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🇦🇺 Australia /Environment & Climate

Sub-Antarctic petrels spotted live off NSW coast for first time

From ABC Australia · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Rare sub-Antarctic seabirds, including Kerguelen and grey petrels, have been sighted live at sea off the coast of New South Wales for the first time.
  • Wildlife photographer James Bennett captured the unprecedented sightings near Port Macquarie.
  • Experts note this is part of a broader, rare event involving large numbers of cold-water species appearing further north than usual, though they are not currently linking it to bird flu.

Wildlife photographer James Bennett has captured unprecedented footage of Kerguelen and grey petrels, species typically found in sub-Antarctic waters, sighted live at sea off the coast of New South Wales. This marks the first time these birds have been recorded in this manner off the NSW coast.

This is a bird I'll remember for the rest of my life … it was incredible

— James BennettWildlife photographer James Bennett described his feelings upon seeing the Kerguelen petrel.

Bennett described the experience as "incredible" and "going to take me a long time to fully process seeing these birds." He encountered the rare Kerguelen petrel during a bird-spotting trip offshore from Port Macquarie. BirdLife Australia's Mick Roderick confirmed the sightings were "irrefutable" and "stunningly rare."

Previously, only washed-ashore specimens of these species had been documented in NSW. A grey petrel was found in Ballina in 1985, and a Kerguelen petrel at Callala Bay in 2016. The recent sightings, where the birds were seen alive and in their natural habitat at sea, represent a significant ornithological event.

I'm just reeling. It's going to take me a long time to fully process seeing these birds

— James BennettJames Bennett expressed his astonishment at the rare bird sightings.

Ornithologist Rohan Clarke from Monash University described the phenomenon as a "very rare event," noting that "relatively large numbers of cold-water species" are being reported much farther north than usual, with some reaching as far as central Queensland. Other species like blue petrels and light-mantled albatrosses have also been observed off the NSW coast.

It's truly remarkable.

— Mick RoderickMick Roderick of BirdLife Australia commented on the significance of the sightings.

While the arrival of bird flu in Australia has coincided with increased seabird movement, Dr. Clarke stated that the current sightings of Kerguelen and grey petrels are not being linked to the avian flu detections. The majority of bird flu cases detected so far have been in migratory seabirds, particularly giant petrels.

Stunningly rare, is how I would put it.

— Mick RoderickMick Roderick described the rarity of the Kerguelen and grey petrel sightings.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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