Ascension : Fifty Birds – Fifth Species
Submitted by The Islander (Gavin Yon) 27.11.2003 (Article Archived on 11.12.2003)
Ascension Seabird Restoration Project reaches another milestone
Stedson Stroud from the Conservation Centre recently found a red billed tropic bird nesting in the rocks above Coconut Bay. An exciting discovery and important milestone reached in the seabird restoration programme since it is the first of this species to be recorded nesting on the mainland since the project began. Another indication of the positive impact that the project is having on the return of seabirds to cat accessible areas, even before all feral cats have gone.
Tropic birds are beautiful white seabirds distinguished by two long tail feathers that quiver during flight. They like to nest in the crevices found in cliff faces and take just over 6 weeks to incubate one egg. If all goes well there could be a chick around the end of November.
The red billed tropic bird has the double distinction of being both the fiftieth bird and fifth species to return to nest on mainland Ascension. Other species include the Brown Booby, Masked Booby, White-tailed tropic bird and Brown Noddy. In the last 3 months 15 brown boobies have nested and 7 chicks have successfully fledged, 4 chicks were recorded from 6 masked booby nests and all 3 white-tailed tropic bird nests produced a chick.
Sarah Sanders from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds visited Ascension from the 12th – 21st of November to review progress on the seabird restoration project. Although the removal of feral cats has taken longer than planned there will be a concerted effort by the Conservation Centre, WMIL and RSPB in the next few months to complete the task. She would like to thank the people on Ascension for their continued cooperation with the project.
During her visit she worked with Year 11 students at Two Boats School on the creation of a seabird leaflet to be targeted at teenagers. She also met with members of the tourist management committee to discuss the first ever ecotourism holiday to be organised by the Conservation Centre in March, 2004. The return of seabirds to the mainland will be part of the unique experience provided to tourists.
For more information, or if you would like to go out and see some seabirds contact Tara George and Stedson Stroud at the Conservation Centre, George town, telephone 6359; e-mail conservation@atlantis.co.ac
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