Ascension : Ascension Island Conservation Department
Submitted by The Islander (Conservation Office) 22.10.2009 (Article Archived on 05.11.2009)

The Army Ornithological Society (AOS) have just completed their seabird expedition to Ascension.

Army Ornithological Society Expedition 2009.

The Army Ornithological Society (AOS) have just completed their seabird expedition to Ascension. The team was compiled of serving military staff, reserves and MOD civil servants. The expedition was lead by Andrew Bray. The aim of their trip to Ascension (from 2^nd - 18th October) was to collect data on population changes of seabird species, the numbers of seabirds now nesting on the mainland, their threats and the numbers of predators present. The work focused on Sooty Terns, at the Waterside fairs and Mars Bay areas. Work was also conducted out at Letterbox on the Masked Boobies. A huge effort was put into finding previously ringed birds and in addition to ringing more chicks just before the fly from the nest.

In the Waterside Fairs and at Mars Bay the predation of eggs and chicks by rats was monitored. Traps were set over night and the numbers of dead rats found the following day were monitored. It was found that the rat predation at Waterside was particularly high this year, possible due to the high rainfall a few months ago. We are now processing the data collected during the expedition. This will be used to inform the AIG Conservation and Environmental Health Departments which areas require more monitoring and control of predators.

We would like to thank the expedition team for their continued and valuable contribution to the seabird and invasive species work on Ascension. We appreciate the reports and data shared at the end of each trip, which helps to better inform our staff where the priorities lie for future work on Ascension.

Nathan Fowler, AIG and RSPB Seabird restoration project with the AOS at Letterbox.

In addition to the work with the AOS this last week, the monitoring of the seabirds nesting on the mainland continues. Out at the Waterside Fairs and Mars Bay the Sooty terns chicks are starting to fly from their nests. At Letterbox the Red Billed and Yellow Billed Tropic Birds are nesting on the cliffs towards South East Bay, along with some Brown Boobies.

Brown Booby Chick at Letterbox

Volunteers welcome. Please contact Olivia Renshaw or Natasha Williams. Ascension Island Conservation Department. Georgetown. Tel: 6359. Email:  olivia.renshaw@ascension.gov.ac

natasha.williams@ascension.gov.ac