Black Noddy
Taken at Point Vernon, Hervey Bay, Qld.
Black Noddies are not usually seen so far south and the ones I saw did not look that great - there were also many Noddy carcasses dotted along the high tide line. A multi-agency investigation is continuing to investigate bird deaths in waters in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. Early indications are that starvation seems a likely cause - perhaps due to declining small fish and squid populations. An ominous indicator of ecosystem health…
The black noddy has a worldwide distribution in tropical and subtropical seas. Known as "noddies" perhaps because they constantly dip their heads during their breeding display. Tolerant of humans - even to the extent that they can be picked up off the nest. The nests of these birds consist of a level platform, often created in the branches of trees by a series of dried leaves covered with bird droppings. One egg is laid each season, and nests are re-used in subsequent years. The Pisonia tree is most often used, and in large trees, there are often several nests. The guano produced by these birds adds large quantities of nutrients to the sandy/coral soil which is of huge importance to the tree and plant communities on coral islands.
The ecological relationship between the Pisonia tree and the Noddy is fascinating for another (if slightly macabre) reason; Pisonia tree twigs and small branches are very sticky and frequently stick to the nesting Noddies to such an extent that the bird can no longer fly. It subsequently starves to death and falls from the tree - further contributing to enriching soil organic matter and promoting tree survival in the harsh conditions intrinsic to coral islands.
Black Noddy
Taken at Point Vernon, Hervey Bay, Qld.
Black Noddies are not usually seen so far south and the ones I saw did not look that great - there were also many Noddy carcasses dotted along the high tide line. A multi-agency investigation is continuing to investigate bird deaths in waters in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. Early indications are that starvation seems a likely cause - perhaps due to declining small fish and squid populations. An ominous indicator of ecosystem health…
The black noddy has a worldwide distribution in tropical and subtropical seas. Known as "noddies" perhaps because they constantly dip their heads during their breeding display. Tolerant of humans - even to the extent that they can be picked up off the nest. The nests of these birds consist of a level platform, often created in the branches of trees by a series of dried leaves covered with bird droppings. One egg is laid each season, and nests are re-used in subsequent years. The Pisonia tree is most often used, and in large trees, there are often several nests. The guano produced by these birds adds large quantities of nutrients to the sandy/coral soil which is of huge importance to the tree and plant communities on coral islands.
The ecological relationship between the Pisonia tree and the Noddy is fascinating for another (if slightly macabre) reason; Pisonia tree twigs and small branches are very sticky and frequently stick to the nesting Noddies to such an extent that the bird can no longer fly. It subsequently starves to death and falls from the tree - further contributing to enriching soil organic matter and promoting tree survival in the harsh conditions intrinsic to coral islands.