tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87487818509216908242024-03-07T01:01:36.037+05:00The Green Islands Foundation - SeychellesThe Green Islands Foundation (GIF) is an environmental NGO, registered and based in Seychelles, dedicated to the "Mainstreaming of Sustainable Development". This blog has been established to keep stakeholders and interested parties informed of our ongoing activities.GIFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10454056261561614927noreply@blogger.comBlogger72125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748781850921690824.post-91721895867138274592018-08-02T14:53:00.000+05:002018-08-02T14:53:04.939+05:00The Seychelles Magpie Robin<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:RelyOnVML/>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/>
<w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
<w:Word11KerningPairs/>
<w:CachedColBalance/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0cm;
mso-para-margin-right:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0cm;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6gFHKA9Xp03nX6jqSz7YJW_ZDVytY8D8nCK892oDku4puFJX9ZB-9q6Q9O8_U37USrwURjMqkXVLB27K76C9VgYjvsP0iq7XoA3WxMLVq-yoCKdNxLhIg3FYnD82no0Fd3X8GTVasQb5V/s1600/DSCN0686.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6gFHKA9Xp03nX6jqSz7YJW_ZDVytY8D8nCK892oDku4puFJX9ZB-9q6Q9O8_U37USrwURjMqkXVLB27K76C9VgYjvsP0iq7XoA3WxMLVq-yoCKdNxLhIg3FYnD82no0Fd3X8GTVasQb5V/s200/DSCN0686.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: A Seychelles Magpie Robin (CTagg)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
Seychelles magpie robin (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Copsychus
sechellarum</i>) at one stage was facing extinction. With numbers as low as
twelve, it looked like this species would be consigned to the ages as another
extinction brought about by habitat destruction the accidental introduction of
rats (stowaways on shipping vessels). Fortunately this has not been the case at
all and they have been a truly remarkable success story of conservation proving
that it is not too late to take positive action and save a species.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxAvBPvaPm4or-4t74owMmKzfvdgpcQOefPZiHEEkFzm2xucrUzo35t1kNPT97lNNXufZf-oE_HExNNq65iTBzunrBQ915-Xcge4LTy-c3blN0jB3JKqSZ3zZyq75tMeGe6MK7K77N1j42/s1600/DSCN0674.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxAvBPvaPm4or-4t74owMmKzfvdgpcQOefPZiHEEkFzm2xucrUzo35t1kNPT97lNNXufZf-oE_HExNNq65iTBzunrBQ915-Xcge4LTy-c3blN0jB3JKqSZ3zZyq75tMeGe6MK7K77N1j42/s200/DSCN0674.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo:SMR feeding on Banyan fruit (CTagg)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Denis
Island has the privilege of being a part of their recovery. The magpies are
believed to have inhabited most of the Granitic islands of the Seychelles
however with the development of these islands and the introduction of rats by
accident and cats (to control the rats), they quickly went extinct on all but
one island (Fregate island). As part of the recovery efforts, the magpies were
translocated to other islands that provided the right habitat for the and
crucially, were rat and cat free. Translocation efforts not only increase the
overall area the birds can be found in thus allowing a larger population of
this highly territorial species, they provide security that should a population
fail due to disease, habitat destruction or introduced threats, populations of wild
birds still exist.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Denis
Island was one such destination and, in 2008, 20 magpie robins were translocated
here. Since then, the birds have been monitored by conservation staff on the
island to ensure the population is stable/ growing and the birds are showing no
signs of disease or abnormal behaviour. It is was observed that the invasive myna bird on Denis was having a detrimental effect on nesting success as this
problematic species is a nest raider eating both eggs and chicks. This species
was eradicated in 2015 and it is with great pleasure to say that since the
initial 20 birds first released, the 2016 census showed magpie numbers on Denis
were up to 78!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDLS88bAA7kg7VbVaZbVxkf_HgmsyWmDQy7AejPyji6rZo-exv-T4fHsZDJ2TzN-u1ZtsgUN42hyphenhyphenWaeZB5aAoLyjo9XJuK1uScQEm6lCqRf0AjWcdGljJuf3wh6RTXVr87Z5_hTzYCgq_w/s1600/DSCN0270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDLS88bAA7kg7VbVaZbVxkf_HgmsyWmDQy7AejPyji6rZo-exv-T4fHsZDJ2TzN-u1ZtsgUN42hyphenhyphenWaeZB5aAoLyjo9XJuK1uScQEm6lCqRf0AjWcdGljJuf3wh6RTXVr87Z5_hTzYCgq_w/s320/DSCN0270.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: The Seychelles magpie robin has a varied diet and is capable of hunting and feeding on the Seychelles skinks; <i>Trachylepis seychellensis </i>(CTagg)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Success
stories like this are only possible thanks to constant monitoring of
populations of wildlife especially species at risk and then the appropriate
steps taken to ensure success. Even after the huge challenges of moving a
species, constant monitoring still needs to be done to look for any potential
problems on the horizon which can be prevented before having a chance to take
hold.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">By visiting
Denis or the other islands with magpie populations, you are helping contribute
to the protection of such a fascinating species and we hope you are fortunate
to see these charismatic birds whilst you are here.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ICwLebrmKUXO7o4qHiPvuBQK3KTm1OFSZlgjXtXDW3nYnvcYEJHr1zzHXL_DuX0kU7d0C8MA22izjIw5-2b1Tk5qCzvwDH9qmk0ce1zyGxl3SSWFL9Mz6YLl9KeMuHLBnIBkE1kL7b9g/s1600/DSCN0417.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ICwLebrmKUXO7o4qHiPvuBQK3KTm1OFSZlgjXtXDW3nYnvcYEJHr1zzHXL_DuX0kU7d0C8MA22izjIw5-2b1Tk5qCzvwDH9qmk0ce1zyGxl3SSWFL9Mz6YLl9KeMuHLBnIBkE1kL7b9g/s320/DSCN0417.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: The feathers of a Seychelles magpie robin are very glossy so in sunlight shimmer iridescently (CTagg)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Fun fact:
The Creole name for this species is pisantez means ‘singing pie’. Pie after the
birds black and white plumage, and singing because of its melodic voice.</span></div>
GIFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10454056261561614927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748781850921690824.post-35835083827990644702018-05-30T09:38:00.001+05:002018-05-30T09:55:05.590+05:00The green turtle on Denis island<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/>
<w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
<w:Word11KerningPairs/>
<w:CachedColBalance/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Green Turtle is part of an order of reptiles that have
been on this Earth for 220 million years. They survived the extinction that
wiped out the dinosaurs, several ice ages and now as a result of direct and
indirect human action they could disappear! The green turtle (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Chelonia mydas</i>) for years was hunted as
a source of meat. This, coupled with the pollution of the world’s oceans has
led to drastic declines in numbers of turtles. An estimated 170,000-180,000 green turtles remain. This may seem a large figure however compared to seven
billion humans, some perspective can be seen! Worldwide awareness is now the highest it has ever been and
efforts are being made at small and international levels to conserve the turtle
species.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
The Seychelles is perhaps the best example in the Indian Ocean of turtle conservation. Several NGOs and experienced researchers are working with the
government and local community to bring about change to save these ancient
species. As a result of the continued efforts happening and strict
anti-poaching laws in the Seychelles, the turtles that return each year are
afforded protection and it is hoped this will lead to population increase. </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgU0tfhjlHHrU_pvm5AYwX1OIkVJkR0dOtWZST0taVetvhTyH2S5WQkTmiKf0SxiKmgHKPn2mwNYwVLdUtFltKJQeDPDgNKN1aprFeRkvPK4h_iUNYgeypCTpSOAVikhSYV-sjgbxI5ru4/s1600/ASCN+0001+%252837%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgU0tfhjlHHrU_pvm5AYwX1OIkVJkR0dOtWZST0taVetvhTyH2S5WQkTmiKf0SxiKmgHKPn2mwNYwVLdUtFltKJQeDPDgNKN1aprFeRkvPK4h_iUNYgeypCTpSOAVikhSYV-sjgbxI5ru4/s200/ASCN+0001+%252837%2529.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: Green turtle track (CTagg) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here on Denis Island, the green turtle nesting season has
begun. Emergences at night have been seen over the last few weeks with 10
emergences recorded on the 21<sup>st</sup> of May this year! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An emergence is when the female returns to the
beach she most likely hatched from decades before to lay her own eggs. This is
the only time a healthy turtle will ever return to land. The green turtles
emerge under the cover of darkness usual at high tide and drag themselves up
the beach to lay anywhere between 75-200 eggs before returning back to the
ocean.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Denis Island is not just used as a nesting site for this
endangered species, but the waters around the island are a crucial foraging ground
for immature turtles. The seagrass meadows are perfect for the young turtles
offering both food for their development and safety for the large predators
found in deeper water. In return the turtle grazing opens up the meadows
allowing for a richer invertebrate and fish community, making them a crucial
component of the ecosystem! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Turtles on
Denis can be frequently seen from the shore coming up for air and swimming in the shallows grazing on the seagrass. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5UK903RUoW4x8u5CMm41x1uJPuor_77Kp-HHmzM1fBimbCMol5byHoGtOKmnPXEFxP8oplm03HtvuR3IA4iBThQnuCinQlBXaTRgMJvEQFqInsiA1z0XJUukL2NqsPCBPGuGvM7WL1sHX/s1600/ASCN+0001+%252845%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5UK903RUoW4x8u5CMm41x1uJPuor_77Kp-HHmzM1fBimbCMol5byHoGtOKmnPXEFxP8oplm03HtvuR3IA4iBThQnuCinQlBXaTRgMJvEQFqInsiA1z0XJUukL2NqsPCBPGuGvM7WL1sHX/s400/ASCN+0001+%252845%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: Immature green turtle swimming a few metres from shore (CTagg)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Adult turtles on very rare occasions can be seen mating in
the sea. On the morning of the 21<sup>st</sup> of May, Conservation Officer
Chris Tagg observed a mating event in the shallows at the south end of Bois
Blanc. The mating couple were a few meters from the shore with at least another
five males in the vicinity vying for an opportunity to mate with her as well
should the mating male be displaced. To ensure he does not slide off or get
washed away from the female, the male turtle will secure himself with his front
flippers. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The next day, Conservation Officer Juan Michel spotted them again still in the process of mating!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7z58vISgKeUPEgwsGbCE69982SWIKJcG5_IQVW-R9MKe6Qc2oJ41IQ4gU6b7xuUIOLQk0PbyRDa7aGSSQBSnInPLJxAdjBhWwIUR_enhAnmjKlK2hFwK18hHVT8wRNiX1_ourxvzmSxAt/s1600/DSCN0136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7z58vISgKeUPEgwsGbCE69982SWIKJcG5_IQVW-R9MKe6Qc2oJ41IQ4gU6b7xuUIOLQk0PbyRDa7aGSSQBSnInPLJxAdjBhWwIUR_enhAnmjKlK2hFwK18hHVT8wRNiX1_ourxvzmSxAt/s320/DSCN0136.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz_NM70GqAHCTYbZNHhdgF8gTjUh-g2ZrVx1wkrr45W5XEqa2NmiyeNUr98LwDfDrBZeOvis-4uwUGRpkPhWi0mh3LFz3qBrWSK3Gxksbt7xCTyKA4ehV_A1p8GOP1JoagIB8FusINg9dE/s1600/DSCN0148.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz_NM70GqAHCTYbZNHhdgF8gTjUh-g2ZrVx1wkrr45W5XEqa2NmiyeNUr98LwDfDrBZeOvis-4uwUGRpkPhWi0mh3LFz3qBrWSK3Gxksbt7xCTyKA4ehV_A1p8GOP1JoagIB8FusINg9dE/s320/DSCN0148.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo set: Top Male mounting female during breeding attempt with a second male bottom circling nearby (CTagg)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Events such as mating and high levels of emergence are signs
for optimism in these times when conservation is fighting to change people’s
perspectives on wildlife and the natural world in general and open their eyes
to the impacts we are having on the Earth.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It is hoped that each island here in the
Seychelles will have some form of protection or a dedicated team to monitor the
turtles. Protecting one island on a chain is good but having some form of
protection across multiple is excellent! If you would like to help in any way
to the conservation efforts on Denis Island, report turtle sightings to the
conservation team.</span>GIFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10454056261561614927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748781850921690824.post-42059640809707444762017-09-22T11:18:00.001+05:002017-09-22T11:36:40.658+05:00Manta rays at Denis Island<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo2nIy-RKSy9dfIV6BSTYLeJrXB2kJT08hSmJFiHZ59cJb_zV18GkrYLC5UtvMMFLdeFHWpJHgJ3VHkHCpYaNjKuer6Vqa1iqe9XMXRnZbBNMjPkbTRnYuhoWstDHFNA6EuMUbY1ZKudb-/s1600/image001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="443" data-original-width="857" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo2nIy-RKSy9dfIV6BSTYLeJrXB2kJT08hSmJFiHZ59cJb_zV18GkrYLC5UtvMMFLdeFHWpJHgJ3VHkHCpYaNjKuer6Vqa1iqe9XMXRnZbBNMjPkbTRnYuhoWstDHFNA6EuMUbY1ZKudb-/s320/image001.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>What are those big sea animals
that looks like underwater war planes? They are pelagic fish and one of the
most intriguing species; in fact this spectacular animal is highly tolerant
towards humans.<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>Mantas are here again this year,
actively feeding in the shallow waters of Denis Island. From late August a few
mantas have been sighted, either by diving hotel guests or by the Denis Island
diving and fishing team. An encounter with these amazing creatures is purely fortuitous
and never fails to amaze those lucky enough to experience it.<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The arrivals of mantas at Denis Island correspond to the
abundance of food availability. More recently, all along the northwest beach line
of Denis island, washed-up zooplankton has been encountered suggesting its
abundance in the region.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter">
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0">
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0">
<v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1">
<v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2">
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth">
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight">
<v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1">
<v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2">
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth">
<v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0">
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight">
<v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0">
</v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:formulas>
<v:path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f">
<o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit">
</o:lock></v:path></v:stroke></v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_5" o:borderbottomcolor="black" o:borderleftcolor="black" o:borderrightcolor="black" o:bordertopcolor="black" o:spid="_x0000_i1026" style="height: 107.25pt; mso-wrap-style: square; visibility: visible; width: 207.75pt;" type="#_x0000_t75">
<v:imagedata o:title="Snapshot13" src="file:///C:\Users\mleotta\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.jpg">
<w:bordertop type="single" width="12">
<w:borderleft type="single" width="12">
<w:borderbottom type="single" width="12">
<w:borderright type="single" width="12">
</w:borderright></w:borderbottom></w:borderleft></w:bordertop></v:imagedata></v:shape></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Mantas are warm water creatures that
swim with their large pectoral fins. They have no venom or spine so they are relatively
harmless. There are two species of manta rays. The giant manta (<i>Manta birostris</i>) commonly has a wing span
of 4.5m (15 feet) but individuals of 9.1 m (29 feet) have been recorded, and it
can weigh up to 3 tons (6,600 pounds. The reef manta (<i>Manta alfredi</i>) is smaller (max disc width recorded: 5 m or 16 feet)
and it is commonly found in inshore habitats.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The presence of reef manta rays
contributes to eco-tourism in certain areas where divers and snorkelers have
the opportunity to dive in close proximity to these majestic fish. However manta
rays face a huge number of threats such as fishing (both directed and bycatch),
habitat degradation, global warming, pollution, ingestion of micro plastics and
poor protection status in most regions of the globe. The IUCN Red List has categorized mantas rays as “vulnerable”.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The
Manta Trust investigates movement patterns, feeding ecology and demography of
reef manta rays in the Seychelles region. By doing this, we hope to gain a
better understanding of the health and size of this manta population, as well
as where, how, and why these animals move through the various habitats
available to them.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<v:shape id="Picture_x0020_3" o:borderbottomcolor="black" o:borderleftcolor="black" o:borderrightcolor="black" o:bordertopcolor="black" o:spid="_x0000_i1025" style="height: 123.75pt; mso-wrap-style: square; visibility: visible; width: 247.5pt;" type="#_x0000_t75">
<v:imagedata o:title="Snapshot3" src="file:///C:\Users\mleotta\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image002.jpg">
<w:bordertop type="single" width="8">
<w:borderleft type="single" width="8">
<w:borderbottom type="single" width="8">
<w:borderright type="single" width="8">
</w:borderright></w:borderbottom></w:borderleft></w:bordertop></v:imagedata></v:shape></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lauren Peel, a PhD student from the University of Western
Australia and associated with the Save Our Seas Foundation/Manta ray project in
the Seychelles, is very interested in setting up collaborations with researchers
and dive shops across the Seychelles in order to get them to report sightings of manta rays. This will be with the aim of obtaining an outlook of
their distribution and movement patterns. Individual mantas can be identified
through the unique pigmentation patterns on the ventral side of their bodies
and it is relatively easy to collect ID photos of them by free-diving down in
front of them as they approach and take a photo as they swim overhead. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZScJWwx1nEAYGIClBPOevgu602205CKmIXIe8o00Lbay0wHjqv7wlx-S7UX7xgTvIz0DLKQ8oCZAhXeBOf64yuBQLX5Kmvnk8ug5_brqg0tcZrR9ZLD7eqver2uFAtjlzB5te3GPTS3Qo/s1600/image002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="879" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZScJWwx1nEAYGIClBPOevgu602205CKmIXIe8o00Lbay0wHjqv7wlx-S7UX7xgTvIz0DLKQ8oCZAhXeBOf64yuBQLX5Kmvnk8ug5_brqg0tcZrR9ZLD7eqver2uFAtjlzB5te3GPTS3Qo/s320/image002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Recently a video of a manta feeding event occurred in Denis
Island was recorded, and allowed us to identify two new manta rays and add them
to our database. This is very exciting as we previously did not know that
mantas were sighted in this area!</div>
GIFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10454056261561614927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748781850921690824.post-61861576267715771292017-09-01T14:25:00.001+05:002017-09-01T14:53:49.357+05:00North island myna eradication project as told by Claire and Sarah <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">What is the Common Indian Myna (<i>Acridotheres tristis</i>)? The myna is a
bird native to India and South East Asia which has been introduced to various
countries around the world. The myna was introduced to the Seychelles
potentially to manage the number of insects damaging crops and other vegetation,
however this is not confirmed. Is is an aggressive bird that has been known
to injure and kill endemic birds as well as damage the eggs. This has had a severe impact on breeding
success and population numbers of endemic species across the islands. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">North Island is working towards
restoring the island to how it was before it became a farm for fruit,
vegetables and coconuts in 1826. Removal of the myna is a huge step in this
process and once completed endemic species can then potentially be
reintroduced. The Myna Eradication Programme is a partnership of North Island,
Green Island Foundations, Chris Feare of Wildwings Bird Management and endorsed
by Ministry of </span>Environment,Energy, and Climate Change. The current programme commenced May<span style="color: red;"> </span>2016 and has since removed 924 myna from North
Island.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh0hy_QiK45qXrl6kDRjVNpHL8wxfi1h1AI9hJka8hyphenhyphensI7RnRL143zLPQNUEksMoFuv9Kll1nET30YQ7aUF_imokbCXMpCGO76UK_5oHFuGxGnml8f2okfTlSG81-Og7JapqmuACeCCKKl/s1600/Blog+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="535" data-original-width="1600" height="106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh0hy_QiK45qXrl6kDRjVNpHL8wxfi1h1AI9hJka8hyphenhyphensI7RnRL143zLPQNUEksMoFuv9Kll1nET30YQ7aUF_imokbCXMpCGO76UK_5oHFuGxGnml8f2okfTlSG81-Og7JapqmuACeCCKKl/s320/Blog+%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Photo: partial view of North island seen spa hill (CWaters)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Our current volunteers, Claire
Waters and Sarah Atkinson took over in April 2017 for the final stages of the eradication.
