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RFI – Bass Strait Crossing / Pelagics

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Hi all. We’re hoping to take the car ferry from Melbourne to Devonport in Tas. sometime in early Jan., 2012 so we can spend a week or two looking for the Tassie endemics. There are 2 options – a daylight crossing or an overnight crossing. What are the chances of seeing some pelagic species in the day trip?? What species would probably be around in January?? Is there any part of the trip that would be more productive than others??? There will also be the return trip. Would really appreciate any comments as we need to decide which crossing to take. Please answer offline. Thanks Brian & Meg Johnson ===============================

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2 responses to “RFI – Bass Strait Crossing / Pelagics”

  1. paul Avatar
    paul

    Hi Brian and Meg,

    Bass Strait is really too shallow for many pelagic seabirds – it is generally only around 26 or 27 fathoms (about 50m), compared to 100 or so fathoms at the continental shelf break (and much deeper in the oceans, of course). That being said, it would always be possible to see “some” seabirds – particularly those have been seen around the Port Phillip Bay heads, and the nearby coast. That would include species such as Black-browed Albatross, Shy Albatross, Giant-petrel spp, some Storm-petrels – especially White-faced – which breeds in Port Phillip Bay, maybe White-chinned Petrel, Short-tailed Shearwater and so on. Unfortunately, since the ferry moves quite quickly, and no-one is putting out berley, the chances of the birds coming close enough for ID are not great.

    Good luck!

    Paul Dodd Docklands, Victoria

  2. "Bob Dawson" Avatar
    “Bob Dawson”

    A friend and I did this about 12 months ago. We thought the same thing. We saw a few birds but mostly were too far away to identify. If you are an experienced pelagicist (is that a word) you could probably identify a few but we were only able to identify a couple of cormorants and gannets.

    The ship travels quite fast and birds were not following or approaching.

    I would suggest you don’t go out of your way for it and if you prefer the night crossing do so.

    Bob

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