MORTALITY OF ADULT GOULD PETRELS PTERODROMA-LEUCOPTERA-LEUCOPTERA AT THE NESTING-SITE ON CABBAGE-TREE-ISLAND, NEW-SOUTH-WALES

The remains of adult Could's Petrels Pterodroma leucoptera leucoptera were recovered from the nesting site on Cabbage Tree Island, New South Wales. Entangle ment in the sticky fruits of the Bird-lime Tree Pison ia umbellifera was identified as a major cause of mortality. Removal o f P. umbellifera a eliminated one cause of death but mortality of adul t petrels continued at an unsustainable rate as the result of predatio n by the Pied Currawong Strepera graculina. Hunting and feeding behavi our of the Pied Currawongs were observed, including holding fast a pet rel carcass while ripping flesh from the skeleton. Mortality of Gould' s Petrels subsided immediately following the destruction of Pied Curra wong nests and nestlings. Subsequent recurrences of predation were cor related with additional nesting at tempts by Pied Currawongs but decli ned substantially following the instigation of a control program for P ied Currawongs on Cabbage Tree Island. Pied Currawongs take the eggs a nd nestlings of many species of birds, but losses of nesting adults or the decline of a seabird have not been attributed previously to curra wong predation.