This calendar is by Ian Hutton, the foremost
expert on the flora and fauna of Lord Howe and author of the Australian Geographic Book
of Lord Howe Island.
Nature Calendar
January
It
is the height of summer and seabird activity is frenetic. Chicks
of the early breeding species, Sooty Terns, Brown Noddies and Masked Boobies
are fledging. A colony of Sooty Terns breeds in the spectacular setting
of Mt. Eliza’s summit. Throughout the lowland forests the endemic
cicadas emerge from their buried larval stage.
Black-winged Petrels lay their eggs in the first week of January. The first of the Red-tailed Tropicbirds hatch. Fleshfooted and Wedge-tailed Shearwater eggs hatch. The tiny White-bellied Storm Petrels lay their eggs late in the month. Kermadec Petrels are breeding on Ball’s Pyramid.
Peak
flowering continues amongst the mountain plants with many blooms
on the Island Cedar, Corokia, Fitzgeraldii, Pumpkin Tree and Greenplum.
The Mountain Rose, which lines the mountain streams, is also in flower.
On the lowlands, the Banyan drops it ripe fruits.
February
Coral Spawning.
Mutton bird and black winged petrel chicks are hatching. Common noddies
and red tailed tropic birds continue to hatch.
One of the Island’s most distinctive
trees is flowering – the buttressed scalybark, Black Grape, bloodwood,
Mountain Daisy, Brachycome, Moorei Orchid and Blue Plum are also in flower.
March
Breeding
cycle of the summer bird colonies is drawing to a close, but a most dramatic
event takes place in the southern mountains. Tens of thousands of
Providence Petrels arrive for their winter breeding season. Their
dramatic courtship flights and calls make the ascent of Mt. Gower a memorable
experience. These birds show a curious response to human calls,
crashing to the ground and allowing themselves to be picked up.
Spring
and summer flowering trees are fruiting…Big Mountain palm, Red Berry Wood,
Christmas Bush, Moorei Orchid, Juniper and Bullybush are also in flower.
April
The
White Terns lay their single egg on a bare branch. Laying season
is spread over a long period from October to April. Autumn is the
time when mature visiting shorebirds assume breeding plumage before their
long migration north. Four species breed above the Arctic Circle,
in Alaska and Siberia: Bar Tailed Godwit, Turnstone, Pacific Golden
Plover and Whimbrel. Another regular visitor is the Double banded
plover, which breeds in New Zealand in summer.
Plants
in bloom include Juniper, Bullybush, Bloodwood, Christmas Bush, Axehandlewood,
Big Mountain Palm and Exocarpus.
May
See
the departure of the muttonbirds and black winged petrels flying back to
the Northern Pacific. Red-tailed Tropicbirds, Brown Noddies and White
Terns also leaves the area for milder climates. Winter breeding Providence
Petrels and Little Shearwaters lay their eggs.
Hopwoods
flower May to July.
June
The
seabird colonies are mainly quiet now but at Muttonbird Point the Masked
Booby can be observed. They have a prolonged breeding cycle June
to December.
An
endemic tree known as Island Apple produces a floral stalk directly from
the trunk, often near ground level.
I
July
Providence Petrel chick hatch in
their burrow on the mountain summits. Little Shearwaters are still
sitting on their eggs. Most other seabirds are absent except for
the Masked Booby and Grey Ternlet which are not migratory.
Winter flowering plants include
Tamana, Island Apple, Leucopogon, Christmas Bush, Coprosma, Rapanea and
Westringia. Endemic Hotbark tree also begins to flower.
August
On Roach Island, little Shearwater
chicks are hatching in deep burrows. By the end of the month the
terns are landing at night on the Admiralty Islands. In the last
days of August, the first of the Muttonbirds arrive.
September
The Muttonbirds (Flesh-footed and
Wedge-tailed Shearwaters) return. The grey Ternlet is the first of
the summer breeders to lay – a single egg in early September.
Lord Howe Island’s landbirds start nesting in the spring. The most numerous of these if the tiny Lord Howe White-eye. The English Blackbird and Songthrush are found in most gardens. The local subspecies of Golden Whistler is a conspicuous and confiding bird.
The Kentia Palm (opposite), the
island’s endemic plant species, is flowering. Other flowering plants
include Pimelia, Kava, Stinkwood, Pandorea and the lowland Bush Orchid.
October
The Red-tailed Tropicbird is breeding
along the cliffs. Lord Howe Island has the largest breeding colony
in the world. Migrant waders returning from Arctic breeding grounds.
By the end of the month the first
of the summer flowers are in evidence – Sallywood, Mountain Rose, Pumpkin
Tree, Island pine and the Boar Tree. Flowers of the Wedding Lily
only last a single day. This plant is endemic, from a genus otherwise
found only in Southern Africa.
November
Masked Booby chicks are present
in all stages of growth. Grey Ternlets have fledged. Providence
Petrel chicks have fledged also. The Black Winged Petrel is one of
the last summer birds to arrive. Muttonbird colonies are relatively
quite as many birds leave the island after mating for a short honeymoon
period before returning to lay their single egg in the last weeks of the
month.
In the mountains the colourful island
plants are starting to bloom. The Pumpkin Tree, a relative of the
African Violet is in bloom. The Mountain Rose produces deep red ‘powder
puff’ flowers in dense clusters.
December
One of the reasons for Lord Howe’s
inclusion in the World Heritage list is its unique vegetation. There
are about 160 species of native flowering plants and 57 species of ferns.
Many of these plants are best seen
in summer while in flower. The Giant Heath known as Fitzgeraldii
is a spectacular endemic tree common on the mountain summits. In
the sheltered forest the extraordinary Pandanus Tree is beginning its flowering
period.
Because of the distance from nearby continents, the vertebrate land fauna of Lord Howe is confined to one species of bat and two small lizard species. However there are many species of insects and land snails. In the creeks there are found two tiny freshwater crustaceans – a shrimp and a crab.