Hundreds of dead mutton-bird washing up on NSW south coast beaches

It’s a strange phenomenon which occurs every November, with hundreds of dead seabirds washing up on NSW south coast beaches – but what causes the “devastating” occurrence? We spoke to professionals to find out.

Dozens of mutton-birds wash up on beaches each November. Picture: Tom McGann

Dozens of dead birds have been washing up along NSW south coast beaches, with the “devastating” situation blamed on a strange yearly phenomenon.

Eurobodalla residents are questioning why mutton-birds have appeared along the beaches over the past week.

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service regional manager, Alan Henderson, said the mass deaths occurred every November.

“Mutton-birds migrate annually between nesting areas in the southern hemisphere and back to locations in the northern hemisphere with some birds covering up to 15,000km,” he said.

“If they encounter severe weather, the weakest and oldest may succumb and eventually wash up on beaches.”

He said this occurred on the NSW south coast, with areas like Guerilla Bay in the Eurobodalla seeing dozens of dead mutton-bird wash up on the shoreline.

One Guerilla Bay local said he saw 21 dead mutton-birds. Picture: Tom McGann

Local snorkeller Patrick Bates said he had never seen anything like it.

“I’ve lived here my whole life and during the warmer weather, I’m at the beach every other day,” he said.

Guerilla Bay on the NSW south coast. Picture: Tom McGann

“I’ve seen some dead birds during the summer in the sand, but never this many.”

Mr Bates said he counted more than 20 dead mutton-bird on the sand of “Small Beach” in Guerilla Bay during an evening walk on Sunday.

“They were just everywhere, it was devastating,” he said.

“I won’t be going in the water for a while, I think.”

Despite National Parks and Wildlife labelling the deaths a natural phenomenon, community group Adrift Lab – a group of ocean researchers – said the situation was not normal.

NSW national parks and wildlife services said the mutton-bird deaths were a yearly phenomenon. Picture: Tom McGann

A spokesman for the group said some NSW beaches had more than 1000 dead birds appearing on the sand.

“Lots of people are being told the deaths of hundreds or thousands of birds on their beaches is normal or due to the wind, but this could not be further from the truth,” he said.

The spokesman said mutton-birds migrated in September, stating if they died during this period, they would have washed up on beaches last month.

“In Australia, there are more than a dozen species of seabird that migrate 10,000 plus kilometres every year between their breeding and wintering grounds,” he said.

“99 per cent of these species do not wash up dead or dying on beaches.

Dozens of dead birds have been washing up on Eurobodalla beaches. Picture: Tom McGann

“What is happening on the coast is unique – not just for Australia, but globally.”

However, Mr Henderson reiterated it was a natural, albeit unfortunate occurrence.

“Mutton-bird are long-lived seabirds with individuals living up to 38-years-old, but the long journey can take its toll and numbers of dead birds on beaches can sometimes be well into the hundreds,” he said.

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