We are now reaching a very exciting part of the project where we are starting
to see huge progress and can see we are reaching the end of the eradication
process. The eradication of the myna has been successfully completed on two
other islands in the Seychelles archipelago (Frégate and Denis); which have
shown a notable dramatic increase in the native bird population on those
islands. The eradication of the majority of mynas on North Island is already benefiting
the native species on the islands and is thus proving its conservation
importance.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">In order to remove the myna, the methodology
has changed since the beginning of the project to adapt to the birds’ changing
behaviour. In order to be successful in removing the mynas, efforts need to be
invested in understanding the bird behaviours and adapting methodologies
accordingly. We are now in the process of carrying out surveys throughout the
day to locate the remaining birds, which are thought to be in very low numbers.
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">So what do we do every day? Each day
starts at 5:30am where one of the two Myna Eradication Officers, Claire or
Sarah, start with a dawn survey at various locations across the island. This
involves listening and looking for a dawn chorus, which is easily distinguishable
from other birds around the island. Surveys then continue throughout the day,
tracking the remaining birds and covering all areas of the island, from the
plateaus to the top of the hills along the hiking trails. The other volunteer
will begin work at midday, and will carry out the same survey at dusk to locate
the birds as they select a tree to roost in overnight. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpHlAxxEHoOpV8QESyWc7SjXvU3uG_HgAE38Qdln95zzh5YSKOXOPHr5XadxDfGanD7hOivmhe-5lxrVcMP2TYVOLxsLSDLtjQTpY6I7cUc_LwPUEJDU_49zo17gG7sW41q8Tofhq-b_Go/s1600/Blog+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpHlAxxEHoOpV8QESyWc7SjXvU3uG_HgAE38Qdln95zzh5YSKOXOPHr5XadxDfGanD7hOivmhe-5lxrVcMP2TYVOLxsLSDLtjQTpY6I7cUc_LwPUEJDU_49zo17gG7sW41q8Tofhq-b_Go/s320/Blog+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Photo: Sarah and Claire observing mynas (ASanders)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Interestingly, a previous Myna
Eradication Programme on Denis Island found that the myna would roost in one
tree together overnight. This has also been suggested to take place around the
world. However, on North Island the m<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a>yna have all been
found to roost in pairs across the island. This is one example of the differing
behaviour found in the myna on North Island and has made the project more
challenging. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">It has been found that as the number
of myna on the island has dropped significantly, their behaviour has begun to
change as well. Their vocalisations have altered to mimic native birds making
it more difficult to locate them. This may be in response to low population numbers
or in an attempt to disguise themselves. It is also possible that juveniles are
learning from native birds in the absence of many adults to learn from. They
have also become less confident and are no longer seen on the ground of the
plateau. In the coming months, as we near completion of the eradication, there
will then be an observation phase of the project, where the island will continue
to be surveyed daily to ensure that we have eradicated all birds, this may take
place for up to 6 months. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrsdRrSF2LwJ-bY3o48ni72qjy4FseAvbYJuZLLP3bi5uXqVte3jT8SnXkzUIt9zSumnKpIo3jmikM3pUDvEHoucey-7nIyfV5LNCdR1nwGxhM9eRtm3bVA79UHu3siYEaT742-5UOd8pv/s1600/Blog+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1047" data-original-width="1571" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrsdRrSF2LwJ-bY3o48ni72qjy4FseAvbYJuZLLP3bi5uXqVte3jT8SnXkzUIt9zSumnKpIo3jmikM3pUDvEHoucey-7nIyfV5LNCdR1nwGxhM9eRtm3bVA79UHu3siYEaT742-5UOd8pv/s320/Blog+%25283%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a><span lang="EN-GB">Since the start of the myna
eradication, North Island staff have already noticed a significant increase in
the numbers of endemic species. This includes the Seychelles Blue Pigeon (<i>Alectroenas pulcherrima</i>) and the
Seychelles Sunbird (<i>Necttarinia
dussumieri</i>) and is a huge positive step in restoring the island and
conserving the unique wildlife of the Seychelles.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Photo: Seychelles white eye on North island (CWaters)</span></div>
GIFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10454056261561614927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748781850921690824.post-54960246221698891232017-08-19T11:21:00.000+05:002017-08-19T11:21:32.976+05:00Rabbit fish research at Denis island <div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">Rabbitfish are the main targeted fish species of the
artisanal fishery of Seychelles, consisting of approximately two-thirds of the
total annual catch. They are herbivorous and have been shown to help keep reefs
healthy by grazing on invasive algae. With such commercial and environmental
importance, Ameer chose to dedicate his PhD research to investigating the role that
rabbitfish play in a marine environment, and their contribution to the
resilience of tropical coral reefs. His research is crucial to small island
states like Seychelles, as these regions rely heavily on tourism and fisheries
for sustenance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Ameer is currently conducting research on
Denis Island for the fourth part of his thesis. He is specifically
investigating the diurnal home range of rabbitfish around Denis Island and what
factors, including tidal phase, habitat type and complexity, influence their
movements. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHfHxw_K6inCLCkBGb7m0AGskae_Zdz_juT5SsZYkl12dnNkPxEHTHb2ORhnzr9khWOfR5XfQs73dOXJC_EeqkFYijjsghONr0Y0XxwK68c5dqJ3UGXdLz87_OpjH7VHPNRqZbCpQb_7lt/s1600/vlcsnap-2017-05-10-15h57m59s124.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHfHxw_K6inCLCkBGb7m0AGskae_Zdz_juT5SsZYkl12dnNkPxEHTHb2ORhnzr9khWOfR5XfQs73dOXJC_EeqkFYijjsghONr0Y0XxwK68c5dqJ3UGXdLz87_OpjH7VHPNRqZbCpQb_7lt/s320/vlcsnap-2017-05-10-15h57m59s124.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Photo (AEbrahim): Ameer conducting </span>research<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> in lagoon at Denis </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Denis Island has two very distinct habitats:
vast corals reefs and lush seagrass meadows. Research from other parts of the
world is increasingly demonstrating that coastal habitats, such as coral reefs,
do not function in isolation but rather as part of a larger habitat
network. Other habitats such as seagrass
meadows lie in close proximity to coral reefs, allowing for reef dwelling
organisms and materials to travel among these habitats. Numerous species of
commercially important herbivorous reef fish, such as rabbitfish, may frequent
these habitats</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"> through diurnal and tidal fish migrations</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Accordingly, Ameer has dispersed 34
acoustic receivers encompassing the seagrass meadows and coral reefs in both
shallow and deep water environments around Denis Island. Each receiver has a
range of approximately 250m, allowing them to track the rabbitfish that Ameer
has tagged using internal acoustic tags.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipwER3At9q0huVY7EVwdrDSOVJHZbhAHJ6GVgCCSuQBXFryVC2986qhN0ajdr5ovyVZWyrML_HB6X6oarweIPs9aPgigO1fQc1FT5DS4OaQZKmoWx1C2NtVGTVd95N0AKm18y9yIb1VZzw/s1600/14859725_10209988840050515_4202232045174937686_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipwER3At9q0huVY7EVwdrDSOVJHZbhAHJ6GVgCCSuQBXFryVC2986qhN0ajdr5ovyVZWyrML_HB6X6oarweIPs9aPgigO1fQc1FT5DS4OaQZKmoWx1C2NtVGTVd95N0AKm18y9yIb1VZzw/s320/14859725_10209988840050515_4202232045174937686_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Photo (AEbrahim): </span>Placement<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> of acoustic tags </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">In many regions of the world,
including Seychelles, connected habitats like </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">seagrass meadows are often forgotten
when it comes to conservation management. Therefore, this part of Ameer’s PhD
will also assist in determining whether rabbitfish are frequenting different
habitats such as seagrass meadows, thereby aiding conservation management
efforts. Furthermore, his research will hopefully help cement future marine
conservation management for the waters surrounding Denis Island. He is now in
the process of collecting his data for this research. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
GIFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10454056261561614927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748781850921690824.post-54064141202289529842017-07-28T18:03:00.000+05:002017-07-28T18:11:42.189+05:00Training in threatened species identification and data gathering protocol <div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 418.2pt; text-align: justify;">
Yesterday, we hosted
a training session on threatened species identification, field survey technique
and data gathering protocol in the context the project “The development of a
co-management plan, designed by fishers to minimise the impact of the Seychelles
artisanal fishery on threatened species” also known as the Threatened species
project. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuAhYwbGvLlltz-Rq3IYUywXs3qTpMnm4nsgs2jGAIAFY3NdgGLwChFl6la0mOMn9hmnaXwa263DlvQ4ddYYuapkK_hjVJEzcGBU-nqarbM0GeDcQ1yxD1MFp6gHqf4JyLyd_L7lgSZBWa/s1600/1K7A8874.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1157" data-original-width="1600" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuAhYwbGvLlltz-Rq3IYUywXs3qTpMnm4nsgs2jGAIAFY3NdgGLwChFl6la0mOMn9hmnaXwa263DlvQ4ddYYuapkK_hjVJEzcGBU-nqarbM0GeDcQ1yxD1MFp6gHqf4JyLyd_L7lgSZBWa/s320/1K7A8874.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Photo: Participants at the training with the Green Islands Foundation team (MLeotta)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 418.2pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 418.2pt; text-align: justify;">
The objective
of the Threatened species project is to reduce the Seychelles artisanal
fishery’s impact (catch, by-catch and disturbance) on globally threatened
species (IUCN classifications: VU, EN, CR). The project is developing a baseline of
threatened species occurrence in the artisanal fishery through fisher
interviews and consultation, literature review and an intensive 12-month survey
of artisanal catch. The project will support fishers in the identification and
development of pragmatic management measures to reduce artisanal fishing
pressure on threatened species - (e.g. catch release, only landing mature
individuals, reduce effort on critical habitats, gear modification etc…). </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 418.2pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 418.2pt; text-align: justify;">
Yesterday’s
training was organized for collaborators, these are civil society members who
assist Green Islands Foundation in collecting species-specific data on IUCN red
listed threatened species and species of local concern. In addition, fisheries
technicians from SFA were also invited to attend. Mr. John Nevill, Technical Fisheries
Advisor on the project carried out the training. The participants given an
introduction to the project, presented the species monitored under the project,
the monitoring protocol and were shown some initial results from the first four
months of data collection.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 418.2pt; text-align: justify;">
There are 20
threatened species of teleosts, sharks and rays that are known to occur in
artisanal catch in Seychelles. In
addition, there are a number of species that were identified as of local
concern at the start of the project also monitored trough this project. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxa6wAyThEx7F1PF5_nyYZFDJ4aPbvtr2zUp0hJHkvTDdRml8Ixps7GhL5unXJa-IHXr-z7ES_DRWd9ucRAij6YofwqkzO4A2milFzM598dkRGD1KKdUAoTzalK9il9nN63FrTFWUZiZ8H/s1600/1K7A8837.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxa6wAyThEx7F1PF5_nyYZFDJ4aPbvtr2zUp0hJHkvTDdRml8Ixps7GhL5unXJa-IHXr-z7ES_DRWd9ucRAij6YofwqkzO4A2milFzM598dkRGD1KKdUAoTzalK9il9nN63FrTFWUZiZ8H/s320/1K7A8837.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Photo: Slideshow presentations on fish identification (MLeotta)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 418.2pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Through the presentations, Mr.
Nevill showed participants how properly identify species and their distinctive
characteristics. Participants were given each an Identification card showing
all the threatened species monitored through the project that they can use on the
field. They were also shown how to properly take measurements through practical
sessions in the laboratory at the Seychelles Fishing Authority. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfrhBFig378o66vYnSFaXvckba40SfF40r2ryIUBhZQT9AfA-GrCjXBwK_DfQ3QfTG6k-fFYkEXfYXL4VT_mG7uKXi_kbB9caBh8gBLr_K83KwumPhuLwUVpjTwu5UWjxTHbzZXjYSKcMK/s1600/1K7A8851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfrhBFig378o66vYnSFaXvckba40SfF40r2ryIUBhZQT9AfA-GrCjXBwK_DfQ3QfTG6k-fFYkEXfYXL4VT_mG7uKXi_kbB9caBh8gBLr_K83KwumPhuLwUVpjTwu5UWjxTHbzZXjYSKcMK/s320/1K7A8851.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Photo: Practical session ; how to record total lenght in sharks (MLeotta)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
We expect through this training that the participants will
be better equipped to collect species-specific data on the field to inform
fisheries management decisions. </div>
GIFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10454056261561614927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748781850921690824.post-3113977532884479292017-07-24T09:54:00.002+05:002017-07-24T09:54:50.627+05:00Seychelles magpie robin population census on Denis Island, June 2017<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Summary<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: justify;">A total of 76 individual
Seychelles magpie robins were observed during a population census of the
species on Denis Island from13-20 June 2017. Fifty seven of the robins observed
were ringed and 19 were unringed.</span><span style="text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="text-align: justify;">In
addition to censusing the population, 12 of the unringed robins were captured
and ringed. A total of seven SMR were still unringed at the end of our time on
Denis.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Introduction<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Following cat <i>Felis catus</i> and rat <i>Rattus rattus</i> eradications and rehabilitation of native broadleaved
woodland habitat, twenty Seychelles magpie robins <i>Copsychus sechellarum </i>(SMR) were introduced to Denis Island in June
2008 as part of a national recovery programme for the species (Burt et al.
