The short-tailed shearwater is commonly referred to as the muttonbird. It is a name that was bestowed on the bird by early inhabitants of Norfolk Island, who in fact harvested birds from the petrel family for food.

The shearwater has a long beak with a 'hook' on the end, which is used to assist in the catching of prey. They are classified as seabirds, have webbed feet, and are strong swimmers. The adult bird has a wing span of about 1 metre. The shearwater name comes from the graceful way in which they can fly only inches above water, and can then quite suddenly rise to be many metres above it.

There are believed to be around 23 million short-tailed shearwaters in south eastern Australia during the breeding season (September to April), living in around 250 separate colonies. About 18 million birds migrate to Tasmania for breeding each year. The colonies are always set up close to shore, usually on islands or isolated headlands.

Their pattern of migration is somewhat of a mystery - scientific evidence has proven that the birds travel around 15,000 kilometres each year, usually travelling from southern Australia right up to the Arctic circle, and then completing the return journey. The birds do not travel ashore when migrating, however, and their course is therefore difficult to track.

Like most seabirds, the shearwater feeds on sealife and vegetation. They often catch their prey under water, surfacing to devour it.

Although a great many of the breed exist, their total numbers do not fluctuate greatly each year, mainly due to a number of 'natural forces'. The shearwaters establish their colonies in burrows, and their homes are therefore vulnerable to external dynamics. Wild animals, farm animals, fire and adverse weather conditions can all affect the colonies. Similarly, many hundreds of thousands of birds are lost when caught in fishermen's nets around the world each year.

Still, the breed survives, and studies on their behaviour are on-going. The Australian and Japanese governments have set up a joint protection project for the shearwater, and it is hoped that as a result the long term survival of these beautiful birds will be assured.

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