Rania Spooner
Stormy weather has been blamed for an unusually large spate of native bird deaths on Western Australia's south coast in recent weeks.
About 130 dead flesh-footed shearwaters have washed up at Mandalay Beach and areas west of Walpole over the past fortnight, according to the Department of Environment and Conservation.
DEC Frankland District nature conservation coordinator Alison McGilvray said about 25 dead birds, which were mostly fledglings and sub-adults, were first discovered on Friday, May 3.
In the days that followed "dozens" of others washed up dead or in poor health.
"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 in a statement.
"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."
Although young bird deaths in rough conditions was a "natural occurrence" that happened most winters, Ms McGilvray said it was unusual to see so many deaths.
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