Nature Diary
Click on each month to see who is dropping in.
January
- Being the peak breeding season for sea birds they are very active this time of year, up to 30,000-40,000 can be on the island, particularly Black Noddy Terns (Anous minutus), Wedgetailed Shearwater aka Mutton Birds (Puffinus pacificus), Bridled terns (Onychoprion anaethetus) and Roseate terns (Sterna dougallii).
- Female Green turtles (Chelonia mydas) and Loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) are laying eggs and turtle hatchlings can be seen making their way to the sea.
February
- Bridled terns (Onychoprion anaethetus), Roseate terns (Sterna dougallii), and Wedge-tailed Shearwater (Mutton Bird) chicks hatching.
- Island birdlife remains active with up to approximately 40,000 birds on the island.
- Female turtles are still laying eggs and hatchlings continue to emerge from the nest.
March
- Some birds show breeding plumage as they return to their Arctic nesting grounds.
- Birds still nesting, incl. the Buff-banded Rail (Gallirallus philippensis), Bridled terns, Roseate terns and the Black Noddy Tern.
- Female turtles are at the end of the nesting season.
April
- Young Wedgetailed Shearwaters leave their burrows and adult Shearwaters begin to leave the island.
- Migratory birds such as Ruddy Turnstones (Arenaria interpres) and Eastern Golden Plovers (Pluvialis fulva) start to leave the island for their Northern Hemisphere nesting grounds.
May
- The last of the turtle hatchlings can be seen emerging from their nests.
- Young Wedgetailed Shearwaters are still learning to fly in preparation to leave the island by the end of the month.
June
- Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliea) northern migration begins and they are often seen passing through waters around the Island.
- An average Humpback weighs 40 tonnes and measures 16 metres.
July
- Humpback Whales frequently sighted in the Capricornia Bunker region.
- Eastern Reef Egrets start building their nests.
August
- August is a month warming up to spring, and there is generally more activity on the reef and the island.
- Towards the end of the month the Black Noddies begin returning.
- Good Humpback Whale sightings.
September
- Humpback Whales are active, breaching regularly.
- Black Noddies are now returning to the island and will commence building their nests.
- Northern Hemisphere migratory birds, such as Ruddy Turnstones (Arenaria interpres) and Eastern Golden Plovers (Pluvialis fulva) arrive back on the island.
October
- Whales begin heading south to the Antarctic with their calves.
- Black Noddies are nesting.
- Bridled terns, Roseate terns and Wedgetailed Shearwaters begin returning to the island to nest.
- Resident Silver Eyes also begin nesting.
- Turtle mating may be observed in the surrounding waters.
November
- Turtles begin laying eggs.
- Wedgetailed Shearwaters can be seen digging and repairing nesting burrows at night.
- Black Noddy Tern eggs can be seen in the nests.
- The annual synchronised mass spawning of corals usually occurs during this month.
December
- Bird life is extremely active with approximately 40,000 birds on the island.
- Numerous Black Noddy chicks can be seen.
- Wedgetailed Shearwaters are laying eggs.
- Turtle hatchlings begin emerging from the sand.
- Coral spawning may occur if this did not occur in November.
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