Seasonal Guides to Lord Howe Island

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Sea birds are at their most frenetic. Kermadec Petrels are breeding on Ball’s Pyramid. Black-winged Petrels lay their eggs in the first weeks of January followed by tiny White-bellied Storm Petrels in late January. January also marks the hatching of the first Red-tailed Tropicbirds chicks as the Muttonbird, Black-winged Petrel and Common Noddies continue to hatch. Sooty Terns, Brown Noddies and Masked Boobies are fledging.

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The summer birds colonies come to a close and Autumn marks the departure North for many sea bird species such as the Muttonbirds, Black winged Petrels and the Red Tailed Tropic Birds. March marks the noisy arrival of the Providence Petrels as they commence their breeding season. The White Tern ends it’s breeding season and many shorebirds assume their breeding plumage before also heading north.

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The seabird colonies are mainly quiet now with many seabirds absent but at Muttonbird Point the Masked Booby can be observed. Providence Petrel chicks hatch in their burrows on the mountain summits. Little Shearwaters are still sitting on their eggs. On Roach Island, Little Shearwater chicks are hatching in deep burrows. By the end of August the Terns are landing at night on Admiralty Islands. In the last days of August, the first of the Muttonbirds arrive.

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The Muttonbirds return in force preparing burrows then laying a single egg in the last weeks of November. The landbirds start nesting and the Red-tailed Tropicbirds are breeding along the cliffs. Masked Booby chicks are present in all stages of growth. Grey Ternlets and Providence Petrel chicks have fledged. The Black Winged Petrel is one of the last summer birds to arrive in November.