2016). For the first two years post translocation the robins were supplementary
fed on a daily basis, but supplementary feeding ceased in 2010. Management currently
involves the provision of nest boxes, ringing new recruits to the population,
and to clearing relatively small areas of fouzer taba fern <i>Nephrolepis</i> <i>biserrata</i> to
improve the foraging habitat for the robins within the forested conservation
zone. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">The purpose of
this work was to (i) estimate the current SMR population size on Denis, (ii)
map approximate territory locations and identify territory occupants and (iii)
ring unringed SMR with metal ID ring and an individually identifiable colour
combination.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBgfpZb72QUEhONJBTYFQzHCLBAPbmSQIwTF3t9qXRvSrozBB5a_pi8Rcwq246jpb53q1Nn3zqDUqbxT74H3lVI_YoEhyphenhyphenzqWZoqcH921MlpXwLk-AG0g58Rc6Lc3yWTXjZDkEVADDn0aqA/s1600/Seychelles+Magpie+robin+%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBgfpZb72QUEhONJBTYFQzHCLBAPbmSQIwTF3t9qXRvSrozBB5a_pi8Rcwq246jpb53q1Nn3zqDUqbxT74H3lVI_YoEhyphenhyphenzqWZoqcH921MlpXwLk-AG0g58Rc6Lc3yWTXjZDkEVADDn0aqA/s320/Seychelles+Magpie+robin+%25284%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Photo: Seychelles Magpie robin (KlartjeePuttemans)</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Methods<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">The census was undertaken
by Rachel Bristol and Indira Gamatis from 13-20 June 2017. All areas of the
island were searched several times for SMR. All robins seen were identified
i.e. ring combination recorded, and the number and age (adult/ juvenile-based <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a>on plumage) of unringed birds was also noted. The locations
of individuals and group composition (i.e. who was hanging out with who) was
also recorded. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Unringed robins were
caught, ringed, measured and blood sampled. They were captured mostly using a
spring trap baited with live termites, but also with a mist net using termites as
an attractant.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Results<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-GB">Population size,
trend and age structure<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">A total of 76
magpie robins were seen on Denis during this census. Two of the original robins
translocated from Frégate Island are still present. These two males are a
minimum of 10 years old as both were adults at the time of translocation to
Denis in June 2008. Nineteen individuals, almost all of which were juveniles, were
unringed. These 19 individuals represent productivity over the past year. The
population trend is increasing, see Figure 1. We are confident this census is
fairly accurate, however it is possible a few individuals were undetected,
therefore this population estimate of 76 confirmed individuals can be
considered conservative. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgisbE3o-78ipR5-fABK9rYwENtkscy0zF7CZvgqwFqIiutBd9Ifu8wDj40_iYvHC0crTYDE02xss6ZgDWkbhbHae1jykuGsoALbHVScz32nA2yhhvfAKxr8rnwrBL5f_tlcTjH4LbJH4y2/s1600/SMR+trend_2017_RBristol.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="914" data-original-width="1402" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgisbE3o-78ipR5-fABK9rYwENtkscy0zF7CZvgqwFqIiutBd9Ifu8wDj40_iYvHC0crTYDE02xss6ZgDWkbhbHae1jykuGsoALbHVScz32nA2yhhvfAKxr8rnwrBL5f_tlcTjH4LbJH4y2/s400/SMR+trend_2017_RBristol.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span>
<i>Figure 1. Trend
in Magpie robin population size on Denis Island from introduction in 2008 till
present</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(Data sources: Burt et al. 2016; Denis Island
magpie robin monitoring records; Bristol & Gamatis 2017)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-GB">Ringing<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Twelve robins
were ringed during this census. Biometric measurements and blood samples were
taken from all individuals ringed. Seven individuals were still unringed at the
end of our time on Denis.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXNaT0bCjBOwZ-jgW49fEB1VEujP3TZT5I0-GGHXmm8g2RnxlNp-gZcEAJw5Jn5nwXtrnP7T2kJSVoPy0L7Mk4zqgBpeetxMjnzt140FYV7AzRoWVDzoVn3upQd7lNGDRFcGfGXIJoMyh5/s1600/SMR_juv+with+sexy+new+rings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXNaT0bCjBOwZ-jgW49fEB1VEujP3TZT5I0-GGHXmm8g2RnxlNp-gZcEAJw5Jn5nwXtrnP7T2kJSVoPy0L7Mk4zqgBpeetxMjnzt140FYV7AzRoWVDzoVn3upQd7lNGDRFcGfGXIJoMyh5/s320/SMR_juv+with+sexy+new+rings.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><i>Photo: Magpie robin juvenile with new rings (R.Bristol)</i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-GB">Territories </span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Territories
(location and number) appear to have changed little since the last accurate
monitoring in 2016. There appear to be 18 territories on Denis each occupied by
2-6 robins. However we were not on the island for sufficient time to assign all
individuals to territories with certainty, or to confirm possible shifts in
territory boundaries.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Acknowledgements<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Thank you as
always to Green Islands Foundation (GIF) and Denis Island management for
enabling this census and providing transport, accommodation and meals. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">References <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Bristol
RM and Gamatis I (2017) Seychelles magpie robin population census on Denis
Island, June 2017. Unpublished report.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Burt
AJ, Gane J, Olivier I, Calabrese L, de Groene, A, Liebrick T, Marx D, Shah N (2016)
The history, status and trends of the Endangered Seychelles Magpie-robin <i>Copsychus sechellarum</i>. <i>Bird Conservation International</i> 26,
505-523<i>. </i>doi:
10.1017/S0959270915000404.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
GIFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10454056261561614927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748781850921690824.post-29399127654505442932017-07-07T15:37:00.001+05:002017-07-07T15:39:15.357+05:00Project to re-establish a breeding colony of Sooty terns on Denis island<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">When
Denis Island was discovered in 1773 it hosted large seabird populations
including a colony of Sooty Terns (<i>Sterna
fuscata</i>). In the following years the birds left, due to various reasons
mainly habitat change. To re- establish a colony an area of a former coconut
plantation was cleared as the Sooty Tern is a ground nesting species that
requires open grassland. Since the Sooty Tern re-colonization project
initiation in 2008, preparation of the site prior to the breeding season has
always preoccupied keen environmental enthusiasts on Denis Island. This
includes the removal of encroaching plants and trees, the cutting of grass to a
suitable height and placing the Sooty models and loud speakers. This project is
unique, based on the knowledge and under the supervision of Prof. Chris Feare.
The dummy birds and the playing of the Sooty colony noise through the speakers
shall encourage the birds to nest on the prepared site.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
Monitoring
commences every year around May with the arrival of the birds. This year we had
a few weeks delay mainly in obtaining the needed broadcasting equipment. By
late June the set-up design at the South Point were completed. Within the weeks
a few birds were seen circling/flying over the breeding site. Visual
observations were mainly opportunistic partly due to lack of staff and other
work.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8748781850921690824" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600"
o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f"
stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter"/>
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"/>
</v:formulas>
<v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"/>
<o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"/>
</v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_4" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t75"
alt="1.jpg" style='position:absolute;margin-left:-2.15pt;margin-top:209pt;
width:204.65pt;height:152.25pt;z-index:1;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square;
mso-wrap-distance-left:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-top:0;mso-wrap-distance-right:9pt;
mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0;mso-position-horizontal:absolute;
mso-position-horizontal-relative:text;mso-position-vertical:absolute;
mso-position-vertical-relative:text' stroked="t" strokecolor="windowText"
strokeweight="1.5pt">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\ADEGRO~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.jpg"
o:title="1"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9by8_IIw6Yu_ofNOk7b9jOyUZI_8t6w6NCuDOoXJE88Zrw1u3mujaDuI780X-6zB7LRuRhq3QNGWhxnIKUlbVuFUGHHbsY9Bbz29IySGjhzl1donA3RB7hHL_UTSL8hVHDJ9lg7qggro1/s1600/Sooty+terns+on+Denis.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9by8_IIw6Yu_ofNOk7b9jOyUZI_8t6w6NCuDOoXJE88Zrw1u3mujaDuI780X-6zB7LRuRhq3QNGWhxnIKUlbVuFUGHHbsY9Bbz29IySGjhzl1donA3RB7hHL_UTSL8hVHDJ9lg7qggro1/s320/Sooty+terns+on+Denis.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="height: 207px; margin-left: -5px; margin-top: 277px; mso-ignore: vglayout; position: absolute; width: 277px; z-index: 1;"></span><span lang="EN-GB">Similar to last year,
unfortunately it seems this year is also an odd year with regards to Sooty
Terns nesting, presumably related with abnormal weather patterns and
consequences for fish stock and seabird activity. On Bird Island, Prof. Chris
Feare, reported that breeding activity</span><span lang="EN-GB"> got off to an
early start but tailing off early with no new birds coming in. Incubation
shifts are a bit longer than normal suggesting that food might not be as
available as normal. The laying season normally ends mid-July but after an
early start it might end early this year.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRgwhT2WU587dNP_XYAxAh1xpJW3y3iNq5lRsC5KYtWeFmlaix5u15f-l9Q9ITvUBjT9Of4hleucF7c12Syqd6zuxGr27gqOzUySyFwCM50BwJhpVkVglxy1mNvfdpkbLu1yfd2z_vSHCp/s1600/Sooty+tern+in+flight+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRgwhT2WU587dNP_XYAxAh1xpJW3y3iNq5lRsC5KYtWeFmlaix5u15f-l9Q9ITvUBjT9Of4hleucF7c12Syqd6zuxGr27gqOzUySyFwCM50BwJhpVkVglxy1mNvfdpkbLu1yfd2z_vSHCp/s320/Sooty+tern+in+flight+-+Copy.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<!--[endif]--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Sooty Terns formerly nested on several islands in the Seychelles group but on most islands,
especially the smaller ones, colonies became extinct as a result of excessive
egg and adult harvesting by people, introduction of exotic predators, and
habitat change. Commercial harvesting of eggs continues on some islands and
forest development in one of the larger colonies, on Aride Island, is now
limiting the numbers that can nest there. Provision of alternative nesting
areas on which they may breed may thus play an important part in maintenance of
sooty tern populations in Seychelles. On Denis Island we are attempting to
re-establish a sooty tern colony through habitat management, decoy birds and
playback of recorded sooty tern calls.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
GIFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10454056261561614927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748781850921690824.post-13125444853647389442017-03-08T15:19:00.001+05:002017-03-08T15:19:55.356+05:00Migratory birds and sea turtles on Denis Island<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVixXmtN9pewUuxjdBinnDQRVlLx199VlRcoRFnbPap8lCo-WBajycL9NTlA-O_rT9AZfO1Z75hdaovrxEpJc2wSq6c6lEnXbVMEnHwBvRQb4z78kK2jxmbiBI-MyzHP42I0a3sf6yNZsa/s1600/Northern+Wheatear+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVixXmtN9pewUuxjdBinnDQRVlLx199VlRcoRFnbPap8lCo-WBajycL9NTlA-O_rT9AZfO1Z75hdaovrxEpJc2wSq6c6lEnXbVMEnHwBvRQb4z78kK2jxmbiBI-MyzHP42I0a3sf6yNZsa/s320/Northern+Wheatear+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Northern Wheatear on Denis Island</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Denis Island geographic location in the northern Seychelles
archipelago, right on the edge of the Mahe Plateau, makes it a very important
resting and overwintering site for migratory birds. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRKLEktjG_UHrhOBORfIBKdWI9sqWv9z_L6px-grqpMTvDKPgGo6vs7_fC7X0QMbgq8TrEGwAvLSofJJ1povoxwYa2EWFjZNQXBkMGYBCWScMy14ICwLlhCXb7sBPVZ2X_Ma-2MdUf0EPa/s1600/Northern+Wheatear+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRKLEktjG_UHrhOBORfIBKdWI9sqWv9z_L6px-grqpMTvDKPgGo6vs7_fC7X0QMbgq8TrEGwAvLSofJJ1povoxwYa2EWFjZNQXBkMGYBCWScMy14ICwLlhCXb7sBPVZ2X_Ma-2MdUf0EPa/s320/Northern+Wheatear+2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Northern Wheatear at Belle Etoile</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Numerous species of birds
are regular non-breeding migrants to Denis Island and they include waders,
seabirds and ducks. The waders and ducks fly to Seychelles from the northern
hemisphere to overwinter and are mainly present from October- April although
first year birds may stay all year round (e.g. the Ruddy Turnstones) rather
than migrating to their breeding grounds in Europe, the Middle East Asia, North
Africa, Madagascar or Australia.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUnDmC2MWPMKL9bCIkFy3wkszYYggw9oNSAyonDzHXcvzh0AJ0wkEOLdPp8Am1bzy9dFYiTPnclmOVEpu5FU927FuWJH-kNXgf5__D2HBNGufc9x2T970pzP_iNYIXq0FUV-PE-GyoTASu/s1600/Northern+Wheatear+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUnDmC2MWPMKL9bCIkFy3wkszYYggw9oNSAyonDzHXcvzh0AJ0wkEOLdPp8Am1bzy9dFYiTPnclmOVEpu5FU927FuWJH-kNXgf5__D2HBNGufc9x2T970pzP_iNYIXq0FUV-PE-GyoTASu/s320/Northern+Wheatear+3.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Northern Wheatear</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Vagrant species are those that have been blown from their
normal migration routes and so, like regular migrants, they are usually seen
between October – April, especially after stormy weather and strong winds. Most
vagrants stay for a short period before moving on or succumbing to exhaustion,
but a few stay for prolonged periods.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Recently, after abatement of the recent regional stormy event,
the Denis Island environment team spotted an unusual bird along the eastern
part of the island. After careful observations using a high definition Steiner
binocular we agreed that it was a Northern Wheatear.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Literature review suggests that Northern Wheatear is a
vagrant throughout Seychelles, mainly to the Aldabra group, and that most
sighting occurs in December –March. Northern Wheatear likes to frequent open
areas with low bushes for perches, they are known to be solitary birds with low
rapid flights. One of the bird
distinguishing features is its Black T- shape tail tip.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHPCY2uomzHHDJoA_RxsaGFCcR-CgMuDA69vaJxsRpd7jUX2PFvMPEJFWpI-IoHcy5XdYfWwVsU_UMEW8LSvkE9WD4hTkJ9r_mi96XWsgK1w_p5BMXpyO3ADcFEYWFMq00FpFY0xiVglm_/s1600/20170228_071811.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHPCY2uomzHHDJoA_RxsaGFCcR-CgMuDA69vaJxsRpd7jUX2PFvMPEJFWpI-IoHcy5XdYfWwVsU_UMEW8LSvkE9WD4hTkJ9r_mi96XWsgK1w_p5BMXpyO3ADcFEYWFMq00FpFY0xiVglm_/s320/20170228_071811.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Taking measurements of nesting Green Turtle</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Denis Environment team was also delighted to encounter a nesting Green Turtle on the East Coast beach of Denis Island. <span style="font-family: inherit;">Two species of turtles nest on the beaches of Denis Island,
namely the endangered Green Turtle (<i>Chelonia
mydas</i>) and the critically endangered Hawksbill Turtle (<i>Eretmochelys imbricata</i>). The former species, the Green Turtle, nests
all year while the latter, the Hawksbill Turtle, nests from September to February. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5U-6cbpRbFQ97wZGQwxAfbGSqNnG7s7A87RgcVSy40rxke4aEcB3nthySFdfQ7KzCNFTMQzxd5nuRl2H0pviKicTN01WNE5S9Qp_mwQIBN2YDRCzSp_eP6Buu9qiCzG7llAZYfx2-IOaH/s1600/20170228_071904.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5U-6cbpRbFQ97wZGQwxAfbGSqNnG7s7A87RgcVSy40rxke4aEcB3nthySFdfQ7KzCNFTMQzxd5nuRl2H0pviKicTN01WNE5S9Qp_mwQIBN2YDRCzSp_eP6Buu9qiCzG7llAZYfx2-IOaH/s320/20170228_071904.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Denis Island is an important nesting habitat for Green Turtles</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Turtle nests are marked so that information can be gathered
