Arts
Getting to know the shy albatross …
Matt Newton’s favourite image from the exhibition On Albatross Island. Supplied: Matthew Newton
Project head Dr Rachael Alderman (left) with fellow researchers Julie McInnes (centre) and Kris Caylon, at work in one of the rookeries on Albatross Island. Supplied: Matthew Newton
Photographic artist Matthew Newton setting up his Albatross Island images at the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery. ABC Northern Tasmania: Rick Eaves
Spreading awareness of Tasmania’s vulnerable species of sea bird, the shy albatross, is the key to keeping the species alive, a prominent scientist says.
From climate change, plastic ingestion, habitat loss or feral animals it is not difficult to understand why the shy albatross is somewhat withdrawn.
The native Tasmanian sea bird is currently listed as vulnerable under the Threatened Species Protection Act which why a prominent scientist wants Tasmanians to get to know the shy albatross better.
Wildlife officer with the Tasmanian parks department, Rachael Alderman, has been studying the giant birds since 2003 and said the data she had collected was not encouraging.
“There’s been a general decline in breeding success, for every pair that lay an egg it’s getting increasingly less likely that they’ll have a surviving chick at the end of the year,” she said.
“We’re also finding that if they are successful … fewer and fewer chicks are surviving that first period at sea and making it back.”
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Artists Matthew Newton and Richard Wastell were granted rare access to the island to compile the exhibition On Albatross Island, which is on display at the Victoria Museum and Art Gallery in Launceston.
It is accompanied by a similar exhibition aimed as children named Albatrossity at the same venue.