Wilson Island Bio Calendar

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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