when the hatchlings will emerge. To date a few turtle nest have been recorded
and some hatchlings have also emerged as well which shows that Denis Island is
a very important turtle nesting ground; some of its bays also provide good
feeding grounds, especially the green turtles which feed on the seagrass. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Data
collected sporadically at Denis Island since 2002 indicate that, in addition to
hosting nesting hawksbill turtles, Denis also hosts one of the three largest
nesting populations of Green Turtles remaining in the Inner Islands of
Seychelles. Green turtles of the inner Seychelles islands have been nearly
extirpated due to over-exploitation for meat. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Denis Island hosts exceptionally important
near-shore foraging aggregations of immature green turtles, plus smaller
numbers of immature hawksbills—especially along the east coast in the vicinity
of <i>Belle étoile, </i>just south of the
airstrip. Denis is also associated with beautiful dive sites inhabited by both
species of turtle.</span></span></div>
GIFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10454056261561614927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748781850921690824.post-213398471021589972017-02-28T21:31:00.002+05:002017-02-28T21:32:06.996+05:00Farewell from Maxine<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTt2RWg3r-1U4_d7r3U2zyxG4G42Ww1R5ggh3LtVMQYMjCMSul9PfqR-zmFOzCm2i0NW2rkZScBb4-QyeaUeASFRATubwhateypQd5Rbz8HE3e0wT4GknWxtfjDJEgYD82q6iP9GbNoJQ6/s1600/IMG_9505.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTt2RWg3r-1U4_d7r3U2zyxG4G42Ww1R5ggh3LtVMQYMjCMSul9PfqR-zmFOzCm2i0NW2rkZScBb4-QyeaUeASFRATubwhateypQd5Rbz8HE3e0wT4GknWxtfjDJEgYD82q6iP9GbNoJQ6/s320/IMG_9505.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bird handling is not always easy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Seven months later, eight hundred
birds down, and a healthy tan to boot - my time on this project is coming to an
end and I think it is safe to say I’ve made the most of it! Since my first
blogpost, the myna eradication work has seen great success as we navigated our
way through the ups and downs of island life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div style="font-stretch: normal; min-height: 12px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-stroke: rgb(0, 0, 0); clear: both; font-family: inherit; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="-webkit-text-stroke: rgb(0, 0, 0); float: left; font-family: inherit; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSTric6cRScX5tlx-Vu0Er1R8RTc8SJhFVk_8nQldrIiBdpk9DiP1YebhJT3tJPeP5Z94or6dqj6DJV-W7j6M_OU22UtMZHjtd9t5W7X1RhsA9X6GEoq74DDJ7-xr5vPSeDwaK2guksbLw/s1600/IMG_8483.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSTric6cRScX5tlx-Vu0Er1R8RTc8SJhFVk_8nQldrIiBdpk9DiP1YebhJT3tJPeP5Z94or6dqj6DJV-W7j6M_OU22UtMZHjtd9t5W7X1RhsA9X6GEoq74DDJ7-xr5vPSeDwaK2guksbLw/s320/IMG_8483.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View on top of Spa Hill</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Change is constant on North - in the last
six months we have gone from days so dry the bats drop from the trees, to
unending torrential rain that brings out hundreds of invasive giant African
land snails. The sand on the beaches has moved around the island, stretching
out on some sides and exposing bare rock on others. Boats can no longer arrive
on East Beach, instead anchoring at Petit Anse which has become a calm
oasis, perfect for </span></span>snorkelling<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> with the local nurse sharks. We have suffered
through seemingly endless clouds of </span></span>mosquitos<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> only to now be plagued by tiny
little flies that cover every surface. </span></span></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlOlupBG3vNM04MkIgdRKfZEZvp6mI8S45rB-y3bNWNxKIXmRKm77s5-ydVsIDoZheYdrcCZ4PfgelDIXR2-lPBfth3BQrD8BwqRMzMR8m230kS0JPbf6QOjBVhQboiZcAHwAJl_SOAaIM/s1600/IMG_0451.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlOlupBG3vNM04MkIgdRKfZEZvp6mI8S45rB-y3bNWNxKIXmRKm77s5-ydVsIDoZheYdrcCZ4PfgelDIXR2-lPBfth3BQrD8BwqRMzMR8m230kS0JPbf6QOjBVhQboiZcAHwAJl_SOAaIM/s320/IMG_0451.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready for dissection and biometrics</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-stretch: normal; min-height: 12px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-stretch: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-stretch: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Driving around the island in the tired old
gator, there are no longer hundreds of mynas strutting on the plateau - proof
of our success. We are currently mopping up the results of the recent breeding
season, catching many young mynas. These days, an adult myna is a true prize as
the few that are left are the most clever and wary of our cages. I could be
getting paranoid, but it seems the birds recognize us and the gator, and call
out an alarm when we go past. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-stretch: normal; min-height: 12px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-stretch: normal; min-height: 12px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-stretch: normal; min-height: 12px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-stretch: normal; min-height: 12px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_DI-oThQqQwgsJwyA8VlM3oYWfslknOpCwNfkb3UKWhG7rPc5kW4STTM4BgwQnkI4ofb1cQeUaPkQC3a6EqqAPunftDHdCgsNmdNaSNAew6U3TqMFlRZIjM2VpHBf9GwkSwkMz1gvayPh/s1600/IMG_1310.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_DI-oThQqQwgsJwyA8VlM3oYWfslknOpCwNfkb3UKWhG7rPc5kW4STTM4BgwQnkI4ofb1cQeUaPkQC3a6EqqAPunftDHdCgsNmdNaSNAew6U3TqMFlRZIjM2VpHBf9GwkSwkMz1gvayPh/s320/IMG_1310.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby Aldabra Giant Tortoise</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-stretch: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Aside from the eradication work, I have
been fortunate enough to help out on other projects on the island, climbing the
steep rock-face of Spa Hill to ring seabirds and their chicks, and assisting
GIF with the annual marine survey. Perhaps one of the best things to happen has
been the hatching of four Aldabra tortoises, a week before Christmas. These
tiny old souls have become the babies of the environment team, doted upon and
protected fiercely! It definitely doesn't get much cuter than a baby giant
tortoise face-deep in a mango. I find it incredible to think that they will
easily outlive me and grow upwards of 250 kilos!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-stretch: normal; min-height: 12px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOvDaQuJMC7FL-dFSL9GfEuveh-31e05nenaIyih0TsVFyx_HR3ifJeP3uxUTd7YA4taSVJ3W_nKWfGwNKGi8QyrCVynvNrmWnFJQ8wPkBYp92jLS1UK2y0DRjJsH1P3M8tg8G4PnF7uTk/s1600/IMG_6214.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOvDaQuJMC7FL-dFSL9GfEuveh-31e05nenaIyih0TsVFyx_HR3ifJeP3uxUTd7YA4taSVJ3W_nKWfGwNKGi8QyrCVynvNrmWnFJQ8wPkBYp92jLS1UK2y0DRjJsH1P3M8tg8G4PnF7uTk/s320/IMG_6214.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maxine enjoying the sunset on North Island</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-stretch: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-stretch: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Over the last seven months I have had so
many great experiences and met some wonderful people and I count myself lucky
to have been part of this project. I hope that the new recruits will be as
passionate about the project and the island as we have been. It is a nice
thought that we have contributed in our way to North Island becoming a true ark
for many endemic species. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-stretch: normal; min-height: 12px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-stretch: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Maxine Little</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
GIFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10454056261561614927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748781850921690824.post-66053174095732507802017-02-16T17:40:00.000+05:002017-02-16T17:40:39.615+05:00New beginnings for GIF<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<u><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My first
month as Green Islands Foundation General Manager <o:p></o:p></span></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<u><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></u></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEtKipUVmRVPgVV2jEeSz9rlsvpC-TcTPo7J5YR-a-fVRb-jyEBu4tgXe42vjXCZ5II8rQbUJhgc0sreUhUrwWPK6HF8e4WSVET65XmGYbnvYvkSh1P532Yib6cnzZ0-aUsG2_cHyXo1f9/s1600/IMG_0597.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEtKipUVmRVPgVV2jEeSz9rlsvpC-TcTPo7J5YR-a-fVRb-jyEBu4tgXe42vjXCZ5II8rQbUJhgc0sreUhUrwWPK6HF8e4WSVET65XmGYbnvYvkSh1P532Yib6cnzZ0-aUsG2_cHyXo1f9/s320/IMG_0597.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New faces at GIF- Wilna and Terence </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It has been a
little over a month since I took over the position stepping in a very big pair
of shoes left by Arjan de Groene. January was equally a busy start for GIF with
the monitoring of threatened fish species kick-starting and with preparations to move on to the
shooting phase of the mynah eradication on North island. As I came in, I jumped
straight into things with the guidance and help of our Project manager, Jennifer.
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Under the
GEF-Satoyama project, GIF is coordinating a project looking at threatened
species in artisanal fishery. This project aims to assist fishermen to propose
co-management measures to the authorities on how improve artisanal fishery in
the future. It is important to note that through the project, the fishermen
themselves identify species of concern and will propose these actions.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv-60zVteitnBiXJv0wmHlk8rddz38dz8gsp3tzjWLwLs3bXsOcaP8URi5R1RJRHgy9XktzCh5pvtAFv_zDohKRxVRgakUGAUF87OchYgAvBMLwoKGHeaWzopvE6GVCMEZJHzq29e0RC_w/s1600/02.03.2017+Victoria+port+%25285%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv-60zVteitnBiXJv0wmHlk8rddz38dz8gsp3tzjWLwLs3bXsOcaP8URi5R1RJRHgy9XktzCh5pvtAFv_zDohKRxVRgakUGAUF87OchYgAvBMLwoKGHeaWzopvE6GVCMEZJHzq29e0RC_w/s320/02.03.2017+Victoria+port+%25285%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wilna helping out Frank</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I got the chance
to accompany Frank, project assistant for the GEF-Satoyama project at the artisanal
fishing port to see some of the activities, conducted fish measurements and
talked to our partners, the fishermen, fish processing operators who will help us with data collection during the year.
This project is relevant for us as GIF,
as it will help directly influence fishery management in Seychelles. I am still
learning to tell apart the groupers by creole and scientific names so hopefully
will be able to do in the next few months. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">On North island,
things are busy as the number of mynahs caught in traps start to dwindle. Preparations
to move into the shooting phase are now underway. We recruited new volunteers
to take over from Maxine and Jeremy in the coming weeks. Maxine and Jeremy have
been on North Island for the last six months, tirelessly catching mynahs in
traps and kept going even when catch were low. We thank them for their efforts
and for taking the project this far. The mynah eradication will pave way for
further conservation work on North island and I look forward to working with
the dynamic team there namely, CJ and Tarryn to take this work further. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0OAF-72N_khf6gI0VcydmRIRO7Y_F_tSxO_R6dr6MDPwmgzvdfQRhF3XC6a_62XCzs-gTlXWzhVBrp_8hyphenhyphenQuZbqBSEtosqsZfO0YijCJmwsmzIvZLFkGVdF128kzjftaI76J_LPS1UMhN/s1600/DSC_0036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0OAF-72N_khf6gI0VcydmRIRO7Y_F_tSxO_R6dr6MDPwmgzvdfQRhF3XC6a_62XCzs-gTlXWzhVBrp_8hyphenhyphenQuZbqBSEtosqsZfO0YijCJmwsmzIvZLFkGVdF128kzjftaI76J_LPS1UMhN/s320/DSC_0036.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wilna carrying out surveys in the field</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I had the
pleasure at the start of February to welcome Terence Mahoune, the new
environment officer on Denis island. I worked with Terence previously on
Aldabra and Assumption islands. Terence joins us with extensive field
experience and knowledge and am sure he will feel at home on Denis. GIF has an
agreement with Denis island to work on several conservation projects. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I wish to thank
all our partners, board members, staff on islands and at GIF office that have
welcomed me since I took on the General Manager position at Green Islands
Foundation. It is pleasure to join exciting projects and work with an
enthusiastic team to push forward sustainable development principles. I hope
that with my extensive experience working with Seychelles environment and
species, I am able to take GIF forward and contribute to making Seychelles
industries more sustainable. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>New conservation officer on Denis Island</u></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u><br /></u></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">My name is Terence Mahoune, I am
currently the new Environment Officer for Denis Island. My love for
nature has driven me to pursue a career in nature conservation and as such I am
proud to offer my services and expertise to Denis Island and Green Islands
Foundation.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Ho9lS66jjF9yg_vcSuBOUdgv5-h6XLE3ycNiIvQx4G5r0uapohwLCnGh3d973C_YBl6FB_6ys7c5aD-Xx6mcs_VX-u1vhfg-9WBZBzx-9rz9lR01bd2Mzwq7I3yI-ZaoGfv364PVBYJu/s1600/DSC_9536.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Ho9lS66jjF9yg_vcSuBOUdgv5-h6XLE3ycNiIvQx4G5r0uapohwLCnGh3d973C_YBl6FB_6ys7c5aD-Xx6mcs_VX-u1vhfg-9WBZBzx-9rz9lR01bd2Mzwq7I3yI-ZaoGfv364PVBYJu/s320/DSC_9536.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Terence in his new role</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Previously, I had the opportunity
to be involved with various research and monitoring projects at Aldabra Atoll,
one of the World Heritage Sites, and over the year have gain many skills and
built up my career and personal achievements.
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I embark on this new position
with Denis Island with great enthusiasm and willingness to carry on
with the great work that is being done here. The self-sustainability and
ecotourism achievement on Denis Island is inspiring and environmentally
sound. The restoration, rehabilitation and endemic species conservation project
on Denis Island consolidate the status of the island, I am motivated
with all that is happening here and I am
happy to be part of this team.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
GIFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10454056261561614927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748781850921690824.post-48405982663525508492017-01-19T10:42:00.002+05:002017-01-19T10:43:18.507+05:00My experience on the Myna eradication project- Ellie Moulinie<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVrVwIMGvQdt0MsisuOpmEDAAbdzZ998chprPPDUywVjzZg5vcvqbkCF2_f79Rsl9TyxLJH-b5RaR9Grtz13V_GqQ5mUFVfdkREDi1M9hC1YmghueQqTqIgajjIwxw4ZdaKf1u7dklZ-Y/s1600/NI+Myna+eradication+2016_Ellie+%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVrVwIMGvQdt0MsisuOpmEDAAbdzZ998chprPPDUywVjzZg5vcvqbkCF2_f79Rsl9TyxLJH-b5RaR9Grtz13V_GqQ5mUFVfdkREDi1M9hC1YmghueQqTqIgajjIwxw4ZdaKf1u7dklZ-Y/s320/NI+Myna+eradication+2016_Ellie+%25284%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ellie checking the decoy traps</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
My internship on North Island was a great experience!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The
sea was quite rough but we arrived safely. Jeremy was there to greet Dillys and
I when we arrived then it was off to the rat room. Jeremy showed us to our
house in the village followed by lunch. In the afternoon we went to the office
where we met CJ and Tarryn and i was briefed about the Myna eradication project.
