Flesh-footed Shearwater

Flesh-footed Shearwater (Puffinus carneipes)

Wingspan 1150mm body weight of 533-800g

Breed on Lord Howe, bird get back here in mid to late August after being on the wing as far north as the coast of Siberia, lay their egg in burrows about 1-2m long. Both parents take turns in the incubation and raising the chick. It is believed that they can swim down to gather food to 50m deep!! The population of these beautiful sea birds has crashed in the last 10 years from 22 thousand pair to 10 thousand. Plastics, long line fishing and deaths due to road kill on the island are the cause. $10 per person from our sightseeing trips goes to this cause. Check out this link www.jenniferlavers.org