The Australian Continental Shelf
The Australian continental shelf lies just 14 nautical miles from Sydney heads. Living in North West Sydney, I have access to the many Pelagic birding trips that operate up and down the coast. For this particular trip I sailed from Terrigal, a coastal town on the central coast, just north of Sydney. I met the boat at 6am, dressed in warm, waterproof clothing and good sturdy shoes. It can get cold out on the open water and you should expect to get wet. You only need to bring a skeleton amount of camera gear, I had my Nikon Z8, the Nikon Z 400mm f/4.5 and plenty of spare batteries and memory cards. I would recommend a waterproof cover or dry-bag for your gear.
The relatively shallow, sunlit waters of the continental shelf are crammed with nutrients, supporting an abundance of marine life ranging from microscopic phytoplankton to large marine mammals.
Pelagic birds are a diverse group of avian species that have evolved to benefit from the dynamic and often challenging conditions of the open ocean.
Albatross
Albatrosses are iconic pelagic birds known for their remarkable long-distance flights. I was lucky enough to photograph a variety of albatross on this trip including the Buller's Albatross, Shy Albatross and Black Browed Albatross. The birds glide effortlessly towards the boat, some even dipping a wing to skim the water. This provided me with plenty of opportunity to capture my images. I am always filled with wonder by the sight of these majestic birds. Raising my camera to my eye and tracking my subject while the boat rolls over the swell can be a bit of a challenge, especially when trying to overcome my awestruck state. Our guide meticulously logs every species for the survey.
Lighting conditions can vary and it really helps to know your camera. Practice as much as you can before you get out there on the big blue wobbly stuff.
The best time of year to see Albatrosses off the east coast of Australia is between May and October. The distribution of pelagic birds around the Australian continental shelf is influenced by oceanographic features, prey availability, and nesting sites.
Petrels and Shearwaters
Petrels and Shearwaters are highly adapted for life at sea and are known for their long wings, which enable them to cover great distances during their oceanic foraging and migration. Both petrels and shearwaters are found in various oceans worldwide, including the waters surrounding the Australian continental shelf. We observed large flocks on the horizon of both the Fluttering type Shearwater and Wedge-tailed Shearwaters. There were four, solo travelling, Providence Petrels sighted throughout the day. We also noted Australasian Gannets and Crested Terns and a few Brown Skuas. I am slowly learning the different species of birds that inhabit this vast ocean. It takes a lot experience to build good bird identification knowledge. Be kind to yourself!
It is a privilege to take part in these important surveys. I hope we can better understand the movements of our seabirds, especially during the non-breeding season. Photographs from these trips provide wonderful memories but they are also valuable records and can play an important role for environmentally sensitive bird management programs.
Biodiversity
Pelagic birds contribute to the region's biodiversity and are indicators of the health of marine ecosystems. Understanding their ecological adaptations, distribution patterns, and the conservation challenges they face is crucial. They face numerous threats, including overfishing, pollution, and climate change. The strategies for mitigating some of these threats, include the establishment of marine protected areas and international cooperation for conservation initiatives.
Stay wild, Togs.