That same day we went on an afternoon round to visit the sites where the cages
where situated and Jeremy guided us on how to go about feeding the Decoys, how
to handle a Myna and the procedures taken when a Myna was caught. We were lucky
that day as Jeremy saved a Myna for Dillys to kill. She was so excited!! </div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbgEkh-ZcnIwnOUpeGaoQgI1CT-GcqNsscJGuo01-pYub8CwuxuPHEd9tt__ztLxgqgAhgrnISRBrqJMtqg5KC0iUKJIlpLfzuli3t57ngk5WekUU7EO2rMqhJwHzYl2L0byFCNlGJObEO/s1600/NI+Myna+eradication+2016_Ellie+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbgEkh-ZcnIwnOUpeGaoQgI1CT-GcqNsscJGuo01-pYub8CwuxuPHEd9tt__ztLxgqgAhgrnISRBrqJMtqg5KC0iUKJIlpLfzuli3t57ngk5WekUU7EO2rMqhJwHzYl2L0byFCNlGJObEO/s320/NI+Myna+eradication+2016_Ellie+%25282%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ellie documenting biometrics of the caught birds</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-align: justify;">Next
morning we went on our morning round with Jeremy and it was pouring at 6am! What
an adventure in the gator though! Once I got used to the sites and cage
numbers the work got better though the only disadvantage where those huge
mosquitoes which seem to be everywhere! We lost two decoys due to injury but
there were spare decoys so we were able to replace them. </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I really enjoyed
helping in the project as i enjoy working out in the field and being able to
handle the Mynas was just great. I learned how to use the GPS for changing the
sites for the traps and also how to measure wing span, eye patch colour and
ring tagging (i think that's how you say it). The early mornings were painful
but we diffinitely had enough time to relax before we took on our afternoon
shifts. We got the chance to go for a boat ride round the island on christmas
day which was super amazing as the weather was excellent so we got to see the
real beauty of North!! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
On our morning round on Christmas day we were at the
round about next honeymoon beach checking the cages so i told Dillys its such
good weather how about we go have a look on the beach and to our surprise we
saw a Hawksbill turtle who had just finished laying her eggs and was on her way
back to the sea! I was so excited as the last time i saw a turtle this close
was many years ago. That was truly a great christmas gift which made my time on
north extra special! The staff are so friendly and I sure made lots of friends. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I do wish to be back on North Island to help out with other projects but only time will tell. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOOCvtZiOG_F2Wx4cZBxUXblVvYEECJJO-zBm15QzWkXTMziWOL-mBIPbqlr2IXHUn_MPwx4EEQU1dcRE2lcLeWcNNM6hK4hEf_5qoa1nXWlW74Ct2-bhQppCzgq5b2OArSwm-i3Ip2sJR/s1600/NI+Myna+eradication+2016_Ellie+%25285%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOOCvtZiOG_F2Wx4cZBxUXblVvYEECJJO-zBm15QzWkXTMziWOL-mBIPbqlr2IXHUn_MPwx4EEQU1dcRE2lcLeWcNNM6hK4hEf_5qoa1nXWlW74Ct2-bhQppCzgq5b2OArSwm-i3Ip2sJR/s320/NI+Myna+eradication+2016_Ellie+%25285%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ringing the decoys for identification</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOoCDUb6wpxv-jIvRmBZ1jFv6FzP_oMkS2tHaNMoQu0tkmc95v4rihU6YXtJPHaOEPELxMfXG7l5qFcdSiMaEsadobEoKjZ0m6rOLqBshPloccW-JoStD8hHC3bn8z9ygXXb7AOplRd-eB/s1600/NI+Myna+eradication+2016_Ellie+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOoCDUb6wpxv-jIvRmBZ1jFv6FzP_oMkS2tHaNMoQu0tkmc95v4rihU6YXtJPHaOEPELxMfXG7l5qFcdSiMaEsadobEoKjZ0m6rOLqBshPloccW-JoStD8hHC3bn8z9ygXXb7AOplRd-eB/s320/NI+Myna+eradication+2016_Ellie+%25283%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ellie doing the 'rounds'</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
GIFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10454056261561614927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748781850921690824.post-90901891382143572862016-11-15T17:12:00.000+05:002016-11-15T17:12:45.471+05:00Saving the Seychelles White-Eye on North Island<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkHU-tEehf5PPnDdZfuKFa6zEBD3bw5N0xn5wPCet8mLQVa1KjxOxwki74x81l_G9YSYijpbEHbycoHvBw3Mo9p45NGd-42KEjHTmTQqdV0e_Rmt-nTSwYvAcmPTnTR9zj0527LdwOjaW2/s1600/White-eye.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkHU-tEehf5PPnDdZfuKFa6zEBD3bw5N0xn5wPCet8mLQVa1KjxOxwki74x81l_G9YSYijpbEHbycoHvBw3Mo9p45NGd-42KEjHTmTQqdV0e_Rmt-nTSwYvAcmPTnTR9zj0527LdwOjaW2/s320/White-eye.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seychelles White-Eye (copyright North Island)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The Seychelles White-eye
(</span><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calibri\,Italic";">Zosterops modestus</span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">) is an e</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calibri\,Italic"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">ndangered </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">passerine bird species endemic
to the Seychelles, currently found on four granitic islands, including North
Island. Over the last two years the North Island environment team </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">has been implementing an active island rehabilitation programme, </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">and recently with the
help of Green Islands Foundation and Wildwings Management, have initiated a
Myna Eradication program.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuYBjSuxsb-itbetLpSc_feaY32ygNtFjGT3CpYnctfqHv3s9jdbIAk17YlAuvE45AwVf6APNENgffVynaFEELWTSzwy8Wyk5C77tH5Is2v8fyQo3OsiR9DuUbns1crlc4MtxOt8_-y5wD/s1600/SWE+13-6-12+-+Katleen+Vanherck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuYBjSuxsb-itbetLpSc_feaY32ygNtFjGT3CpYnctfqHv3s9jdbIAk17YlAuvE45AwVf6APNENgffVynaFEELWTSzwy8Wyk5C77tH5Is2v8fyQo3OsiR9DuUbns1crlc4MtxOt8_-y5wD/s320/SWE+13-6-12+-+Katleen+Vanherck.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Endemic Seychelles White-Eye (copyright Katleen Vanherck)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">In late 1990s only small
populations of the Seychelles White-eye remained restricted to Mahe and
Conception Islands. In an attempt to increase this species’ range and to
establish additional viable populations, several translocation projects of this
bird species were initiated by the Ministry of Environment. In 2007, 25
Seychelles White-eyes were transferred from Conception Island to the
rodent-free North Island.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnKh7p_r4X92d0kKmDzGSKiS5z12fWeyWtn89akVpTC5lMfsYvSdOhnfmj0k4PZM8lqb5kTKfjMU7TUkns7FLJMv1B98unLv-lt5Huu9GSEkC7dL8hRfxd6dIscNaTTHtDel-IQCKhj3Vt/s1600/P1020058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnKh7p_r4X92d0kKmDzGSKiS5z12fWeyWtn89akVpTC5lMfsYvSdOhnfmj0k4PZM8lqb5kTKfjMU7TUkns7FLJMv1B98unLv-lt5Huu9GSEkC7dL8hRfxd6dIscNaTTHtDel-IQCKhj3Vt/s320/P1020058.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plant nursery on North Island</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">North island have
invested for many years in </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">ongoing restoration of the native forest
habitats</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">. M</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">any hectares of the island have been (partially) rehabilitated and
indigenous trees and bushes, grown in the island’s nursery, have been planted. To
assist in the ongoing and future success of the island’s population of endemic
birds on North Island, removal of Common Mynas is considered an important
component of the environmental restoration programme.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5t_jg_vVGdrvNkuW08aevKbCF8NNtoDOl4pO7hnfQU-7PNOkZdg1lq50aGFUyVD5qaNvbLmno_INSPwwYMVrrOUl-dDIPpUqCHsB5OR-LT61ocRqhTzog9cbplvRT1KImZFs7QCdRv13U/s1600/9+Mynas+watching+drop+trap+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5t_jg_vVGdrvNkuW08aevKbCF8NNtoDOl4pO7hnfQU-7PNOkZdg1lq50aGFUyVD5qaNvbLmno_INSPwwYMVrrOUl-dDIPpUqCHsB5OR-LT61ocRqhTzog9cbplvRT1KImZFs7QCdRv13U/s320/9+Mynas+watching+drop+trap+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Myna birds watching the drop trap</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Initiated in May 2016,
the Myna Eradication project involves the removing and culling of Indian Myna
birds from the island. Several successful trapping methods have been used so
far such as decoy trap and drop trap. Six months later and the team has captured
672 mynas!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGCKUqGgCuKiYtuJZj7260100OeGhrd42OsZh_DygBRpqLZLvLUcV8wEKCYRRTSOlgmsAXa_N4X1i_HULrUCrRBMqmLdHLMd4FvSTbx5aFFkMKt5Xh82E_PkaSU2tJ2Ouy0iECdJRhmO1v/s1600/IMG_0904.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGCKUqGgCuKiYtuJZj7260100OeGhrd42OsZh_DygBRpqLZLvLUcV8wEKCYRRTSOlgmsAXa_N4X1i_HULrUCrRBMqmLdHLMd4FvSTbx5aFFkMKt5Xh82E_PkaSU2tJ2Ouy0iECdJRhmO1v/s320/IMG_0904.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ringing of White-Eyes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Since it's translocation, annual ringing
and population surveys of the </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Seychelles White-eye </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">are carried out. The
population on North Island has increased steadily to approximately 100
individuals estimated October in 2016.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">With the gradual removal of Mynas this
is expected to increase over the next few years. But also a Myna-free North Island
makes the island a refuge for other species of endangered endemic birds in the
hope of securing</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> their survival
in the long term. </span></div>
GIFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10454056261561614927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748781850921690824.post-266219498772373202016-10-21T18:30:00.002+05:002016-10-21T23:20:57.042+05:00Green Islands Foundation kicks off threatened fish species project!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<h1 style="text-align: justify;">
</h1>
<h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Yesterday, Green Islands Foundation had the pleasure of starting a new fisheries project entitled: </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">THE DEVELOPMENT OF A CO-MANAGEMENT PLAN, DESIGNED BY FISHERS, TO MINIMISE THE IMPACT OF THE SEYCHELLES ARTISANAL FISHERY ON THREATENED SPECIE</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">S</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> with an inception workshop for Mahe fishermen at the SFA Training room in Victoria.</span></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoRgWYO6NaJ2GNGGg_it5gE3HhoH670BdUTSs6IlfgbIdYqFiNZMuauItPGx0SkqBB-Fqvj7tnvw0r-cQDglo5j9JeWhnDMprov-3BpAWg0C2Eha3krhs5_PEX-4Pd8Vk19Goo0k6ycMJP/s1600/Introduction+and+resilience+workshop+20.10.2016+%252816%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-size: 32px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoRgWYO6NaJ2GNGGg_it5gE3HhoH670BdUTSs6IlfgbIdYqFiNZMuauItPGx0SkqBB-Fqvj7tnvw0r-cQDglo5j9JeWhnDMprov-3BpAWg0C2Eha3krhs5_PEX-4Pd8Vk19Goo0k6ycMJP/s320/Introduction+and+resilience+workshop+20.10.2016+%252816%2529.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-weight: normal;">With this new project Green Islands Foundation wants to investigate and propose ways to reduce the Seychelles artisanal fishery’s impact on globally threatened species. Using a new approach, </span></span></span></span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-weight: normal;">GIF will do this by facilitating artisanal fishers to formulate solutions to this issue themselves. The workshop marked the official start of this 2.5 year project funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and Conservation International Japan under the GEF Satoyama initiative. During the workshop the project goals and expected outcomes were presented to fisher communities on Mahe and to the project partners such as the Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA).</span></span></span></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJUbhclh4e5OaxFtVwx4nvR9YxwDr6c3c3D4HS_rb_xxnP7rslQZjTdsPadic1GvMpfjYw0XntYdbD2f63aElkj9GoVOSLyKHpvwmA0WyUafEJUXV8er3vR8TNR868w_YzuBfKKVA4PMG4/s1600/Group+photo+20.10.2016+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><br />
</a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJUbhclh4e5OaxFtVwx4nvR9YxwDr6c3c3D4HS_rb_xxnP7rslQZjTdsPadic1GvMpfjYw0XntYdbD2f63aElkj9GoVOSLyKHpvwmA0WyUafEJUXV8er3vR8TNR868w_YzuBfKKVA4PMG4/s1600/Group+photo+20.10.2016+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><br />
</a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJUbhclh4e5OaxFtVwx4nvR9YxwDr6c3c3D4HS_rb_xxnP7rslQZjTdsPadic1GvMpfjYw0XntYdbD2f63aElkj9GoVOSLyKHpvwmA0WyUafEJUXV8er3vR8TNR868w_YzuBfKKVA4PMG4/s1600/Group+photo+20.10.2016+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJUbhclh4e5OaxFtVwx4nvR9YxwDr6c3c3D4HS_rb_xxnP7rslQZjTdsPadic1GvMpfjYw0XntYdbD2f63aElkj9GoVOSLyKHpvwmA0WyUafEJUXV8er3vR8TNR868w_YzuBfKKVA4PMG4/s320/Group+photo+20.10.2016+%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: small;"></span></span><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">What will we be doing?</span></div>
</span></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">Arjan de Groene explained how GIF, with help from the fishing community, will try and get an idea of how common threatened fish species were in the past. Species of interest to the project are the ones that are currently on the IUCN red-list, which is an indicator that these species are globally threatened, but in some cases still occur in reasonable numbers on the Mahe Plateau. The project will also include species of interest proposed by the fishing community, focusing on fish that are not on the IUCN red-list, but are of concern to the people catching them. Then, a full year of surveying the market place and various fish landing sites across Mahe will be done to show what the current status of these species is. We will call upon fishermen, fish sellers, traders and anyone who sees any of the species we are interested in to report them to us. We will have a team ready to come over to photograph and measure any interesting fish that get reported to us!</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">After gathering all this information on past and present status of our species of interest, this information will then be shared with fishermen across Seychelles and through continuous discussion with as many representatives of the fishing community as possible, the project will try to get agreement on threatened species management measures which will be proposed to SFA for formulation under the 2014 Fisheries Act, in close collaboration with all partners. This bottom-up approach to fisheries management is new to Seychelles and GIF hopes that through successful implementation of this project, fishermen will be able to show that fisher-led management of threatened species fish stocks can be done.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<v:shape id="Picture_x0020_7" o:spid="_x0000_s1031" style="height: 174.05pt; left: 0px; margin-left: 313.65pt; margin-top: 60.7pt; position: absolute; text-align: justify; visibility: visible; width: 232.75pt; z-index: 1;" type="#_x0000_t75"><v:imagedata o:title="Introduction and resilience workshop 20.10.2016 (3)" src="file:///C:\Users\ADEGRO~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image003.jpg"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: normal;"><w:wrap style="font-weight: normal;" type="square"> </w:wrap></span></v:imagedata></v:shape><span style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><br />
</span><span style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><br />
</span><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_7" o:spid="_x0000_s1031" style="height: 174.05pt; left: 0px; margin-left: 313.65pt; margin-top: 60.7pt; position: absolute; text-align: justify; visibility: visible; width: 232.75pt; z-index: 1;" type="#_x0000_t75"><v:imagedata o:title="Introduction and resilience workshop 20.10.2016 (3)" src="file:///C:\Users\ADEGRO~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image003.jpg"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: normal;"><w:wrap style="font-weight: normal;" type="square"> </w:wrap></span></v:imagedata></v:shape><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: normal;"><div style="font-weight: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: normal;">What do we </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: normal;">want to achieve?</span></div>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The project fits in the country's Blue Economy strategy to reduce fishing pressure and promote sustainable management of artisanal fisheries. It will eventually result in improved site-level conservation status of various threatened species and contribute to a more diverse, resilient and productive marine ecosystem on the Mahé plateau.</span></div>
</span></span><span lang="EN-GB"></span><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
Resilience indicators</div>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-weight: normal;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ou1L8Qm8OZI6EStAlBiY-1WAI29Ds0jlX2_EHEkvykZ6ZhrIBYWssX1Aold4e6bwS3q4PgGu9VgvWF0F3vfq_D0KsJYNFjaaCioUyx8cZXBcw7iYa9ReyWNd6EPgo0Yo1bjoKgg9J8jg/s1600/Introduction+and+resilience+workshop+20.10.2016+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ou1L8Qm8OZI6EStAlBiY-1WAI29Ds0jlX2_EHEkvykZ6ZhrIBYWssX1Aold4e6bwS3q4PgGu9VgvWF0F3vfq_D0KsJYNFjaaCioUyx8cZXBcw7iYa9ReyWNd6EPgo0Yo1bjoKgg9J8jg/s320/Introduction+and+resilience+workshop+20.10.2016+%25283%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a>Ms Veronique Bonnelame explained to the group that we wanted to do an assessment of how threatened species are managed now by asking the group to give us a score for several indicator questions relating to ecosystem protection, biodiversity, livelihoods and other topics that tell us how well threatened species are managed. We will do this assessment again later during the project to see if the scores have gone up, which means the situation has improved since the inception workshop. So a big thank you to Veronique for helping us with this!</div>
</div>
</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="clear: right; display: inline; float: right; font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXIxEuqsDxNDTweJYGIPtXozEPZ7Hzx_jEyzaaUQJutr72drY0OKI1cW4N5Yp7ZQzaNAFe2ylemb8cNIz-JjWBYnS-EEOr-qE1f8OvrHljLs22pjZK2VDg_DUKNLYmctC52ojm1w75BYGX/s400/Handover+of+GIF+car+20.10.2016.jpg" width="400" /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Thank you to our sponsors!</span></div>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_6" o:spid="_x0000_s1030" style="font-weight: bold; height: 123.9pt; left: 0px; margin-left: 381.55pt; margin-top: 5.8pt; position: absolute; text-align: justify; visibility: visible; width: 165.1pt; z-index: 2;" type="#_x0000_t75"><v:imagedata o:title="Handover of GIF car 20.10.2016 (6)" src="file:///C:\Users\ADEGRO~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image004.jpg"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: normal;"><w:wrap style="font-weight: normal;" type="square"></w:wrap></span></v:imagedata></v:shape></span></span><div style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Before the workshop a symbolic handover was done of a vehicle which was partly donated to the Green Islands Foundation by the project funders GEF Satoyama and partly by several local businesses namely </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">SACOS</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Cable and Wireless</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> and </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sun Motors Ltd</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> showcasing their support to the project and marine conservation in Seychelles. This vehicle will be used by GIF for daily implementation of the project such as fisher interviews and catch monitoring all over Mahe throughout the project duration. So keep an eye out for the GIF van in the upcoming years and know that they’re trying to help make fisheries in Seychelles more sustainable!</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">How can you help?</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">We will provide regular updates on project progress on our website and facebook page. And for anyone who ever buys a fish in Seychelles, we will put up posters at the landing sites and a list of fish species on our website. Give us a call if you see anything interesting!</span></div>
