Dr Irynej Skira was born in Tasmania in 1950. His scientific career spanned over 33 years working with the Tasmanian Government. He was a pre-eminent Tasmanian researcher and, since 1978, had been carrying out population monitoring of the Short-tailed Shearwater Puffinus tenuirostris, a study which was begun on Fisher Island, Bass Strait, nearly 60 years ago by Dominic Serventy. This remains one of the world’s longest systematic seabird studies. An internationally recognized scientist, Irynej was considered to be one of the architects of seabird research. He also worked on whales, gulls, pest control on sub-Antarctic Islands and a range of other wildlife issues including muttonbirding in Tasmania. He was strongly committed to the conservation of the Short-tailed Shearwater and to the protection of Tasmania’s native wildlife.