By Jillian Mundy

Little black trackers that look like tiny mobile phones attached to mutton birds are giving rangers and scientists vital information on the birds foraging patterns while rearing their chicks. Mutton birds, specifically the sub-species known as short tailed shearwaters are Australia’s most abundant sea bird, many would say the most the fascinating and also tasty – they are the traditional food of the Palawa in Tasmania. An estimated 23 million birds migrate from the northern hemisphere to islands and coastlines in south east Australia, mainly Tasmania each year.