INCREASING NUMBERS OF PIED CORMORANTS BREEDING ON THE ISLANDS OFF PERTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA AND CONSEQUENCES FOR THE VEGETATION
| Posted: |
20/07/2021 |
| Author(s): |
E. Rippey, J. J. Rippey, J. N. Dunlop |
There has been an increase in the number of Pied Cormorants
Phalacrocorax varius nesting on the small
islands off the Perth coast, with larger nesting colonies and increased numbers of nesting sites being used
simultaneously. Overall the number of nests has quadrupled in recent years when compared with previous decades.
The great majority of birds now nest on the island plateaux, on succulents or on the ground rather than on the
woody shrubs of the talus slopes that were formerly preferred. This has been associated with a marked change
in the vegetation of the islands, particularly the very small islands where native plants are being replaced by
annual or biennial invasive weeds. As a result the nesting habitats for burrowing birds such as Little Penguins
Eudyptula minor, Little Shearwaters
Puffinus assimilis and Wedge-tailed Shearwaters
Puffinus pacificus and for
ground nesting birds such as Bridled Terns
Sterna anaethetus and Crested Terns
Sterna bergii are threatened.
In addition the bare earth left after nesting episodes and when annual weeds die off during summer, is prone to
erosion.
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