On 22 July I was astounded to see a Swallowtail butterfly in a garden at Pointe au Sel. I am familiar with the other large butterflies in Seychelles, the resident Diadem and migrants African Monarch and Painted Lady, but this Swallowtail I had not seen in Seychelles before. My first assumption was that it must … More Another new addition to Seychelles’ fauna – another invasive alien species?
In my early blog posts (14 January 2016 and 16 May 2016) I described the then recent arrival in Seychelles of a small moth (Euproctis species) whose hairy caterpillar (in Creole senir plim) was defoliating trees and bushes, and whose hairs could cause intense irritation to the skin of humans and domestic pets. Having fed … More Return of Seychelles’ spiders?
On 25 May Christine and I, along with Wilna Accouche, who replaced Arjan de Groene as General Manager of the Seychelles NGO Green Islands Foundation (GIF), travelled in heavy seas to North Island. On arrival our belongings were taken to the island’s biosecurity centre, where all incoming goods are inspected in a rodent-proof room (to … More Silence on North Island
Earlier posts have described progress in the myna eradication project on North Island, Seychelles. The eradication has been proceeding well and is approaching its final stages. Green Islands Foundation, who are administering the project, are now advertising for a new volunteer (https://greenislandsfoundation.blogspot.co.uk/p/blog-page_29.html) to assist with the completion of the eradication. The full advertisement is printed … More The North Island myna eradication – update January 2017
In the 1970s, when undertaking research on Starlings with the then Ministry of Agriculture, most of my winter fieldwork took place near Winchester in Hampshire. During this period of my life I became familiar with the stretch of the River Itchen between New Alresford and Kings Worthy and liked, in particular, the river as it … More Autumn gold and other countryside change – a day by the River Itchen
“Invasive alien species” (IAS) is the term used to describe animal and plant (and even bacteria, viruses) species that have been deliberately or accidentally introduced to new parts of the world, generally through human a gency, and having been introduced they have the capacity to thrive in their new environments. In so doing they can … More Invasive Alien Species (IAS) – not just on small islands
Dyllis Pomponeau and Krystel D’Offay, students at the University of Seychelles, volunteered to spend a month on North Island to participate in the myna eradication project. They were recruited by Arjan de Groene, General Manager of Green Islands Foundation (GIF), the NGO administering the project, of which the practical operation is being led by WildWings … More Seychellois students enjoyed their work on North Island
Looking towards the south-west from North Island’s west beach, Silhouette Island rises majestically from the ocean as a massive rock. It is, in fact, Seychelles’ fourth largest Island but it differs from the three larger islands (Mahe, Praslin and La Digue) in never having been developed to the same extent. Its human community has always … More Silhouette, North Island’s bigger sister
On 5 August Christine and I returned to North Island to welcome and train two new volunteers, who will carry the myna eradication forward for the next six months. The island is much drier than when we left in May. Badamyann trees (Terminalia catappa, commonly known as Indian Almond), are losing their leaves as is … More North Island – second changeover of the myna team
On 25 July I returned to North Island on a day trip to give a brief training session to new volunteer students from the University of Seychelles. These students, Dillys Pomponeau and Krystel D’Offay, have been recruited by Arjan de Groene, General Manager of Green Islands Foundation, to continue the myna eradication until the arrival … More All change on North Island
Wild Bird Conservation 