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title: "Heavy rainfall causes failure of breeding Short-tailed and Wedge-tailed Shearwaters in Australia"
---

# Heavy rainfall causes failure of breeding Short-tailed and Wedge-tailed Shearwaters in Australia

Cameron Tiller ([Johnstone Centre, Charles Sturt University](http://www.csu.edu.au/research-csu/research-centres), Albury, Australia) and colleagues writing in the open-access journal [*Marine Ornithology*](http://www.marineornithology.org) report on the effects of heavy rain on Short-tailed *Puffinus tenuirostris* and Wedge-tailed P*. pacificus* Shearwaters breeding on Montague Island, New South Wales, Australia.

 “This paper highlights the value of long-term studies in revealing rare or irregular events in ecology, although more intensive short-term studies may be required to analyse the effect of specific factors.”

 ![](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Shearwaters/Short_tailed/short_tailed_shearwater_mark_carey.jpg)

 Short-tailed Shearwater, photographed by Mark Carey

 **Reference:**

 Tiller, C.J., Klomp, N.I., Fullagar, P.J. & Heyligers, P.C.  2013.  Catastrophic breeding failure caused by heavy rainfall in a shearwater colony.  [*Marine Ornithology* 41: 97-99](http://www.marineornithology.org/PDF/41_1/41_1_75-77.pdf).

 *John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 28 July 2013*