KOOMBANA REVISITED.: RATTUS RATTUS

Bedout Island was inhabited (still is) by predominantly two species of ground-nesting sea birds:

Common Noddy

Very common on Bedout Is., but numbers apparently fluctuating, the birds usually returning in May and laying towards the end of the month (at least in 1901, 1968 and 1972, but evidently not in 1975 or 1979), only 12 birds and no nests seen in Oct. 1949.

Masked Booby

Largely confined to the vicinity of Bedout Is., occasionally wandering well out to sea (e.g. up to 20 roosting at night on buoys at Goodwyn A Birds of the Pilbara 361 oil platform (130 km NW of Karratha) in Aug. and Sept. 1994). Breeding (400 pairs) on Bedout in March–May and Oct. Present day recovery figures.

'These species spend most of their lives at sea, ranging over large distances to forage over the open ocean.'

Circa 1912, there was a significant black rat population on Bedout Island, only eradicated by the early 1990's.

'Rats are a menace to this species where present.'

'Invasive rats are some of the largest contributors to seabird extinction and endangerment worldwide.'

Bullarra search:

"on the 27th inst.(March), but found no trace of any

thing. She spoke to some pearling boats,

but they had seen nothing. At half-past 9

o'clock the same night the Bullarra was off

Bedout Island. The light there was not

burning. At 5.30 the next morning the chief

officer was sent ashore, and he searched and

found no trace of wreckage. The light

house is unattended. The glass was

found to be not encrusted which showed

that the island did not meet the full force

of the gale."

At 9.30 p:m. the Premier (Mr. Scaddan)

received the following cable message from

the resident magistrate at Broome:--"Bullarra

arrived here at 4 p.m. Captain reports having

left Hedland on March 27 at 2 p.m., and

circumnavigated Little Turtle Island; no trace

Koombana. The chief officer landed at Big Turtle

Island at 3 p.m.: no trace. Reached Bedout

Island at 9.40 p.m. Light out. Anchored and

landed 5.30 a.m.; searched island and adjacent

rocks, but no traces whatever. Do not think

blow was severe at Bedout. The glass in the

lighthouse is not crusted, and there are no

indications of a disturbance. Made a detour

across to Broome via the beach, but not the

slightest trace. Spoke to several luggers."

6 April, 1912, 17 days after Koombana departed Port Hedland, and 10 days after the Bullarra had visited Bedout, the schooner 'Muriel' commanded by Broome Wharfinger, Captain Dalziel, arrived to fix the light which was STILL out..

There were suggestions that Bedout Island was strewn with maimed and dead birds.

Given the facts as they stand I am skeptical about this given that there was a significant black rat population on Bedout and the two species of birds were ground nesters, there could not have been a population great enough to provide dead and maimed birds strewn everywhere.

Furthermore:

17 days after the event is a very long time for maimed birds to remain alive, particularly given the existing predators.

These birds range the sea great distances, foraging for food. Injuries might have taken place a great distance from Bedout (southwest within the range of the cyclone) and the birds returned to the island to recover or die.

No, I don't think there is enough circumstantial evidence to assume that Bedout Island was directly hit by the Balla Balla cyclone.

In fact if one peruses Dalziel's hand-written report (see below) there is absolutely no mention of maimed or dead birds!!! He only refers in detail to getting the light going again!!