</h4>
<h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18.4px;">An overview of the GEF Satoyama project can be found on </span><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 18.4px;"><a href="http://gef-satoyama.net/subgrantprojects/">http://gef-satoyama.net/subgrantprojects/</a></span></span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">Some example species that we will be looking at in our project:</span></div>
</h4>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"></span>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibAekFNPJSBggM46x25dsF-9uM21hwx4HkNawBh2EmM9PFXeERh8fWY-Xi0m8VxIiHIv9A7w8yyg4NqnRCYhuHWycDTCx6v4mG2TYL7e6Y-Pebng6nw5F1-wDFOMC-rJBvtOG5NI_petNO/s1600/lare+dore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="115" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibAekFNPJSBggM46x25dsF-9uM21hwx4HkNawBh2EmM9PFXeERh8fWY-Xi0m8VxIiHIv9A7w8yyg4NqnRCYhuHWycDTCx6v4mG2TYL7e6Y-Pebng6nw5F1-wDFOMC-rJBvtOG5NI_petNO/s200/lare+dore.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Lare dore or Ornate Eagle Ray (</span><i style="font-size: small;">Aetomylaeus vespertilio</i><span style="font-size: x-small;">)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIcCL3SIRX_qS8otnLJxBn4UmeLsC3F1clsJKlxpPPqARNpkqlGPkrt6smOkxEvhTpmYAEXjy6F9_cBScLuttX25HSaP1y6N-RI_o80RunGvPWL7ADITcSCWyaeYRFIQVP9f46yGbI5qwr/s1600/Filanbaz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIcCL3SIRX_qS8otnLJxBn4UmeLsC3F1clsJKlxpPPqARNpkqlGPkrt6smOkxEvhTpmYAEXjy6F9_cBScLuttX25HSaP1y6N-RI_o80RunGvPWL7ADITcSCWyaeYRFIQVP9f46yGbI5qwr/s320/Filanbaz.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Filanbaz or Green Humphead Parrotfish (</span><i style="font-size: small;">Bolbometopon muricatum</i><span style="font-size: x-small;">)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUC13bkrwvKMpSWmrEDrPA7dNW9iyF6Tlv38v3CeIRR4W6Zf8OPcbHJ4t81CMDR6gClij7RlEaMR0nxGapNcXbMJIDUPvqBhhH7xWFZYGQ-UXGeBjwBhpym8Sz6TCcuiuOngxgW5z8ejEL/s1600/Marto+rouz.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUC13bkrwvKMpSWmrEDrPA7dNW9iyF6Tlv38v3CeIRR4W6Zf8OPcbHJ4t81CMDR6gClij7RlEaMR0nxGapNcXbMJIDUPvqBhhH7xWFZYGQ-UXGeBjwBhpym8Sz6TCcuiuOngxgW5z8ejEL/s320/Marto+rouz.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">Marto Rouz or Scalloped Hammerhead (<i>Sphyrna lewini</i>)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<v:shape id="Picture_x0020_7" o:spid="_x0000_s1031" style="height: 174.05pt; left: 0px; margin-left: 313.65pt; margin-top: 60.7pt; position: absolute; text-align: justify; visibility: visible; width: 232.75pt; z-index: 1;" type="#_x0000_t75"><br /></v:shape><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_7" o:spid="_x0000_s1031" style="height: 174.05pt; left: 0px; margin-left: 313.65pt; margin-top: 60.7pt; position: absolute; text-align: justify; visibility: visible; width: 232.75pt; z-index: 1;" type="#_x0000_t75">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimTyQOqYNP2P4g4yRa8lE_vxVuXFACwheunfZsUDum_XSqiBR8PqIadKcS77reokAuTmeLABttg77fvWX2G3U56LlhoPQEX7VOjCYA5RgCjdQMKHyPHvGXAGANvHrVLr9QTpDU2qSDwagr/s1600/ci_70146145_Full.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></v:shape><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">Welcoming remarks and resilience indicator workshop: Ms Veronique Bonnelame</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: normal;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">Project presentation: Mr Arjan de Groene</span></div>
<span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-weight: normal;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Species and monitoring presentation: Mr John Nevill</span></div>
</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: normal;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">Project staff: Ms Jennifer Appoo and Mr Frank Volcere</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGdYnNYTiew_KVbTn85nCCpyczEbHCiVu2Vqv_qerxTnpLjsE7JBZS9o95zu61XO0ddmGq3WIboWIJ1HjBjSTdRP3GKmVzqQ6sgz5VNDPU7xIxFieYKDEVMJW9TaiobNVVyc2W82Ti9hhu/s1600/Short-GEF+logo+colored+NOTAG+transparent.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGdYnNYTiew_KVbTn85nCCpyczEbHCiVu2Vqv_qerxTnpLjsE7JBZS9o95zu61XO0ddmGq3WIboWIJ1HjBjSTdRP3GKmVzqQ6sgz5VNDPU7xIxFieYKDEVMJW9TaiobNVVyc2W82Ti9hhu/s200/Short-GEF+logo+colored+NOTAG+transparent.png" style="text-align: center;" width="170" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQLmbp3EIMxTr8-OVyW6TdfrovqUwFFjiwFlVsUtwaf9voPFEiJfA_RaCgxp_flpUsK8QyXassIDEJ5E4suZZs_bKAPcbm5pt79izNhL9JLIhH5OG8eAqII_5wX5rlHxLtCz78oZDLME7m/s1600/SFA+Logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQLmbp3EIMxTr8-OVyW6TdfrovqUwFFjiwFlVsUtwaf9voPFEiJfA_RaCgxp_flpUsK8QyXassIDEJ5E4suZZs_bKAPcbm5pt79izNhL9JLIhH5OG8eAqII_5wX5rlHxLtCz78oZDLME7m/s200/SFA+Logo.jpg" width="198" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpVI5H5QOVEMziifmUeS2UXJAxIDDw_C0gqdeLx-5Jv0UInhFUBlKl4rsuzxgqZFCXd4mBfz6AtP1Y_5jNbtntsRbhCnwaQ7Swy4KjWwQp-3snLRk2DAbzOTxIggBRsg2TFfOtyTVOLisB/s1600/GREEN_ISLAND_FOUNDATIO__LOGO_COLOUR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpVI5H5QOVEMziifmUeS2UXJAxIDDw_C0gqdeLx-5Jv0UInhFUBlKl4rsuzxgqZFCXd4mBfz6AtP1Y_5jNbtntsRbhCnwaQ7Swy4KjWwQp-3snLRk2DAbzOTxIggBRsg2TFfOtyTVOLisB/s200/GREEN_ISLAND_FOUNDATIO__LOGO_COLOUR.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii0wmzrp96iLB9cfabxC-aeeeqW5Gd4S8uHftwGCsa_Pbdt0PAR6fPHor-f40jN_uUtddsPdUYHV8mK9E2jr0i0QEM2SpyLGvLJiYDf60I2Q2JgUC1apNc8O3sIBlvXlSNNxOrcMQf7Q_2/s1600/rectangle_color.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii0wmzrp96iLB9cfabxC-aeeeqW5Gd4S8uHftwGCsa_Pbdt0PAR6fPHor-f40jN_uUtddsPdUYHV8mK9E2jr0i0QEM2SpyLGvLJiYDf60I2Q2JgUC1apNc8O3sIBlvXlSNNxOrcMQf7Q_2/s1600/rectangle_color.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="64" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii0wmzrp96iLB9cfabxC-aeeeqW5Gd4S8uHftwGCsa_Pbdt0PAR6fPHor-f40jN_uUtddsPdUYHV8mK9E2jr0i0QEM2SpyLGvLJiYDf60I2Q2JgUC1apNc8O3sIBlvXlSNNxOrcMQf7Q_2/s320/rectangle_color.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimTyQOqYNP2P4g4yRa8lE_vxVuXFACwheunfZsUDum_XSqiBR8PqIadKcS77reokAuTmeLABttg77fvWX2G3U56LlhoPQEX7VOjCYA5RgCjdQMKHyPHvGXAGANvHrVLr9QTpDU2qSDwagr/s1600/ci_70146145_Full.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" height="65" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimTyQOqYNP2P4g4yRa8lE_vxVuXFACwheunfZsUDum_XSqiBR8PqIadKcS77reokAuTmeLABttg77fvWX2G3U56LlhoPQEX7VOjCYA5RgCjdQMKHyPHvGXAGANvHrVLr9QTpDU2qSDwagr/s200/ci_70146145_Full.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQLmbp3EIMxTr8-OVyW6TdfrovqUwFFjiwFlVsUtwaf9voPFEiJfA_RaCgxp_flpUsK8QyXassIDEJ5E4suZZs_bKAPcbm5pt79izNhL9JLIhH5OG8eAqII_5wX5rlHxLtCz78oZDLME7m/s1600/SFA+Logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
</span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"></span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</h4>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: normal;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">
</span></div>
</span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
</div>
</div>
GIFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10454056261561614927noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748781850921690824.post-27267178235475662792016-10-09T19:48:00.002+05:002016-10-09T19:48:53.393+05:00My experience as a Myna eradication volunteer by Maxine Little<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNeHvOD2NqvtVttofIJf5-XY5lNkE8fciE9oGO4cfSjy2G6nW0ILGlz8DLbOzNUFTcNKlOq3tWYq1PKu4PJxFUuOvfAJxEcHIynFhGWDLn23E4QRuAiMYtsq_JuQK16Z_4kguV9Qje6BVK/s1600/image2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNeHvOD2NqvtVttofIJf5-XY5lNkE8fciE9oGO4cfSjy2G6nW0ILGlz8DLbOzNUFTcNKlOq3tWYq1PKu4PJxFUuOvfAJxEcHIynFhGWDLn23E4QRuAiMYtsq_JuQK16Z_4kguV9Qje6BVK/s320/image2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The team setting up the traps</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="Pardfaut" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #444444; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Coming into North on the staff boat, the first
impression packs a punch. The water is impossibly blue and clear and the
granite peaks stand out in stark contrast. Two months in, this place is still
enrapturing us with its beauty every day. </span><span style="color: #444444;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Pardfaut" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #444444; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="Pardfaut" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Pardfaut" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #444444; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">As volunteers on the Indian myna eradication
project, Jeremy and I spend every day outside, maintaining cages, feeding decoy
birds and brainstorming inventive ways of catching the little buggers. The work
is quite flexible and we tend to go with the flow a bit depending on how the
day shapes up. Learning to relax and step into the slower stride island life is
important but also good for us!</span><span style="color: #444444;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Pardfaut" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiojLe5n4TJ0p2fpT_uHJ2_5qUdFN8Mwu_lQppa_XRS3RFsokClVdRlp6gplFRjVA1cJMM9bGm7_QZSZidHbvJtZ4chbGcw3SVJiGaOOFT_cqZRmp3KDK5qCYXImn-Hpe7KPcM0EbzEEC20/s1600/image3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiojLe5n4TJ0p2fpT_uHJ2_5qUdFN8Mwu_lQppa_XRS3RFsokClVdRlp6gplFRjVA1cJMM9bGm7_QZSZidHbvJtZ4chbGcw3SVJiGaOOFT_cqZRmp3KDK5qCYXImn-Hpe7KPcM0EbzEEC20/s320/image3.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Myna birds ready for dissection</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="Pardfaut" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #444444; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">A typical day starts early, getting up at the
crack of dawn to feed the decoys and bait the traps in time for the mynas to
come looking for their breakfast. Back in time for breakfast ourselves, we take
a break, input data or help out the eco-volunteers. The afternoon is busy, as
most catches are found then. For each myna caught, we take their measurements
and dissect them to determine their sex. We have become pretty quick at this
and whizz through them in no time. You never truly get past the idea of ending
a life but we do it with the best intentions and in the most humane way
possible. This is by no means a pretty job and we come home covered in bird
poo, blood and hairy caterpillar rashes, but the knowledge that we are making
headway in this conservation effort is well worth it. </span><span style="color: #444444;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Pardfaut" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI8go9yfe-bPPk6QWXrvrslbkspr8NrklQPDK-uoTlLmL52kU0uXybVHed9hmJ-ps3XbbxVvsLOOJdP3enO2IFXhS5rndXjdcurIDhPbNWszmNHEE_lC_mD6uZ2AlXSyz-ABWXJZzIFIsR/s1600/image4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI8go9yfe-bPPk6QWXrvrslbkspr8NrklQPDK-uoTlLmL52kU0uXybVHed9hmJ-ps3XbbxVvsLOOJdP3enO2IFXhS5rndXjdcurIDhPbNWszmNHEE_lC_mD6uZ2AlXSyz-ABWXJZzIFIsR/s320/image4.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A king Myna (also known as baldie)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="Pardfaut" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #444444; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The decoys are a really important part of the
trapping process and we are getting to know their little personalities; one I
have dubbed Fatty as he can</span><span style="color: #444444;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #444444; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">t seem to get enough
of the food and even takes it from my fingers! The current celebrity is a </span><span style="color: #444444;">‘</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #444444; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">King</span><span style="color: #444444;">’ </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #444444; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">myna we caught last week, aptly
named Baldie due to his completely bald, yellow scalp, the cause of which is
unknown.</span><span style="color: #444444;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Pardfaut" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Pardfaut" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="DE" style="color: #444444; mso-ansi-language: DE;">We</span><span style="color: #444444;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #444444; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">ve been really lucky
to get wisdom from experts in the field such as Chris Feare who is a wealth of
knowledge and the lovely Rachel Bristol who came for the day to teach us about
blood sampling which we</span><span style="color: #444444;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #444444; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">ve been busy with
since. My favorites, the sweet little barred ground doves, get a bit of a shock
from the tiny needle prick and often when we have finished with them, they sit
there in a daze, leaning a little to one side. It is funny to see but they soon
recover and fly off. </span><span style="color: #444444;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Pardfaut" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgakNaaTzy15CH1CkSjFTKnBg3LQYaSMarVTzFIWJ6T-2nccvsYz7MC6CmijX7bsU_SK4JllDB12WObNkctQia25aBhskr6hthxbj-VuIz4yvude9tkuqbwB6ykjrhst-rWqytkAPKGuzU-/s1600/image1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgakNaaTzy15CH1CkSjFTKnBg3LQYaSMarVTzFIWJ6T-2nccvsYz7MC6CmijX7bsU_SK4JllDB12WObNkctQia25aBhskr6hthxbj-VuIz4yvude9tkuqbwB6ykjrhst-rWqytkAPKGuzU-/s320/image1.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Giant Aldabra tortoises interested by the decoy traps</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="Pardfaut" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #444444; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">What I like about working here is that every
day can be different and unexpected. For example a few weeks ago we drove past
Tarryn (one of the environment managers) and the eco-volunteers in the buggy
and she called out something unintelligible about turtle eggs. Not ones to miss
an opportunity, we did a quick u-turn and followed them to the beach where we
spent the next hour translocating green sea turtle eggs away from the threat of
high tides. Feeling the late-stage hatchlings moving within the eggs was an
incredible experience. Nature tends to throw itself at you here, from the
scarlet Madagascar fody that shares your table at lunch, to the bats that swoop
low over your head, and even the occasional and horribly awkward and vocal
mating of two Aldabra tortoises on the side of the road. </span><span style="color: #444444;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Pardfaut" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="Pardfaut" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #444444; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">When time permits, we make the most of the
island</span><span style="color: #444444;">…</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #444444; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I occasionally sneak off for a
dive and Jeremy takes himself up one of the three mountain peaks. A swim and
some sun over lunch never goes astray either. At the beach if I</span><span style="color: #444444;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #444444; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">m lucky, I might run into Ange, the white-tailed tropic bird whisperer,
who is always happy to show me the latest nests and fluffy chicks. Our day
often ends sharing a sundowner on West Beach with the other environmental
volunteers, a moment to slow down and relax</span><span lang="FR" style="color: #444444; mso-ansi-language: FR;">. A</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #444444; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">s we head home to fall into bed,
our path is lit by the Milky Way, so bright and clear out here.</span></div>
<br />
Maxine Little.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
GIFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10454056261561614927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748781850921690824.post-56356683215875817042016-09-26T13:38:00.000+05:002016-09-26T13:38:44.936+05:00Conservation activities for the Seychelles Magpie Robin on Denis Island<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIwRnhxS9n7OuxH8g4Wj_EO_zEYJc86j8lTSW_4xLjrvAQhFRxEWgrX_3dHrbeyMpYLuOCYLOOvLhcHNInVAXyay02vOt33htNN0eJNgaCcC6_it0mSYah3WR5ZGWetQhOBMmjgkb7Etcg/s1600/Seychelles+Magpie+Robin_Klaartje+Puttemans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIwRnhxS9n7OuxH8g4Wj_EO_zEYJc86j8lTSW_4xLjrvAQhFRxEWgrX_3dHrbeyMpYLuOCYLOOvLhcHNInVAXyay02vOt33htNN0eJNgaCcC6_it0mSYah3WR5ZGWetQhOBMmjgkb7Etcg/s320/Seychelles+Magpie+Robin_Klaartje+Puttemans.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seychelles Magpie Robin (Klaartje Puttemans)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
In the Central Seychelles group,
various endemic birds are still classified as threatened with extinction on the
IUCN redlist. This includes the Seychelles Magpie Robin (SMR; <i>Copsychus
Sechellarum</i>) which can be found on Denis Island. Over the last few months,
the Denis Island environment team with the help of GIF staff have implemented
extensive conservation activities to safeguard the population of SMR on the island.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<br /><o:p></o:p></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLeKzYKbcWkwZFqd-tkyZMZTCYg_KONCGy7r-urDX0wLLQZISA7kPcMiP0ieeHSaLjNgwoxYpy6L4dkCrhjEky5MLeUbxhuMtMuVgt1fXxsGiPwWivtOwe0YTzSzlPe6RY7aUeu6o5WuPB/s1600/IMG_3421.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLeKzYKbcWkwZFqd-tkyZMZTCYg_KONCGy7r-urDX0wLLQZISA7kPcMiP0ieeHSaLjNgwoxYpy6L4dkCrhjEky5MLeUbxhuMtMuVgt1fXxsGiPwWivtOwe0YTzSzlPe6RY7aUeu6o5WuPB/s320/IMG_3421.JPG" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ringing of SMR</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
The SMR was once found on most
of the islands in Seychelles. Unfortunately, human activity such as habitat
destruction has dramatically affected the population of this species. By 1965,
there were only 12-15 individuals on Frégate Island. In 1990, Birdlife
International took an interest and began to apply conservation management
actions to save the SMR. Birds were transferred to Cousin in 1994, to Cousine
in 1995 and Aride in 2002. In 2008 a group of 20 individuals were translocated
to Denis Island. Now, there are in total 300-350 individuals restricted to five
islands in the Seychelles (Aride, Cousin, Cousine, Fregate and Denis Island),
which is a major improvement from that of 1990’s numbers. Each island management is responsible
for their SMR population and implements a standardized SMR monitoring program.
