Nature Nature Diary
Heron Island is a protected habitat for a stunning variety of wildlife. An amazing array of animal life can be discovered throughout the year. Here you soon sense that you are very much a guest of the natural environment; you're here to be part of it, to enjoy it and to learn from it.
Click on each month to see who is dropping in.
January
Being the peak breeding season for sea birds they are very active this time of year, up to 100,000 can be on the island, particularly Black Noddy Terns, Wedgetailed Shearwater (Mutton Birds) and Eastern Reef Egrets. Female turtles are laying eggs and turtle hatchlings can be seen making their way to the sea.
February
Wedge-tailed Shearwater (Mutton Bird) chicks hatching - island birdlife remains active with up to approximately 100,000 birds on the island. Female turtles are still laying eggs and hatchlings continue to emerge from the nest.
March
Some birds show breeding plumage as they return to their Arctic nesting grounds. Birds still nesting, include the Buff-banded Rail and the Black Noddy Tern. Female turtles are at the end of the nesting season.
April
Young Wedgetailed Shearwater birds (Puffinus pacificus) leave their burrows and adult Shearwaters begin to leave the island..
May
The last of the turtle hatchlings can be seen emerging from their nests. Young Wedgetailed Shearwaters are still learning to fly in preparation to leave the island by the end of the month.
June
Humpback Whales northern migration begins and they are often seen passing through waters around the Island. An average Humpback weighs 40 tonnes and measures 16 metres.
July
Humpback Whales frequently sighted in the Capricornia Bunker region. Eastern Reef Egrets start building their nests.
August
A month warming up to spring, more general activity on the reef and the island. Towards the end of the month the Black Noddies begin returning. Good Humpback Whale sightings.
September
Humpback Whales are active, breaching regularly. Black Noddies are now returning to the island and will commence building their nest. Northern Hemisphere migratory birds, such as Ruddy Turnstones and Eastern Golden Plovers arrive back on the island.
October
Whales begin heading south to the Antarctic with their calves. Black Noddies nesting, Wedgetailed Shearwaters returning to the island to nest and resident Silver Eyes nesting. Turtle mating may be observed in the surrounding waters.
November
Turtle egg laying begins. Wedgetailed Shearwaters can be seen digging and repairing nesting burrows at night. Black Noddy Tern eggs can be seen in the nest. The annual synchronised mass spawning of corals usually occurs during this month.
December
Bird life is extremely active with approximately 100,000 birds on the island. Numerous black Noddy chicks can be seen and Wedgetailed Shearwaters are laying eggs and hatchlings begin emerging from the sand. Coral spawning may occur if this did not occur in November.
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