01 April
2005
Welcome to the news page of our website.
This page is all about what's happening
on the island and how the various conservation projects are progressing.
If you would like us
to advise you when we have an update of the news page or a new web page
please email us at:
thelodge@birdislandseychelles.com
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Please note that we have NOT Increased our rates for this year. This
means that for the 5th consecutive year we have not increased our rates
(Unlike the majority of properties in Seychelles)
This month I have
updated our turtle information page in consultation with Dr Mortimer our
programme co-ordinator. Please visit:
www.conservation_turtles.html
Sooty Terns
The nesting
season usually begins in late February with flocks of birds gathering in
the vicinity of the island. Gradually the numbers increase until they
start landing on the island in the early hours of the morning and
leaving again before dawn. As the days go on the numbers increase and
their period of rest on the island extends until they are on the ground
all day. Once that happens egg laying starts. Usually this is around mid
to late May. However in Mid March they were still on the ground at midday
giving all the signs that they would soon be there all day! Now two
weeks later they have changed their minds and are not landing until
almost dusk. What usually decides their 'programme' is the wind and
ocean currents which bring their food supply to the island. The wind had
started to shift towards the east at the end of February and there were
plentiful supplies of small fish. We are carefully monitoring their
'progress'. The ground for them is being prepared by cutting and burning
the grass in addition to the extra space we cleared for them
earlier in the year.
Turtles
On the island our
Turtle season runs from July to June and now coming towards the end of
our 10th season of turtle monitoring.
The
first Green Turtle of the
season laid on 17th August 2004 and the first Hawksbill
laid on 26th September 2004.
Turtle Statistics since July 2004
New turtles tagged this
season so far: 18
Green
Turtles: Total number of emergences:
39
Total
number of nests: 30
Hawksbill Turtles:
Total number of emergences:
272
Total number of nests:
184
01 April 2005:
214 nests in total
Total Number of emergences (including
those which did not result in a nest): 311
Estimated Turtle hatching dates: (Based
on an average 58 days incubation) -
hatching can vary depending the temperature and
rainfall. The majority of nests to hatch are now ones laid by
Green Turtles as the last Hawksbill laid on 14 February.
April: 02, 06, 07, 08, 09,
10,13, 15, 19, 21, 27
May: 05, 10, 20, 21, 23
Hatching
Success:
01 April 2005
Total Nests hatched:
170
Nests seen Hatching:
133
Hatchlings Live:
14951 (Average
live per nest = 112.4)
Nests which hatched
earlier than expected
(hatchlings not seen):
37
Nests completely eaten by crabs: 5
Nests Relocated:
48 (in
danger of being eroded away by the sea.)
Nests lost as a result of
erosion: 15
 Back
to Turtle Project
Birds
Fairy Terns:
We have now got in place two different programmes for monitoring Fairy Terns.
1 At the beginning of
each month we make a count of ALL Fairy Terns either incubating eggs,
with chicks or chicks alone in the selected area.
Count of Fairy Terns 31
March: Fairy Terns incubating eggs: 93
Fairy Terns with Chicks:11
Chicks alone: 40
It is interesting to note
however, that not all eggs counted last time are still there as they
been lost either by Mynah bird predation or due to the fact that they
were laid in a very precarious place! The overall number of eggs is
higher. Also more chicks have grown sufficiently to be left 'home alone'
2 The second programme is
being undertaken by Elza with Gareen helping her, and Lizanne. They have
selected 25 Nesting sites each and are monitoring them on a weekly basis
using a method set down by the Seychelles Seabirds Group. This involves
checking the 'nest' (Fairy Terns don't make a nest just lay an egg on a
depression on a branch or in a fork.) on a weekly basis and recording
the contents until the chick has either left the nest completely or has
died. When all nests are empty we can then calculate the
percentage of success.
Common Noddy Terns:
We are carrying out identical monitoring programmes for the Ground
Nesting Common Noddies. The same girls are involved.
1. A monthly count of all Common Noddies
nesting on the ground in the selected area.
2. Elza with Gareen helping and Lizanne. They have selected 50 nesting
sites each and are monitoring them on a weekly basis.
Count of Noddy Terns 31 March: Noddy Terns incubating eggs: 127
Noddy Terns with chicks: 105
Chicks alone: 281
Adults on nest - no egg 26
Lesser Noddy Terns:
The Lesser Noddy breeding season has
begun and we have put in place a programme of nest monitoring the same
as the Fairy and Noddy Terns, the only difference being the sample of
nests is 150, with half for Robbie and the other half for Elsa and
Gareen. It is more complicated to monitor these birds as they nest in
the trees so we have attached a mirror to a long stick so that we can
peer into the nest with it!
Tropic Birds:
The current number of established nesting sites is 60. These nesting sites are scattered all over the island, with the main
concentration around the chalets. To date we have ringed 72 adults and
41 chicks. Currently 5 birds are incubating eggs and there are 7
chicks.
Last year we decided that we would make a path in the
vegetation on the east side of the runway. This decision was made
because there are many Casuarina trees, the buttress roots of which
offer ideal nesting sites for the Tropic Bird, but because there is a
lot of Scaevola which prevented access these potential sites where not
available. We have now cleared a meandering path through the vegetation
which in actual fact is a lovely walk in the shade. Very useful when the
tide is very high along the east coast. Already we have had two nests
established.
Back
to Tropic Bird project
Migrants/Vagrants:
Nothing very interesting around at all. Normally at this time of year we
can expect to see migrants/vagrants stopping over on their way north,
but so far nothing, the wind is still blowing more from the north. Well
I suppose we can't expect to have a rarity every month!
Migrant Count - Since last News Update:
In addition to
this Robbie's weekly count with the maximum number of birds seen on any
day since the last update on 1st March is below:
225 Frigatebirds, 48 Grey Plovers, 13 Lesser Sandplovers, 16 Greater
Sandplovers,
4 Crab Plovers, 43 Whimbrels, 103 Turnstones, 7 Sanderlings,
16Curlew Sandpipers, 1 Pacific Golden Plover, 2 Little Ringed Plover,
3
Greenshanks,12 Crested Terns, 32 Bridled Terns, 91 Saunders Little
Terns, 3 Moorhens, 1 Common Sandpiper,
1
Oriental Pratincole, 1 Jack Snipe
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