The objectives of this program are to keep the whole population ringed at any
time; to keep track of all family groups in each territory; and to provide a
population size estimate.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
Over the last three months, the
Denis Island team implemented an intensive ringing exercise of all unrung SMR
individuals found on the Island. This involved catching the birds with mist
nests and placing plastic rings around their legs with different colour
combinations for identification. This exercise in combination with other observations
such as bird behaviour and nesting records, allowed the team to produce an
updated territory occupation chart and map. In total the population estimate on Denis Island is currently 75-80 birds.</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkHXlHiGYVvhieioQ3gCI3BsfzvOVxVcGTaukXn8O4OX3eTcvo7i46lNjb69lQOHb6T153TKB9nkzDUK7HpGndmPmMaAJamfjhlh5Fc-K_222tKxIHDA2dEQCWVy7QqfZx-HX-EZ8XPrGn/s1600/SMR+nestbox+2016+%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkHXlHiGYVvhieioQ3gCI3BsfzvOVxVcGTaukXn8O4OX3eTcvo7i46lNjb69lQOHb6T153TKB9nkzDUK7HpGndmPmMaAJamfjhlh5Fc-K_222tKxIHDA2dEQCWVy7QqfZx-HX-EZ8XPrGn/s320/SMR+nestbox+2016+%25284%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Placing nestboxes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
The team also built a large new
set of nest boxes and repaired/repainted some of the old ones. These nest boxes
were hung up in various places in the conservation forest to provide more
breeding opportunities for the endemic SMR. There are currently a total of 24 new nest boxes.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
With the help of the GIF
volunteers, dense undergrowth of ferns has been continuously removed in several
locations in the conservation forest to make it easier for this ground-feeding
bird to forage for insects.</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEV6myd6mzWVsVOqzjuhr8dVv4k4TLejA09iuO5SvfqCUDswj8alMrbPuKP1uxRJJLdKbdQMz8oUoY0iThXgc9MNdSZ4Shkxv_RbfDEHshQrznEwYyu2Zuw2dFKQC0pO18jCxkQk69EMyG/s1600/fouzer1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEV6myd6mzWVsVOqzjuhr8dVv4k4TLejA09iuO5SvfqCUDswj8alMrbPuKP1uxRJJLdKbdQMz8oUoY0iThXgc9MNdSZ4Shkxv_RbfDEHshQrznEwYyu2Zuw2dFKQC0pO18jCxkQk69EMyG/s320/fouzer1.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clearing of ferns in the forest</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwRudHhJraAv_aLRRvn9SpZ_u97DwnHQfPYIqv6R-RKLiT_F4tBzteiHmxb1aKHgDyQh-BX3jO4HINUDFjtVVqQ8GSm6Re_rCfTuu2WHSIVh10NHgTQF9hjy7Q25tjpB3ZiwlP-ojh2EIK/s1600/2016.09.19-21+Land+invertebrate+survey+%252811%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwRudHhJraAv_aLRRvn9SpZ_u97DwnHQfPYIqv6R-RKLiT_F4tBzteiHmxb1aKHgDyQh-BX3jO4HINUDFjtVVqQ8GSm6Re_rCfTuu2WHSIVh10NHgTQF9hjy7Q25tjpB3ZiwlP-ojh2EIK/s320/2016.09.19-21+Land+invertebrate+survey+%252811%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Collection of invert traps</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
In collaboration with GIF, the team
has also set up a long-term invertebrate study to examine food availability for
the SMR and quantify the quality of different territories. For the SMR, the
abundance of invertebrates, especially cockroaches in the upper soil surface
and litter, is the most important indicator of territory quality. It involves
measuring invertebrate abundance in soil samples from known SMR territories in different
habitats. A total of forty 25x25m randomly chosen sampling plots are used. In
each plot a modified insect pitfall is placed, which is collected once per
month and re-placed at a new location in the sampling plot. Afterwards the
collected sampled is sorted and the found invertebrates identified.</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYsNP4sUT27-JwBJkA56kR1zPLsS07QYHiIQ4KzD-smLdhg-4KIOPFYgDdBJbGEtiHl0hX3zX1-duO0FGpJ2TAM1lFKTXoGl09RUe7NlDmB4SGHqnVNS9PCPLFLFxu7mxTRWeSLvNr3t2i/s1600/2016.09.19-21+Land+invertebrate+survey+%252816%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYsNP4sUT27-JwBJkA56kR1zPLsS07QYHiIQ4KzD-smLdhg-4KIOPFYgDdBJbGEtiHl0hX3zX1-duO0FGpJ2TAM1lFKTXoGl09RUe7NlDmB4SGHqnVNS9PCPLFLFxu7mxTRWeSLvNr3t2i/s320/2016.09.19-21+Land+invertebrate+survey+%252816%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sorting and identification of inverts in the soil samples</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
The results from this year's population
count, along with an update of the conservation management activities on Denis
Island were presented at the Seychelles MAgpie Robin action Team (SMART) meeting
in August. SMART members applauded the great work being done by the team and the
initiatives were positively encouraged by the group. </div>
<br />
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
GIFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10454056261561614927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748781850921690824.post-78260997713710525622016-08-31T10:57:00.000+05:002016-08-31T14:22:47.718+05:00Myna eradication internship on North Island<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1g741Nn3sSczWDeBpF-H4mgTPh8rc7W1BEsKvtX1TAgoKsV_fXPWz2l7AXa2yFeKtNXT7U7PzyhZtbDUv6W_AzHiEBlrBcbakQPGBuCkPrgJ0SWvNTnTTzav43QFR1qpMKJF1rGynu7Xt/s1600/NI+Myna+eradication+2016_Jeremy+%252810%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1g741Nn3sSczWDeBpF-H4mgTPh8rc7W1BEsKvtX1TAgoKsV_fXPWz2l7AXa2yFeKtNXT7U7PzyhZtbDUv6W_AzHiEBlrBcbakQPGBuCkPrgJ0SWvNTnTTzav43QFR1qpMKJF1rGynu7Xt/s320/NI+Myna+eradication+2016_Jeremy+%252810%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Volunteers checking the traps</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Our experience on North Island for the Mynah eradication
internship was amazing. It has always been a dream to visit the astonishing
North Island, but we consider ourselves as two of the "lucky
ones" because we got to stay and call the place home rather than
just a visit. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><div style="text-align: justify;">
Most people were concerned when they heard about "killing
mynas" and almost everyone had a negative response towards it. But both of
Krystel and myself have been involved in environmental activities since primary school, both
worked for a while and now at university and we can say that we have enough
background knowledge to know and understand that introduced invasive species
needs to be dealt with, plants or animals, whether they are cute or not.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrw0Pa0iDXk0Ym4DMQrzwOq4ctxWyGWN1ogE_7aLoi_vJ2fUsAR8ZtlSX3vDW6WCp0zGRScnl7XmxZb1VW3P7r8ZdrAYUUx23GAxK0Oqwks9X_XOWpvTOH-ugapTCP2FG5xoA3Gb0-1WKr/s1600/Trap+in+tree+Bird+Island+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrw0Pa0iDXk0Ym4DMQrzwOq4ctxWyGWN1ogE_7aLoi_vJ2fUsAR8ZtlSX3vDW6WCp0zGRScnl7XmxZb1VW3P7r8ZdrAYUUx23GAxK0Oqwks9X_XOWpvTOH-ugapTCP2FG5xoA3Gb0-1WKr/s320/Trap+in+tree+Bird+Island+%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Decoy Myna in the trap</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">How can we have the guts to do such a thing? As typical
Seychellois, most of us at some point in life have had to watch or kill a local
chicken at home for a good kari koko poul lokal. I must say that killing
a chicken is not really a pleasant thing to watch especially when the chicken
starts ruining headless. But for a myna, it is completely different, and the
method used is one of the quickest, most peaceful, less cruel, and cleanest way
without any blood or other body fluid exposed. So if you have cruelly killed a
chicken at home before, you've got this. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We were not only eradicating mynas. We were also involved in
moorhen capture-recapture as a population density measurement since they were
really interfering with our work by entering our baited traps (which we also
learned how to make) and occupy the cages that were meant to capture the
mynas. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg742pbaG_ezAjqExxuuSjW_SKgigWQnxryBIfucq_QIID8iJu2xY9RCI_d3ioUt1TOz6-cTb9gWszDt_tMmsAoZJ8K70aImdlVYYPSvUFPDTfwIWlRed6jc5qmUYRLeKPkwfDDpgBZzN3D/s1600/NI+volunteers_C.feare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg742pbaG_ezAjqExxuuSjW_SKgigWQnxryBIfucq_QIID8iJu2xY9RCI_d3ioUt1TOz6-cTb9gWszDt_tMmsAoZJ8K70aImdlVYYPSvUFPDTfwIWlRed6jc5qmUYRLeKPkwfDDpgBZzN3D/s320/NI+volunteers_C.feare.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Volunteers setting up the trap</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The work have helped us develop our ability to work without
supervision and this has also boost us to be more responsible since everything
was in our own hands. We were also able to observe and study the mynas and use
our own creativity to come up with new techniques to capture more mynas. This
is because mynas are very clever birds and they will get used to the catching
techniques after a while. We are using a lot of excel at university and we had
used alot for myna data entry and his has helped to practice, also to learn new
tips. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi44K3NFdO_fvC69vYIP1HPM7DCQiqczygJeoIcX7-5lAZJnXaND_5JMR5mOCZwFtqdbzrGt5kVSBIwr-wNjFpgJla_em_hqZWV4WWAnieTNcNzFfAT1ie58L9bOwLrQfZtkGyscMzkI-k2/s1600/NI+Myna+eradication+2016_Krystel+%252814%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi44K3NFdO_fvC69vYIP1HPM7DCQiqczygJeoIcX7-5lAZJnXaND_5JMR5mOCZwFtqdbzrGt5kVSBIwr-wNjFpgJla_em_hqZWV4WWAnieTNcNzFfAT1ie58L9bOwLrQfZtkGyscMzkI-k2/s320/NI+Myna+eradication+2016_Krystel+%252814%2529.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Krystel at work</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I had previously worked with black parrots at the Vallee de Mai
and I already had the taste of working with birds. But Krystel had not and it
was a great opportunity for her to learn about how to hold a bird and
measurements such as wing length, head-bill length, wing molt stages and
others. Driving around the island in the gator was really exciting, but
dissection to sex the birds was the most fascinating part of the job. One most entertaining part about dissection was putting
bets on the sex of a bird caught as it is really difficult to say whether it is
a male or a female just by looking. I must say I am really good at it and never
lost haha. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Krystel and I have done a really good for the few weeks that we
were on the island. We were catching heaps of mynas by using traps, up to 10
mynas in one day and we felt more motivated each time we caught one knowing we
are one step further in the eradication project. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiem-f6aUb4dndJ5UaiH_oyIkh6JxdKi79-diPEXgYYFrDGkiHtWjrXa3fs2_zHsvk0UH9AHJ_nJthfgp6fgzNG9gj8FkJoXvjyd1IDuLoy_QSQzdvRzKA-AkRoY17cPzldpZkAhgSvhZJB/s1600/NI+Myna+eradication+2016_Krystel+%252819%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiem-f6aUb4dndJ5UaiH_oyIkh6JxdKi79-diPEXgYYFrDGkiHtWjrXa3fs2_zHsvk0UH9AHJ_nJthfgp6fgzNG9gj8FkJoXvjyd1IDuLoy_QSQzdvRzKA-AkRoY17cPzldpZkAhgSvhZJB/s320/NI+Myna+eradication+2016_Krystel+%252819%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dyllis taking measurements</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It was a really fun job and we would have definitely loved to work
as a full time paid job. We would definitely love to go back during holidays,
that is only if the two new volunteers have not finished all the work since
they are really good hunters too. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Unforgettable experience!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Dillys and Krystel<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Seychelles</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfmaPei17raihS4mX2Ny79KAmzQGVl0QYcuTvprNBRlPzx8NA4N2GJ3Mn4iNaYCcwdGn9vWjD-hOgUWfCocZNz-PoOjR39h2sDHUKBIHzg6PklqCUlYngiJMDKpmVmGITwyy-FomFyPr5P/s1600/UniSey_logo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfmaPei17raihS4mX2Ny79KAmzQGVl0QYcuTvprNBRlPzx8NA4N2GJ3Mn4iNaYCcwdGn9vWjD-hOgUWfCocZNz-PoOjR39h2sDHUKBIHzg6PklqCUlYngiJMDKpmVmGITwyy-FomFyPr5P/s200/UniSey_logo.JPG" width="152" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiejU3t3FjACrSRplRWjoq757y5GWPRkpDOaoBOhpU93HxpBjZN98fnUh9iwiGN46KVgDi0GAHab5ouPulLC7uP0lBBBicjR6jnToYrYF666q2rQcLmmbd2NyiKGnEEvEajsKVXUxOZ6GC5/s1600/North+Island+FULL+ADDRESS+OFFSITE+COMM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="123" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiejU3t3FjACrSRplRWjoq757y5GWPRkpDOaoBOhpU93HxpBjZN98fnUh9iwiGN46KVgDi0GAHab5ouPulLC7uP0lBBBicjR6jnToYrYF666q2rQcLmmbd2NyiKGnEEvEajsKVXUxOZ6GC5/s200/North+Island+FULL+ADDRESS+OFFSITE+COMM.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgl9DqCK9bzC67uZS93TpUz0B95hRLQOTuMvOq-9WUF8778nDY6822td40cmeYRQMqI9bjmz7lbMpbb2bGwIk3aG3IyS3TR3FHLWHwZsvPGQ6NHAyuycfNMf4U05Gxq93Pd-Lz0y3oU-MO/s1600/Wildwings+bird+management.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgl9DqCK9bzC67uZS93TpUz0B95hRLQOTuMvOq-9WUF8778nDY6822td40cmeYRQMqI9bjmz7lbMpbb2bGwIk3aG3IyS3TR3FHLWHwZsvPGQ6NHAyuycfNMf4U05Gxq93Pd-Lz0y3oU-MO/s1600/Wildwings+bird+management.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD2W6-qNvLdGgXD_OrnZFg80zvIuQWw5PnI_OCPtw1nh2dt_msD-dWi516-oPf1gCz0LXu5vQnT7LWwZT43zp22TUWZSOWAh4dnA3Nz66vx1ARjERzqsTauknghvmdenV0OyykxiXCo6LZ/s1600/IOT+Thai+Union+logo+HD+-+NEW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD2W6-qNvLdGgXD_OrnZFg80zvIuQWw5PnI_OCPtw1nh2dt_msD-dWi516-oPf1gCz0LXu5vQnT7LWwZT43zp22TUWZSOWAh4dnA3Nz66vx1ARjERzqsTauknghvmdenV0OyykxiXCo6LZ/s200/IOT+Thai+Union+logo+HD+-+NEW.jpg" width="200" /></a>Canned tuna used for the project are donated by Indian Ocean Tuna (IOT) Seychelles, operated by Thai Union.</div>
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
GIFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10454056261561614927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748781850921690824.post-44851640814036511722016-08-09T09:50:00.000+05:002016-08-09T09:50:24.857+05:00Celebrating Sea Turtles at the Seychelles Sea Turtle Festival 2016<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOMtdB__t2iBMzlwSxCQEA4G2oz8HyTJbEf-EnHF5iW0xKmM7_AFzisS1DcGmXe3xZI3tLbZYhzwDcvO3VGzs6ezZxl4LizLkCglQCuIsqJM87-dUXLlwgwwp5xIgulKrMUrMHylKe-NEN/s1600/Sea+Turtle+Festival+2016+%252817%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOMtdB__t2iBMzlwSxCQEA4G2oz8HyTJbEf-EnHF5iW0xKmM7_AFzisS1DcGmXe3xZI3tLbZYhzwDcvO3VGzs6ezZxl4LizLkCglQCuIsqJM87-dUXLlwgwwp5xIgulKrMUrMHylKe-NEN/s320/Sea+Turtle+Festival+2016+%252817%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Children playing the Turtle wheel of fortune!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-US">Green Islands Foundation showed up once again with
lots of fun activities and educational games at the family fun day for the
Seychelles Sea Turtle Festival held on 6th August 2016. With the help of North
Island environment staff, we made sure everybody who visited our stand learnt a
little bit more about one of the most charismatic marine species, sea turtles,
and why we should protect them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span>
<br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHF6kWrxfYyhrRf1aNqeaUDYpE1L0Gg1pHLzY3_vjJgZaIxEw6eAqHQLEvjNxHBsGPDDENQM5EIT_OHEnzflLnm2p0qL1W8QnAWy7q6QL4kg2s1jMN4UXrdZuGUilsClcIRA1lw1zCwAun/s1600/Sea+Turtle+Festival+2016+%252857%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHF6kWrxfYyhrRf1aNqeaUDYpE1L0Gg1pHLzY3_vjJgZaIxEw6eAqHQLEvjNxHBsGPDDENQM5EIT_OHEnzflLnm2p0qL1W8QnAWy7q6QL4kg2s1jMN4UXrdZuGUilsClcIRA1lw1zCwAun/s320/Sea+Turtle+Festival+2016+%252857%2529.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The winning artwork by Janske van de <br />Crommenacker</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-US">The festival kicked off on Friday 5th August
