The northern autumn of 1972 saw me coming to the end of my first season of living on Bird Island. Seychelles’ first ecotourism venture was taking shape on the island in the form of a small chalet-style thatched hotel, and coconut trees were being felled to prepare for an airstrip. The Sooty Tern colony was … More White Terns and Noddies alert us to an intruder
Bird Island’s large Sooty Tern colony must pose challenges for plant life. Plants that live there experience high levels of nitrogen from a massive seasonal input of guano (after a shower of rain the smell of ammonia can be unpleasantly strong). From occupation of the nesting area in May, prior to egg laying, to departure … More Pretty prickly plants and others
In most years, some Sooty Tern eggs are commercially harvested from some Seychelles Sooty Tern colonies, including Bird Island; this is permitted under Seychelles legislation. The eggs are regarded as a seasonal delicacy by some Seychellois. This is a carry-over from the early years after human colonisation of the islands in the nineteenth century, when … More Bird Island’s Sooty Tern spectacle
Each year our studies include many hours of walking slowly through the Sooty Tern colony, looking for birds that we have ringed in previous years. During this process our legs and heads receive a battering from defensive parents, doubtless motivated by their desire to protect their eggs from what they presume to be predators. It … More Reconnecting with old friends on Bird Island
After a year during which Covid-19 prevented us from continuing our Sooty Tern research on Bird Island, we hoped that vaccination programmes, accompanied by diminishing infections, would enable us to resume investigations in 2021. This desire was increased enormously by a letter received by the Seychelles Conservation and Climate Adaptation Trust (SeyCCAT), the funders of … More Bird Island welcomes us again
Wild Bird Conservation 