Good PIP numbers = good news from both Low Isles and Green Island :)
The first count of the new season at Low Isles reported a total of just over 9,900 incoming PIPs. A big round of thanks to the Low Isles Caretakers, Jenni and Wayne, and to their team of count volunteers.
At Green Island, the totals for the first count of the new season (separate counts by two independent observers) were 4437 / 4434 PIPs flying in to the island. Big thank-you to long term count champions Gerry and Carolyn!
Have you seen any PIPs returning after their winter break?
When you spot PIPs returning to your area, please put in your report here.
Low Isles already has a few newly-arrived PIPs this season. From 14 to 17 August they were sighted each day from the island anchorage by Julia. Ten to twenty birds were seen flying in towards Low-Woody during the late afternoons and leaving each morning soon after sunrise.
At Coquette Point (Innisfail area) the first PIP of the season was heard (but not seen) on 15 August, thanks to Yvonne and Ruth.
In Cairns the first PIP sighting – a single bird – was reported on 20 August, thanks to Brian.
Update 30 Aug: There were more a few more reports for Cairns the past week (last week of August). Kylie and Chris each reported a single PIP (thanks to both) while Brian saw 9 PIPs, the first group reported on the mainland this season (thanks again Brian).
As yet there have been no sightings south of Cairns. Please keep an eye out for new arrivals in your area!
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Knowing that worse weather was approaching fast, Gerry and Carolyn made a hasty trip out to Green Island to conduct a count on 6 February. The conditions were already less than ideal, windy with rain at times.
Concurrent independent counts produced the same total: 3,526 incoming PIPs. This was a sharp decrease from the two Green Island counts in January (here and here).
For a second time this month, a BIG thank-you to Gerry and Carolyn!
On 24 January, Gerry and Carolyn conducted an extra count for the month. They reported 7,270 / 7,317 incoming PIPs (concurrent independent counts), numbers slightly higher than at the beginning of January (see details).
Counting was particularly challenging because incoming PIPs were flying extremely low over the water, different to the flight pattern Gerry and Carolyn usually see. They thought Northerly winds (contrary to the direction of flight) might have influenced the birds’ behaviour.
The latest count was conducted on 2 January, an afternoon with light winds and heavy cloud. Observers recorded a total of 6702 / 6669 incoming birds in their concurrent independent counts of the same birds. Despite a slow start, incoming PIP numbers increased rapidly after a passing rainstorm had cleared.
Once again many thanks to Gerry and Carolyn, true heroes of Green Island PIP monitoring.
Wayne and Jenni’s photo says it all!
In case anyone’s browser does not show the image above: Just before Christmas the count team at Low Isles recorded 22,141 incoming PIPs.
Many thanks to all the great volunteers and more thanks Low Isles Caretakers Wayne and Jenni. They organise regular counts throughout the PIP breeding season, as well as year-round care for the Low Isles environment and infrastructure. See their facebook page ‘ Low Isles Lighthouse’ for more lovely photos.
The current season seems to a tough one for PIPs. Many have delayed starting nesting, some early nests were abandoned and some flocks seemed to be relocating. However overall information is scanty and more observers are needed please!
Extra coast counts during November and January will be especially helpful. And it’s easy to do.
The coast count guidelines have been updated. Please see count details for the current season.
Important sites needing counters include Kurrimine (south, centre and north ends of the beach) and along the coast northwards including Cowley Beach, Mourilyan etc.
A PIP coast count is easy to do, and it only needs two hours of your time from 4PM to 6PM.
Click HERE to get details and PLEASE help help with this count!
A special call out to boat owners and friends: When the weather is good, can you consider doing a boat-based count in between the beaches where there is no land access?
Extra effort is particularly important now. PIPs appear to be short of food and their nesting has been delayed with some PIPs possibly relocating. We are trying to find out what’s going on. Helpful people are urgently needed to watch, count and report PLEASE!
Green Island PIPs seem to have delayed starting their nests according to anecdotal reports, as is the case at Low Isles.
However the number of PIPs roosting on the island appears little changed from last month and hopefully nesting will begin soon.
Concurrent independent counts reported 5559 / 5580 PIPs flying in to Green Island on the afternoon of 21 November.
Another BIG thank-you to Gerry and Carolyn!
The November PIP count at Low Isles recorded a total of 16,152 PIPs flying in from 4PM until dark.
The Low Isles PIPs have delayed their nest building this season. Local PIP watchers have been speculating that the birds might be waiting for rain. It has been VERY dry so far. Hopefully the birds will soon get started on their normal breeding activity.
Many thanks to this month’s team of volunteer counters (above), the wonderful Low Isles Caretakers Wayne and Jenni, and the Wavedancer crew and Quicksilver Cruises who provided transport for the count team.