09-APRIL-05
HERON ISLAND
SILVER EYE
I SPENT MOST OF THE DAY TAKING BIRD PICTURES, THIS SMALL ISLAND IS HOME TO ABOUT 70000 NODDY TERNS
AND BETWEEN 20000 AND 30000 WEDGETAILED SHEARWATERS ALSO CALLED MUTTON BIRDS.
THE YOUNG MUTTONBIRD CHICKS ARE DUG INTO THE GROUND AND SILENT AND INVISIBLE DURING THE DAY TIME BUT AFTER DARK THE PARENTS RETURN TO FEED THE CHICKS AND THE NOISE LEVEL IS IMPRESSIVE.
IT SOUNDS LIKE THOUSANDS OF CATS ARE BEING STRANGLED.IT GETS QUIET AFTER 10:30 PM AND STARTS UP AROUND 4:00 AM WHEN THE PARENTS LEAVE FOR THE DAY. WE DID NOT SLEEP WELL IN THE FIRST NIGHT ON THE ISLAND AS WE HAD NO IDEA WHAT ALL THIS NOISE WAS ABOUT :(
MORE PICTURES ARE HERE
http://www.pbase.com/herb1rm/australia