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May 16th, 2013 
ABOUT 130 flesh-footed shearwater birds have been killed during stormy weather in Western Australia.
The Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) said it was likely recent storms caused the bird deaths at Mandalay Beach and surrounding areas west of Walpole, in the state’s Great Southern region.
DEC Frankland district nature conservation co-ordinator Alison McGilvray said about 25 dead birds, which were mostly fledglings and sub-adults, were found earlier this month and many more had since washed up dead or ill.
“Strong winds and high tides caused by early-season winter storms are the most likely cause of the deaths, as these storms impacted on nearby islands where the birds are known to nest,” she said.
“The birds have only recently fledged and left their nesting burrows, and it is likely that high tides impacted the shearwaters’ burrows while the storm activity affected the ability of the younger birds, which are not yet at full strength, to fly and feed.”
While deaths among the species were common during winter, it was unusual to see such a high number of fatalities, Ms McGilvray said.
Department of Agriculture and Food pathologists tested the birds and confirmed they were not poisoned.
Ms McGilvray said 21 injured birds had been released this week and several took flight almost immediately.
It was expected the deaths had peaked because the stormy weather had subsided, but the situation would be monitored over the next few weeks, she said.
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