practice of harvesting the various species of bird known as muttonbirds is known as muttonbirding. The name muttonbird was first used by the early settlers on Norfolk Island, who each year harvested adult Providence petrels (Pterodroma solandri) for food. The petrels were similar to, but larger than the short-tailed shearwater. An officer in the Royal Marines called them "the flying sheep". Aboriginal Tasmanians have harvested muttonbirds and their eggs for many generations, and a number of families continue this cultural practice. The muttonbird is one of the few Australian native birds that is commercially harvested. During the muttonbird season, chicks are taken for their feathers, flesh, and oil. The industry was established by early European sealers and their Aboriginal families. The recreational harvesting of short-tailed shearwaters is limited to the open season that is declared each year. A muttonbird licence must be obtained. References Austin, Jeremy J. (1996): Molecular Phylogenetics of Puffinus Shearwaters: Preliminary Evidence from Mitochondrial Cytochrome b Gene Sequences. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 6(1): 77–88. (HTML abstract) Further reading Gillson, Greg (2008) Field separation of Sooty and Short-tailed Shearwaters off the west coast of North America Birding 40(2):34-40 External links Short-tailed Shearwater Photos Parks & Wildlife Service Tasmania: Birds of Tasmania: Short-Tailed Shearwater, Puffinus tenuirostris Port Fairy website: Griffiths Island Shearwater Colony Annotated List of the Seabirds of the World - Shearwaters short-tailed shearwater Birds of Western Australia Birds of South Australia Birds of Victoria (Australia) Birds of Tasmania Birds of New Zealand Subterranean nesting birds short-tailed shearwater short-tailed shearwater