Corella 4 (4) SEABIRDISLANDS No.95

Norman Island. "

Locationi39"01'S.. 146'15'E.: 6 km west-north- west from Tidal River, WilsonsPromontory, Vic- NORMANISLAND, tor1a. VICTORIA Status:Reserved within the original Promontory National Park and controlled by the National ParksService (Vic.); campingis not allowed.

Description:48 ha; this granite island has domed peaksat both ends,with a low, flat c€ntralregion. It is about 650 m at the widestDoint and 1400 m long with the northernpeak-reaching 96 m. The island is generallywell-vegetated, tbough the exposedwestem side is bare in places.Most cover is provided by Poa poiformis tussock which in- cludes Bulbine bulbosa, Pelargonium australe, Helichrysumspp. and other species.Mixed shrubs formed another community comprisedprimarily of Alyxia buxilolia. Acacia (?)stricta, Leuco- pogon parvillorus, Melaleuca ericilolia and, Kunzea ambigua are locally abundant as are Correa alba, Apium prostratum and, Rhagodia baccatq. Ateas of coast, and along the western sjd€ of the central shoulder, are dominated by Disphyma austqle. Some 27 plant specieshave been recordedfrom the islandt. Where present,soil depth varied,depending on underlying rock, exposure and slope. On the more gentle eastem slopes depths of 0.4 m or more were common,

Landing: Onto rocks around the island, depend- ing_onprevailing wind or swell;rhe central region perhapsprovides most shelter.

Ornithological History: A. H. E. Mattingley apparently consideredthat the island had pen- Battams visited the island for 7.5 hours on 7 guins, muttonbirds,Cape Barren Geese,Hooded November1979, and we werethere on 17 Janu- Plover and oystercatchersl.S. G. Lane and H. ary 1980. November,1980 F. L Notman el a/..'Norman lsland

' (looking west)

Breeding Seabirds and Status 'The southern knoll lrom the north encl witl.r Eudx-ptula minor LitLle Penguin - Relatively few in the backgrourul at burrows were found on the island and nest sites right. were generally under rocks. Lane and Battamj estimatedthat possibly400-500 pairs could breed on the island. Factors Aft€cting Status Pachyptila turtur Fairy Prion - Dead birds were Apart from natural predation by Pacific Gulls found near the centre ol the island durins both on prions and diving-petrels,there appearsto be visitsand. thoughno nestburrows were positively littleaflecting the statusof any species. identified,the speciespresumably breeds. Pufiinus tenuirostrl,r Short-tailed Shearwater - Other SeabirdsRecorded Burrows were found throughout the Poa wherever Leucocarbo luscescens Black-facedShag soil depth was sufficient. Densities in quadrats and Ardea noyaehollandiae White-faced Heron extrapolalion of burrowed area suggestsa total Sterna bergii Crested Tern of some 145 000 burrows!. Banding P elecanoides urinatri-\ Common Divins-Petrel - In November l979i two nestlineswire 7 November1979. lound. "adults". as were remains of a large neilling and two P, tenuirostris-5 "adults". Three nests with eggs were found in P. urin\trix - 2 nestlings. January 1980. C. novqehollandia€- 17 almost-flyingyoung. Cereopsis novaehollandiae Cape Barren Goose - Dorward: recorded five paiis of geese on the Bibliography island. Lane and Battam3 counted 70 birds in- 1. Bureau of Censusand Statistics(1912), 'Islandsoff cluding non-flying young. We saw eight birds in the coast of the Commonwealth', Comntonwealth January 1980. Year Book 5:51-69. 'The 2. Dorward. D. F. (1967), status of the Cape Haematopus luliginosus Sooty Oystercatcher- Barren Goose Cereopsis norae-hollandiae', Bull. int. lwo nestscontaining Comm. Bird Presery. 10:56-71. eggswere found in Novem- 3. Lane, S. G- and H. Battam (1980), 'Seabirdsof ber 19793, and we estimated that the island held Norman and Wattle Islands, Wilsons Promontory, at least six pairs. Yictoria, Corella 4.37-38. 4. Norman, F. I., R. S- Brown and D. M. Deerson 'The Larus novaehollqndiae Srlver Gull - Nestins (1980), flora and avifauna of Dannevig, Norman and Wattle lslands, Wilsons Promontory, was recordedin November 19793and two breed- Victoria', Victofian NdL (in press). ing colonies, of about 35 and 50 pairs, were present in January 1980.

Larus pacificus Paciflc Gull - In Novemtrer Date compiled:2 April 1980. 19793,five new nests were found and 11 others contained eggs; the number of birds present on F. L Norman, R. S. Rrorvn and D. M. beefion, Artllur the island was estimated to be 100-120 Rialt Institute lor Enfironmental Research, Fisheries birds. and Wildlile Diyision, 123 Brown Strcet, Heidelberg, At the time of our visit 35 pairs were present. Yic.,3084.