trip (Dobbs al al. 1997). Similar issues were raised Uovernmentdeparlmenral reports: Warham 1961.l9j1; by O'Neill et al. (1996), but also noted a poDulation King lo86: Taplin and Blaber I993; Barianoffand declinein Brown Boobiesas redur.ingthe numberof Cornelius2005). Much of the informationpresented in the recaptures. unpublished depurrmenral repons prorided only The grearernumber of Masked Booby informrtionon rhe blnd numbirs and countsc,f birds and Red,tailed Tropicbird recaptures most likely rellects recordedduring the surveyswith little discussionabout the more effort to recapturethose speciesthan biology of the species.The bird bandins information the others as noted above. Becausethere was no consistenteffort to recapture summarizedin this report includesrecoveri-es from olher banded birdsat any of lhe locations,comparing natlons,mtnimum distancestravelled by some birds, and recapturerlte:\ among or within speciesis problematic. the life expectancyof the bands used on the seabirds Also, sex was indicatingtheir longevity. rarely recorded1or blnded birds. so comparingrecaplure rates with other studiescould not occur.0'Neill er al. purposeand timing - _The of field surveysto RaineIsland, (1996) reported higher recapture rates for Masked Boobies Moulter Cay, Maclennan Cay, SandbankNo.7 and than Brown Boobies in a ten year study in the Swains Sandbank No.8 have not been consistent over time; Reefs. This difference was possibly influenced by a however,seabird and./ormarine turtle survevs have usuallv populationdecline impacting Brown Boobies durins the flgured prominently, with vegetation and invertebrate sludy{Heatwole er al. Iggb).O Neill er ai. (1996talso surveysand tower restoration(at Raine Island)also beins reportedthat age class had a significant effect on recapture investigatedsince Ihe late 1970s.As a resulr,efforr to bani rate. with birds bandedas adulrs more likelv to be and recoverbanded birds has not beenconsistent over the recapluredrhan birds banded as jureniles. This ii simijar study yearsand may have influencedthe resultsreDorred to the resultsin this study,although given that most birds here.For example.l8 bandinglrips weremlde ro Raine were bandedas adults(45.5Eo), it may not be surprising. Islandfrom 1979to 1987.These trips usuallyoccurred in Noremberor December,bur trips rlso o..ur.id in Junuury. A small proportion(15%) of birds havebeen recaDtured March, April, May, July, and August. In addition,efforis at RaineIsland. some at inlervalsof over a decadeoi more to read band numbers at Moulter Cay, Maclennan Cay, whilst others were recapturedone to seventimes. Only four SandbrnkNo. 7 and SandbankNo. 8 since rhe 1990shis of the 7 080 birds bundedar RarneIsland were recaptured usually only involved a one to two night stopover in at Moulter Cay, the closestcay to the island.Banding has conjunction with madne turtle surveys.During this time, occuriedat Moulter Cry. Maclennan Cay. SandbankNo. eflbrt changed tiom being concentrated on reading band 7 and SandbankNo. 8 but none of thosebands have been numbers of Boobies{Brown. Red-tbored,Maskidt to recoveredat Raine Island. These examplesdemonstrate the concentratrng on Red-tailed Tropicbirds only at Raine birds'srrong site tidelity.similar lo rhaireported bv O.Neill Island.In the late 1990s,many Boobieswith bandswere et al. t1996llbr MaskedBoobies and Brown Boobiesin observed,although band numbers were not read (John the SwainsReefs. Cornelius,QPWS, pers.comm.). An even smaller pfoportion(l3qo of j 929 banded)of Few of the birds banded in this study have been birds bandedat Raino Island, Moulter Cay. Maclennan recaptured back js at their banding place. This not Cay. SandbankNo. 7 and SandbankNo. 