Ascension : Ascension Island Conservation Department
Submitted by The Islander (Conservation Office) 24.02.2011 (Article Archived on 10.03.2011)

Last week Liz Mackley from the RSPB joined our team.

RSPB Seabird Restoration Project 

Last week Liz Mackley from the RSPB joined our team. She will be working alongside our Seabird Restoration Team for two months. Liz is a RSPB Research Assistant who has a considerable amount of experience working on Islands all over the world.

Liz will be reviewing our current seabird monitoring programme. There are now an increasing number of seabirds nesting in more locations around Ascension’s coast.  Liz will be accompanying our seabird fieldworkers on their coastal walks and providing training on a regular basis. She will be working on the ringing and retrapping of the sooty terns when they return to nest and helping with data entry in the office.

In addition to working with our Seabird Restoration Team, Liz will be working with the Army Ornithological Team when they arrive in March to survey the sooty tern colony.

Masked boobies at Letterbox

The masked boobies have now returned to nest out at Letterbox. So far about 300 bird nests have been recorded, with another 100 or so still to tag. Please take care not to disturb the nesting birds when out walking in this area, they will protect their eggs and have very sharp beaks.

We would like to remind the public that during the turtle season cars should be left in the car park provided at Long Beach. The bright lights from vehicle traffic along the road by the football pitch disturbs the nesting turtles. The turtles are an endangered species and protected under local and international laws. Thank you for your co-operation.

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