Short-tailed Shearwater

The Short-tailed Shearwater, also known as the Slender-billed Shearwater, bears the scientific name Ardenna tenuirostris. This avian marvel, colloquially referred to as the yolla or moonbird, and widely known as the muttonbird in Australia, is a migratory bird of considerable abundance in Australian waters. It is distinguished by its commercial value, as one of the rare native birds where the chicks are harvested.

Identification Tips

Adult Short-tailed Shearwaters are characterized by their relatively blunt tails and black bills. They are part of the larger species within the shearwater family, which have been reclassified into the genus Ardenna. At night, one might observe these adults near their burrows on islands such as Bruny Island, while fledglings can be spotted in places like Austins Ferry, Tasmania.

Habitat

These shearwaters breed predominantly on small islands located in Bass Strait and Tasmania.

Distribution

After breeding in the southern regions of Australia, the Short-tailed Shearwater embarks on a remarkable migratory journey to the Northern Hemisphere, gracing the seas off the Aleutian Islands and Kamchatka during the boreal summer.

Behaviour

The Short-tailed Shearwater is known for its extensive foraging trips, which can span a distance of 1,500 km, leaving chicks unattended for over a week. Fledglings, upon leaving the nest, are unfortunately drawn to artificial lights, leading to potential injury or death due to collisions with human structures.

Breeding

A single chick is nurtured by each parent for 2-3 days before they set off in search of sustenance. The largest known population of this species, with an estimated 2.8 million pairs, resides on Babel Island.

Similar Species

The Short-tailed Shearwater is related to the sooty and great shearwaters, which share its blunt-tailed, black-billed appearance.

Diet and Feeding

Adults forage in the open ocean and have been known to mistakenly ingest plastic debris, which they then feed to their chicks, leading to contamination.

Conservation status

The IUCN Red List classifies the Short-tailed Shearwater as Least Concern, indicating a stable population status.

Harvest

The practice of harvesting these birds, known as muttonbirding, is a cultural and commercial activity in Tasmania. Chicks are harvested for their feathers, flesh, and oil, a tradition established by early European sealers and their Aboriginal families.