Whale Birds, the Sooty Terns

Here on Norfolk Island, Sooty Terns are also known as Whale Birds, as they have a habit of returning in August at the same time as the whales migrate past our shores. The birds have a white underside, and the birds back is darker or referred to as sooty.

Sooty terns Sterna fuscata, are recorded as returning to breed on Phillip Island each year during August and September. These birds spend the remainder of the year on the wing, only returning to land for breeding. The large flocks typically leave Phillip Island after breeding in April.

The collecting of whale bird eggs has been a long-time tradition for Norfolk Islanders, the practice of over 100 years. The harvesting of the eggs for eating is allowed periodically on Philip Island and considered a tradition practice by locals. The early generations would row a boat or dinghy to Philip Island and those days, the island is more accessible with motorised boats. The tradition of family outing to Philip and Nepean Islands and with buckets in hand, collecting the Whale Bird eggs in October and November. The eggs are white in colour with dark flecks and are orange inside. The eggs are often enjoyed boiled or in omelettes and some say they taste very fishy.

I have read an interesting report on the Sooty Terns on Philip Island, research by Seychelles. Here is an extract from this article.

The whale birds lay a single egg. If the egg is removed or fails, another egg may be laid about two weeks later. If the second egg is removed, only a few birds

are able to successfully raise a third egg. The research has also shown that eggs laid later in the season (including second lay eggs) have reduced fledging success. If the trends are similar on Phillip Island, this has particular implications for selecting the timing of the egg collecting season.

Egg collecting is currently restricted to a six- or seven-week season from late September to early November each year (which coincides with the early and main egg laying times). If these eggs are taken, the fledging success of eggs laid after the egg collecting season has closed may be lowered and may impact on the population numbers of whale birds in the longer term.

Phillip Island is considered a special habitat separate to Norfolk due to the eradication of feral animals. Many seabirds that call Philip Island home periodically don’t inhabit Norfolk. Without rats, cats or many of the weeds found on Norfolk, Philip Island is once again a safe haven and important habitat.

In 2011 the Sooty Tern were recorded as breeding at Captain Cook Reserve near the area known as The Cord. The Norfolk Island main island colony is protected, and the Whale Bird eggs cannot be collected in this area.

For those who still collect the Whale Bird eggs they are reminded to be mindful of the birds breeding season and to keep the tradition harvest sustainable to limit the number of eggs gathered so the Sooty Terns can successfully raise a chick to return for future breeding seasons.

Here are a couple of photos of the Sooty Tern or Whale Bird and the eggs.

Betty Matthews

October 2022