Wedge-tailed shearwaters on Muttonbird Island: an estimate of the breeding success and the breeding population

Abstract

The breeding success of Puffinus pacificus on Muttonbird Island (NSW) was assessed for three consecutive breeding seasons by estimating the density of occupied burrows just after egg-laying and immediately before fledging. The mean breeding success was 43%. The breeding population was estimated by determining the density of occupied burrows in the different vegetation types and determining the area of each type. The breeding population was estimated at 12,400 ± 6,127 pairs. These methods and results were compared with studies on other shearwater populations.