Shearwaters wash up on Central Coast beaches again

Most years in late Spring Central Coast beaches become a resting place for hundreds of short-tailed shearwaters, or muttonbirds, which wash up exhausted and lifeless after their gruelling migration.

Local beachgoers from Umina to Toowoon Bay have once again been met with the tragic sight of shearwaters lying along the shore; most dead, others barely clinging to life.

It’s a familiar but haunting scene, a reminder of the relentless journey the birds make each year.

The short-tailed shearwaters’ annual migration from the northern hemisphere to Australia covers an astonishing 30,000kms.

According to local birders (ornithologists), it’s the last leg of this journey, as they return to their breeding grounds in Tasmania and Victoria, where many simply run out of steam.

In recent years, the situation seems to be worsening, with climatic changes disrupting oceanic currents and food sources, pushing these birds to their limits.

Cyclonic weather patterns, shifts in fish populations, and plastic pollution might all contribute to the situation, leaving many of these iconic migratory birds starving or disoriented.

But who is researching this recurring phenomenon?

Coast Community News has contacted several agencies, though none can comment or shed much new light on the subject.

While there’s no shortage of theories, we need concrete, local research.

A dedicated research institution on the Central Coast could provide critical insights into the effects of changing weather patterns, pollution, and habitat disruption on our local wildlife.

An institution like this would improve our understanding of the issue and provide us with insights into one of our region’s great natural mysteries.

David Abrahams