Elephant bird bird" egg after it was radiographed. It is widely believed that the extinction of "Aepyornis" was a result of human activity. The birds were initially widespread, occurring from the northern to the southern tip of Madagascar. One theory states that humans hunted the elephant birds to extinction in a very short time for such a large landmass (the Blitzkrieg hypothesis). There is indeed evidence that they were hunted and their preferred habitats destroyed. Eggs may have been particularly vulnerable. 19th-century travelers saw eggshells used as bowls, and a recent archaeological study found remains of eggshells among the remains of human
Nepean Island (Norfolk Island) Native Rush. The Masked booby breeds onsite during the summer. From July to December Little shearwaters breed on the island. Other birds such as the Whale Bird, Grey noddy, Black noddy, Wedge-tailed shearwater, Brown noddy and Red-tailed tropicbird also breed on Nepean Island. It is a refuge for the endemic Marbled Gecko, which is now extinct on Norfolk Island. It is also home to the Phillip Island Skink. The island is home to Little Nipper Landcrabs and Freshwater crabs. Green turtles are often seen off the coast of the island. Nepean Island (Norfolk Island) Nepean Island (Norfuk: "Nepeyan Ailen") is