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.
Fine clear weather prevailed on 18 December when the total count was 18,076 incoming PIPs.
This was the final of the current breeding season. Many thanks to QPWS staff and all the volunteer counters.
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!