Shear(water) Delight – Another first for Denis Island!!!

In previous posts (see August 18th and October 19th) I have written of the re-establishment of a small Wedge-tailed shearwater (Puffinus pacificus) colony on Denis and the significance this has as an indicator of the rehabilitation of the island’s ecosystem since the rat eradication of 2002. As of November 2007, a small colony of burrows was found on the east coast of the island but at that time I was unable to find proof of breeding activity. The shearwater may breed at any time but shows a distinct peak in breeding activity September through February. I have, therefore, been monitoring the burrows closely over the last 4-6 weeks in the hope of finding evidence of breeding and thereby prove the species is indeed once again established on Denis.
So I am very happy to relate that on Thursday 23rd October I found, and was able to photograph (see photos in sidebar), an adult shearwater incubating an egg in one of the burrows!!! This therefore now verifiably proves that the species has established a small breeding colony on the island – yet another exciting landmark for Denis.

Skerrett et al (2001) state of wedge-tailed shearwaters that:

“Sexes share incubation, each shift lasting several days. Incubation usually takes 50-54… and chicks fledge after three months.”

I will continue to keep a close eye on our small colony in the coming weeks and hopefully in due course I will be able to find more eggs and record the subsequent chicks. So keep checking back for updates!

It doesn’t stop there however, Mr Paul Horner the hotel manager, has advised me that in recent days he has twice had call to remove from the hotel restaurant what, as per his description, sounds very much like an Audubon’s shearwater (Puffinus lherminieri); the bird having become confused by the restaurant lights. I have asked him to photograph the bird should the incident reoccur as if it can be confirmed as an Audubon’s this would suggest that this species may also now be roosting on the island!!!

Skerrett et al (2001): Birds of Seychelles. Christopher Helm (publishers) Ltd. London.