The Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage Protection has explained that the appearance of dead or dying Short-tailed Shearwaters or “mutton birds” at various locations in the Redlands, is part of a natural phenomena.
The birds are likely to be dying from exhaustion and starvation as a result of bad weather conditions during their 10,000 kilometre non-stop migration from northern Russia to rookeries in Victoria and South Australia.
As a precaution members of the public are advised not to handle the birds.
Queensland Parks and Wildlife have authorised us to monitor and collect the dead birds, including those being found in popular swimming locations such as Adder Rock and Home Beach on North Stradbroke Island and at several mainland sites.