8 werc recorered Seplember,2005 K. A. Dobbs: Reco,Jetiesof Seabirds banded betlveen 1978 and 1987 71 elsewherethroughout the south-westernPacific, particularly Andrew Taplin) who assistedwith the bandingwork, with PapuaNew Guinea.This patternis similarto thatexhibited reading band numbers in thc 1980s and 1990s and by bandedbirds in the SwainsReefs (O'Neill et al. 1996) providing accessto their field notes (Mark Read, John whereBrown Boobiestended to migratenorth and easttQ Cornelius). Belinda Dettman of the Australian Bird and Bat PapuaNew Guinea and the Solomon Islands.Numerous Banding Scheme provided details of all Raine Island bird recoveriesreported in this summary resultedfrom their recordsit possessed.'lhiswas very helpful in checkingthe capture to use as pets, for ceremonial purposesor for fbod, master databaseas well as providing recordsnot noted whereas many of the band recoveries from birds banded previously. This work and the work of many other people in the Swains Reefs were from dead beach-washedbirds ensurethat Brian's legacy iives on through the on-going (O'Neill et al. 1996). recoveriesof birds he banded over his lifetir.'le.Tony Stokes,Paul O'Neill, Geoff Smith and the two reviewers on Raine Island (Limpus el dl. Green Turtles tagged are also thankedfor their valuablecomments and assistance the countries as the 1992) have been recoveredfrom same in finalisingthis manuscript. seabirdsreported here. This further links managementof Barrier Reef natural resourceswith the northern Great REFERENCES south-westernPacific Ocean count.ies. These results 'Heavy emphasizethe need for conservationagreements with tsarry. G. A. and Rayment, G. E. (1992). metals in biota, (Final neighbouring countries, such as those between Japan sedirnenlsand soils of Raine Island'. Reporl to the Raine Island Corporation: Brisbane.) (Japan/AustraliaMigratory Bird Agreement)and China Barianoff, G. and Cornelius, J. (2005). Birds of Raine Island: population (China/AustraliaMigratory Bird Agreement),to protect lrends. breeding behaviour and nesting habitats. Pftx:. Royol Soc. oJ migratory birds. All nations need to appreciate the QLd ll2t )19. migrabry and dispersive behaviour of birds and to work Blaber,S. J. M., Mjlton, D. A., Farmer,M. J. and Smith, G. C. (1998). populations on the far northern Great Barrier Rcef, cooperativelyfor their management. Seabird breeding Australia: Trends and influcnces. Etnu 9Et 44-57. The informationcollected about the bird life on Raine Dobbs, K., Miller, J D., Card, M. A.. Mather, M. and Haselmaycr,J. (1997). Birds of Milmin Island. Corella 2lt 3'743. Moulter Maclennan Cay, SandbankNo. 7 and 'Amalgamated Islrnd, Cay, Great Banier Reef Marine Park Authority. (2003). Greal Sandbank No.8 has proven useful to managers and Ilarrier Reef Marine Park Zoning PIan'. (Great tsarrier Reef Marine scientists alike. The waters adjacent to Raine Island, Pdk Authorily: Townsville.) Moulter Cay, Maclennan Cay, SandbankNo.7 and Gourlay, M. R. and Hacker, J. L. F (1991).'Raine Island. Coastal SandbankNo. 8 are declared a Marine Naticnal Park Zone Processesand Sedimeriology' Report CH40/91. (Dcpartmcnt of Civil Engineering. The University of Brisbane.) of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and the Queenslandi Queensland Heatwole.H., O Neill, P, Jones,M. and Prekcr,M. (1996). LonB term Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park and as such, p.pulation irends of seabi.ds on the Swains Rcefs, Great Barrier extinctiveuses are controlled.Access to the watersaround Reef'. TechnicalRcport No. 12. (CRC Reef: Townsville.) RaineIsland is restrictedexcept for non-touristcommercial King. B. R. (t983). Rcporr t(r Raine IslandCorporation, Raine Island charter for research,fllming, photc,graphy,sound recording Projecl I July 1982-31 March 1983. (Report to lhe Raine Island purposes(Great Corporation and QueenslandNalional Parks and Wildlife Scrvicc: and management BtLrrierReef Marine Park Brisbane.) Authority 2003). The justit-rcation fbr such strict manage- King, B. R. (1986).Scabird Islands No.,13/l Rainelsland, Great Banier '7'7. ment controls stem from the area's significance for seabird Reef, Queensland. Corcll!1 lot 13 and Green Tllrtle Chelonia rrldds nesting (Limpus e/ .rl. King. D. R. (1993). The stalus of Queersland se^bnds Corela lll 2003). 65 92. King, B. It. and Limpus, C. J (1983). Scabird Islands. No. l3l The number of birds utilizing Raine Island at survey Sandbank No. 7, Crca( Barrier Reef. Australia. CorcUa 1t 18-79. times has not been quantified in recent years. Further King. B. R., Limpus, C. J., Seton,D. H. C. and Tomes,G. R. (1983a). Seabird lslands. No. l2? Maclennan Cay, Great Barrier Reef, analysesof seabird monitoring data collected at Raine '70. 