Pelagic Birds Sydney
Over 200 of the world’s 350 species of seabird are seen in Australian waters. Pelagic launch trips to the continental shelf 30 km off Sydney are a good way to see these birds. From land, Magic Point and Mistral Point in Sydney are good viewing places for seabirds, especially during southerly storms.
Photo: The Shy Albatross is often seen off Sydney but all Albatrosses are critically threatened by commercial fishing, climate change and invasive species at nesting sites.
The Wandering Albatross is one of the world’s largest birds with a wing-span that reaches 3.5 metres. Wandering Albatrosses may travel more than 100,000 km in one year, crossing the oceans many times over.
The White-faced Storm-Petrel is only 20 cm in length but also frequents open ocean waters. It flutters above the water, feeding on plankton crustaceans it picks from the surface.
The Wedge-tailed Shearwater (45 cm long) breeds on Australian islands including Heron Island and Lord Howe Island. It feeds on fish, squid and crustaceans.
The Shy Albatross only breeds in Australian waters.The largest colony of 7000 breeding pairs is on Mewstone Island, a 13 hectare “rock” off the south coast of Tasmania.
The Great Skua obtain fish by robbing other gulls and terns. They also feed on smaller seabirds, attacking them on the wing, using brute strength to pull them into the water.
The Fairy Prion is the smallest of the Prion group, 28 cm in length. It sports the characteristic Prion “M” pattern across its wings. Prions feed at night taking planktonic crustaceans from the water surface.