The Dead Shearwaters Poem by Francis Duggan

On the beaches from Port Fairy to Warrnambool thousands of Shearwaters lay dead
They have slowly starved to death due to a lack of fish by those in the know said
They cannot return to their nesting burrows their species may struggle to survive
At the end of the long hot Summer less muttonbirds will be alive
To see so many dead birds is a very sad sight indeed
Next year to coastal South West Victoria less of them will return for to breed
These Worldwide ocean travellers once in plentiful supply
Are dwindling in numbers as the years go by
Short tailed Shearwaters or muttonbirds for them another name
To be long distance ocean wanderers their claim to bird fame
Streamlined and dark brown in colour 'tis an amazing sight
To see them touch the waves with their wings whilst in flight
Born in burrows on islands they spend most of their lives at sea
And that so many of their corpses are washed in on the beaches is so sad to see.