7t Island contained within the unpublished departmental A.\ts\t^lia. Corella 69 King, B. R, Limpus, C. J., Scron,D. H. C. and Tomcs,G. R. (1983b). reportscould provide information on the abundanceand Seabird Islands. No. 128 Pandora Cay, Great Ba.rier Reef, Australia. changesin population parameters,similar to reports for the Corella1:11J3. Far NorthernGreat Barrier Reef (Blaber et a[. 1998)a\d King. B. R, Limpus,C. J. aod Selon,D. H. C. (1983c).Seabird Islands. No. 130 SandbankNo. 8, Creal Banier Reei Ansld^lia.CotellaTl the Swains Reefs in the southern Creat Barrier Reef '76-11. (O'Neill el al. 1996)and could provide a basisfor future Lavery.H.. King, B. R. and Sandercoe,C. S (1980).The Raine Islard monitoringincluding whether banding should be re-instated area - a prospeclive narure reference site. In Management of T\rrlle as part of the programme. Resources'. Rcsearch Monograph I (James Cook University: Queensland.) (198?). 'Queensland ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Linpus, C. J. and Gyuris.E Turtle ResearchRaine lsland Study 1986-19E7.Report to the Raine Island Corporation'. Funding for this project was receivedfrom the Raine (Report to the Raine Islaod Corporationr Brisbane.) Island Corporation.The Parks and Wildlife Limpus, C. J.. M'ller. J. D., Parmenler.C. J. and Limpus, D. J. (2003). Queensland The green turtle, Chebnia nrydas, population of Raine lsland and Service(QPWS) provided access to databases,field sheets the north€rn Great Barrier Reet I843-2001. Ment Qld. Mus. 49: and band recovery information and computer and office 349440. workstationsto assistwith the compilationof the seabird Limpus, C. J., Miller, J. I)., Parmenter,C. J., Rcimer, D., Mclachlan, bandinginformation. This projectdepended on the tireless N., and Webb. R. (1992). Migralion of $eer (Chelonia nrydo\) and (Cdrerd effortsof Brian King (deceased)who initiatedthe banding loggerhead .dretta) ttrtlles lo and from eastern Australian rookeries MU. R.,r. 33: 347 358. programme at the islands and the numerous other Miller. J. D. (1991). QueenslandTurtle ResearchRaine Island Study researchers(particularly Jeff Miller, David Milton and 1990-1991'.(Report to the Raine Island CorporationiBrisbane.) K. A. Dobbs: Recovetiesof Seabirds banded between 197g and 19a7 Corella 29(3)

Miller, J. D. (t992). eueenslandTurrle ResearchRaine Istand Srudy' Spratr. P and A\so(iates ply Lrd. tle94). .Raine (Reporrro rheRaine Istand Corporarion: lslrnd Beacon. -.1991-1992'. ,eueenstand Brisbane.; ( onserlalionWorks Oclober November Miller J. D. (1993). Turrle Rescaich lqg4.. tReport to the Rdine i"i".-frl^"J SirAy-' Island Corporaiioni Brisbane.) , -.1992-1993'.(Reporr lo the RaineIsland Corporarion, Arisbane.y j Stoddart.D. R.. Gibb\. P E. and Hople). D. (t08t) Naturat Miller, D. rtq95). QueenslaodT\.rrrte Reseaich Raine tsland historvof Siudr' Kalne lsland.Credr Birner Reef./4/n// R/r. Br1l. No. 254 l9q4-1q95 (Reporllo the RdineIsland CorporaLron: Bnsbane.l . Taplin. A. and Blaber. S. J. M. rtqqj) Seabrrd OSrlvre.P S.and King, B R.(lsSlj TheloDservalton breedingpoputalion anclmanagrmenr sludresar Raine lrtand ln Rarnetrtand gu-., or ieabudpoputarions on rheCreal Darriet .Birds and Envrrons,C.iui Reef.ln anl rheir Reef: a Frdgile and in (Eds. p Quest.to.Prcserve Ourpo,r of Nature..rComp. A K. laq',rar:::raryl !9nservalioo eueenrtand. C. Ca eralt, snurh: K H ZeveringanJ C L Zeveringr P' v. Dflsco . K. Hutsmjn.D Muir pI. _tds rRepon ro the Rarne and A. Taplinr 70_78. lsland Corporation: Brisbane.) OrnithologicalSocier) Inc.: Brisbane.l ^.:9u:"Tlild Wdrham.J tl06l I Thc brrdsof Rrine tstand.hodo,a O Nerll.P, Hearwotc.H. fleker M. ;0d Jones,M. (lq96r .populatio0s. Cay rnd Murrav f5lrnd Sandbank.Norlh Enu :':,-93. movemenlsand sire fidelityof bro\anjnd masked eueen\laod. 6l: boobi;son the Warham.J. I Iq77) SeilbrrdLtand )wrrn5 Xeets.creat Barner Reef. No. 43. Raine Istand.eueensland a\ sho\n b) bdndingrecoverie\.. Corella l, 454i. TechnicalReport . (CRC Reet Townsvrlle.) Prck. .Fomging D. R. rnd_Congdon.B. C. (2002, behaviour,resource u\e Jnd populrltoncttergence of wcdge.latledshearwateK breeLjisg dl.Katne lsland.Greal Banier Reef, Australid. tRepon to LheRain; IslandCorporation: Brisbane.)