with an opening ceremony at the Natural History Museum. During the ceremony the
winners of the various competitions were awarded and several institutions were recognized
for their contribution to sea turtle conservation in Seychelles. We were
extremely pleased as one of our own staff, Janske, won first prize for the 3D craftwork
competition!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">The following day we set up on Beau Vallon
beach, alongside other environmental institutions raising awareness and
promoting protection of sea turtles. We had exciting games like wheel of
fortune and pin the turtle as well as other activities like face painting and coloring
activities. The visitors were really enthusiastic and interested to learn more
about sea turtles especially the children.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnjQNaI5RpuzeaJ8BQAYuqz4-V1XncWJr0yCPg_-FkqwDBRwfgdK79NqkcZwJB4gAc8eF3y4IeGn2LBCvFCXd_d7Vi0rzFd_oHhZCKb7Sq-AnFbb328z2_LgYH3ouiLxBgJYR7k4a55sDS/s1600/Sea+Turtle+Festival+2016+%252823%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnjQNaI5RpuzeaJ8BQAYuqz4-V1XncWJr0yCPg_-FkqwDBRwfgdK79NqkcZwJB4gAc8eF3y4IeGn2LBCvFCXd_d7Vi0rzFd_oHhZCKb7Sq-AnFbb328z2_LgYH3ouiLxBgJYR7k4a55sDS/s320/Sea+Turtle+Festival+2016+%252823%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pin the turtle!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
The Seychelles Sea Turtle Festival was
first held in August 2013 and has been an annual event ever since. The festival is an opportunity to unite the
many different organisations conducting sea turtle research programmes in
Seychelles and to raise awareness of the need for turtle conservation and
protection. The family fun day provides the perfect opportunity to share
information on turtle monitoring programmes being conducted throughout the
Seychelles, and hosting interactive displays with turtle based activities aimed
at educating people of all ages in turtle conservation.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsHLBhtINd4M8B1waQj-WKVdULfTTtnMWdYCcqJGsGTO1SWeN68tDP-shocMoRNKZHonM0ecOG6HLrlGczU_2x2zU0S6HqCqnBwdMilGkPupKdjYTsNxebl0GpyxVC0oNR4zQEEcSvD-o7/s1600/Sea+Turtle+Festival+2016+%252819%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsHLBhtINd4M8B1waQj-WKVdULfTTtnMWdYCcqJGsGTO1SWeN68tDP-shocMoRNKZHonM0ecOG6HLrlGczU_2x2zU0S6HqCqnBwdMilGkPupKdjYTsNxebl0GpyxVC0oNR4zQEEcSvD-o7/s320/Sea+Turtle+Festival+2016+%252819%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Colour the turtle!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span lang="EN-US">We would like to extend a big thank you to the organisers
of the Sea Turtle Festival to have invited us and to continue the excellent
work they are doing in Seychelles. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs0LAkq2zSVvIqJMnZcfgYvGE166EQ_TZ8ox4JAGmfGeHhSPYH_PYR_FcIxk0m4bLrkq6bAZyflhWk5Fzpz1RpgmcvwlpJULVXk0Bu-E8OtlhpajKLFEe3Nesjj16X10l4OxGq-vzK3Meb/s1600/Sea+Turtle+Festival+2016+%252856%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs0LAkq2zSVvIqJMnZcfgYvGE166EQ_TZ8ox4JAGmfGeHhSPYH_PYR_FcIxk0m4bLrkq6bAZyflhWk5Fzpz1RpgmcvwlpJULVXk0Bu-E8OtlhpajKLFEe3Nesjj16X10l4OxGq-vzK3Meb/s320/Sea+Turtle+Festival+2016+%252856%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beautiful turtle colouring made by children</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
</div>
GIFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10454056261561614927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748781850921690824.post-26534274577957876882016-07-12T10:28:00.001+05:002016-07-12T10:28:59.606+05:00Brown Noddy Census and Green Turtle Season<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZwiI6mHc9H_zzDbqjNkZOBscCId5eny66CQTjMcgUKY2cffwC1z3exNGhU6bPpv3QpzKZBURJIvW7yrer2PPS_spZYUdiTmcHwlhHq-MSwNdqGSn3KzKrZigYKxGIrIV92VqetbiYo2r0/s1600/Sooty+Terns+landed+%2528NB%2529+%25287%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZwiI6mHc9H_zzDbqjNkZOBscCId5eny66CQTjMcgUKY2cffwC1z3exNGhU6bPpv3QpzKZBURJIvW7yrer2PPS_spZYUdiTmcHwlhHq-MSwNdqGSn3KzKrZigYKxGIrIV92VqetbiYo2r0/s320/Sooty+Terns+landed+%2528NB%2529+%25287%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Sooty terns landing amongst the plastic models</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">With Janske & Martijn going on their
one month leave at the end of May, it was up to Tommy and me to keep things
ticking over on Denis Island. We began to carry out island tours and evening
presentations for the hotel guests. Whilst enabling us to improve on our knowledge
of the island, the tours offered us an opportunity to interact with guests. We
are able to chat with new people on a regular basis. Given we are on an
isolated island where we recognise almost everyone; it does make a welcome
change (although we ran into a few troubles with guests who didn’t speak
English. I tried my very best to remember my basic GCSE French to no real
avail). </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg58GT452WqOgbibgWxjDG9hsn3UBlDYstFSvN69qX14o1y4WmatBJq6QHmZXKugaAGrNJB5NBWoFYvEX3TXPNoxikwu8Dix8sr2xAWuRLnc9YcsvElRIahEV7YO_cDACKP9GFkd20roXIH/s1600/DSCN0394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg58GT452WqOgbibgWxjDG9hsn3UBlDYstFSvN69qX14o1y4WmatBJq6QHmZXKugaAGrNJB5NBWoFYvEX3TXPNoxikwu8Dix8sr2xAWuRLnc9YcsvElRIahEV7YO_cDACKP9GFkd20roXIH/s320/DSCN0394.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Tommy and I carrying out brown noddy census</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">June marked the start of the south-east
winds breeding season for the Brown Noddies (<i>Anous stolidus). </i>In around early May we could see these seabirds in
much higher abundance than usual all flying around the beach looking for
seaweed to help build their nests. Despite the increased amount of guano
raining down upon us from above, it was fantastic to have these beautifully
slick seabirds back in high numbers on the island. Brown noddies tend to nest
in coconut palm trees and very occasionally in coastal casuarina trees. We saw
them in high abundance around the hotel where palm trees line the entrance to
the hotel reception. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Given we had a skeleton GIF crew on Denis
Island, Jennifer from the GIF head office arrived on the island for a couple
days in mid-June to help out with the Brown Noddy census. The previous census
conducted in February/March during the North-west monsoon season counted close
to 350 nesting pairs, during this census we counted the exact number of nests
on each active tree which was a very time-consuming exercise. This time around
we counted the number of active trees in a given area and chose 2 or 3
‘candidate’ trees to count the exact number of nests. This way we could use the
candidate trees to calculate the total number of active nests in a given area
and over the entire island. We calculated roughly 361 breeding pairs on the
island but with many individuals roosting as well the overall population on the
island is much larger. The number of breeding pairs was similar to the
North-West monsoon season despite these being most probably a separate breeding
population.</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMPAuSl_u9Tvo44dfCXl3URGcj6KVxZWNdG7NlLbIWwBG9YT5K7U6swUo4cP1w30OgBjL8UhqH5HIUSjXXSgQXUqRfj-tOMUJ_IBmVrJ_mT4f2JyOToN4PUYzP4wWM7uch00LUeEC0IL5v/s1600/DSCN0423.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMPAuSl_u9Tvo44dfCXl3URGcj6KVxZWNdG7NlLbIWwBG9YT5K7U6swUo4cP1w30OgBjL8UhqH5HIUSjXXSgQXUqRfj-tOMUJ_IBmVrJ_mT4f2JyOToN4PUYzP4wWM7uch00LUeEC0IL5v/s320/DSCN0423.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Tommy, me and Jennifer during the presentation</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Along with the noddy census we carried on
with the turtle monitoring. The green turtle nesting season on Denis Island
lasts approximately between May and August so we are right in the middle of the
season. Now we are observing an emergence almost every morning. Although they
nest all over the island, the vast majority of nests are occurring on the West
Coast along Bois Blanc (the beach on the hotel side). Just past Chalet 14 we
have had 3 nests laid almost on top of each other; these have occurred at 2-3
week intervals which has led me to believe it could be same female returning to
a favoured spot to lay her nests. Every
time a nest is laid we place a pole with a coconut stating the species, laid
date, due date and estimated number of eggs in the nest. Every time this
particular female emerges she bundles over the pole from the previous nest and
appears to crawl all along the edge of the vegetation looking for the perfect
spot to nest. It is a struggle to decipher the unruly mess she’s made,
particularly when it’s around 7 in the morning and there are turtle tracks in
every direction. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Finally the end of May marked the arrival
of the sooty terns (<i>Onychoprion fuscatus</i>),
many individuals are currently breeding on nearby Bird Island and there are
still many sooties flying around Denis. Preparing the field for the arrival of
the sooty terns began as early as February. Sooty terns require an open field
to breed, and therefore we cleared rocks, pulled weeds and allowed the cows to
graze before putting the plastic model birds and speakers in place. These are
placed in the field to attract sooty terns that are flying over, possibly in
search for a breeding spot. After 4 months of work I was over the moon just to
see the birds arriving on the island and getting the opportunity to see some up
close. Over a couple days in early June,
we saw close to 100 birds landing amongst the plastic models on the field
around South point which we have cleared for them. Earlier this week, Martijn
saw one individual attempt to mate with one of the models, and one of the
guests who was with him on island tour managed to take a photo! Sadly this is
the closest we have come this season to having a breeding population on Denis.
It is very possible we are now past the timing to start a colony and we will
have to wait till next year, given eggs are already being laid on Bird Island. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwuUuQxza4DPcjdCulyYZmHLMP9bZl825_KXvXWQ3SsHVyvU_gMvNN2G-RSqDM6jppxeA7DIHi7_c3CWHptEBICf3LTddQxMRrxc7i6qo4_4Wdm0GXY9b5f41mgh8yBWu-2UyJ292k9qyQ/s1600/photocredit+Max+Robinson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwuUuQxza4DPcjdCulyYZmHLMP9bZl825_KXvXWQ3SsHVyvU_gMvNN2G-RSqDM6jppxeA7DIHi7_c3CWHptEBICf3LTddQxMRrxc7i6qo4_4Wdm0GXY9b5f41mgh8yBWu-2UyJ292k9qyQ/s320/photocredit+Max+Robinson.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Sooty terns landing amongst the plastic models</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOGR1M8f03L7uTzTSvSPPMdOtDkFgvEcRFYz6_TowWrnf3UQbUy3vDeF8AaJ8as1VzPNcw8tKbq7qbey9VgD5Dx3eg_mJdGITZPw95RGGRb9m4POmQ-pwXfEGGIpV56D89eh4IW8rbDbzm/s1600/Sooty+Terns+in+Flight+%2528NB%2529+%25288%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOGR1M8f03L7uTzTSvSPPMdOtDkFgvEcRFYz6_TowWrnf3UQbUy3vDeF8AaJ8as1VzPNcw8tKbq7qbey9VgD5Dx3eg_mJdGITZPw95RGGRb9m4POmQ-pwXfEGGIpV56D89eh4IW8rbDbzm/s320/Sooty+Terns+in+Flight+%2528NB%2529+%25288%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Sooty terns in flight</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">We will continue to carry out observations
at the sooty tern site; we can still see many flying over or circling the
cleared area. You would think that on days with limited success it could be
easy to be disheartened, this is definitely not the case. By spending even just
one hour on the observation platform you will see the vast array of birds Denis
Island has to offer, which after 5 months is still truly remarkable. From a few
blue pigeons flying low across the field calling at the top of their voice to a
Magpie Robin inquisitively hopping around in front of you, every interaction is
special. If you’re very lucky you will even see a flight of Great Frigate Birds
gliding effortlessly above the cacophony below. These incredible birds can have
a wingspan over 2 metres and still only weigh around 1 kilogram; they are
quickly becoming a personal favourite of mine.
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">As I enter my last month of Denis Island, I
am trying my best to take in every single moment. Sights I now see as normal
will soon be an astonishing memory. The likes of passing Aldabra Giant
Tortoises on the way to work or watching White-tailed Tropic Birds flying
overhead as I’m sunbathing are unique moments that almost everyone would love
to experience. Even though I am very exciting to return home and see my family
and friends, I will definitely miss my time on Denis Island.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">By: Nick
Burnham </span></b></span></div>
</div>
GIFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10454056261561614927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748781850921690824.post-55842564614677362022016-07-06T16:26:00.000+05:002016-07-06T16:26:04.205+05:00Learning about sharks with Praslin fishermen and schoolchildren <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxqk_6eWbIt35lV0tvQItya9MNnMQsE4y6tgYWm0uKtH6MZi-4nuhgzlVaYWgV0mEV_N3-LpCKlmPBmhg99xQSHNLj5eEygQ5rY0lO7TzXnvftfqfjjKArntaG_H9TGKBR_m4Hg4SiyP4J/s1600/2016.07.02_Grand+Anse+Praslin+primary+%252841%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxqk_6eWbIt35lV0tvQItya9MNnMQsE4y6tgYWm0uKtH6MZi-4nuhgzlVaYWgV0mEV_N3-LpCKlmPBmhg99xQSHNLj5eEygQ5rY0lO7TzXnvftfqfjjKArntaG_H9TGKBR_m4Hg4SiyP4J/s320/2016.07.02_Grand+Anse+Praslin+primary+%252841%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Group
photo with the children from<br />Grand Anse Praslin primary</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Shark education by Green Islands Foundation is
not only limited to the main island Mahe, but to everyone in Seychelles. That
is why last weekend we went to Praslin to meet with a group of fishermen and
school children to raise awareness on sharks</span><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">. The workshops were organized as part of the
"Shark Fin Soup" project being implemented by the Fishermen and Boat
Owner's Association (FBOA) in collaboration of the Seychelles Fishing Authority
(SFA) and GIF.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQNRvrCIUlJK6jpJ0Hehy7DDn3DjDCPYSWK9a7gDyyT9c7FHSuazfxecgA1lmL_zAPkN0OhgaF8c5NffTczYTYfhKjMTfKn_SdvKxJV-WFsPGXd98_1cPJk-I6yL4bBPdMf_x3XY9tVAx0/s1600/FBOA+fishermen+workshop+July+2016+%25288%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQNRvrCIUlJK6jpJ0Hehy7DDn3DjDCPYSWK9a7gDyyT9c7FHSuazfxecgA1lmL_zAPkN0OhgaF8c5NffTczYTYfhKjMTfKn_SdvKxJV-WFsPGXd98_1cPJk-I6yL4bBPdMf_x3XY9tVAx0/s320/FBOA+fishermen+workshop+July+2016+%25288%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">SFA
representative Elisa Socrate presenting<br /> shark catch in Seychelles</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">A group of 17 fishermen from the Praslin Fishermen
Association (PFA) attended the workshop held on Friday 1st July 2016. The aim
of the workshop was to address the issue of declining shark populations and
initiate discussions on how ways to achieve sustainable shark fishery in
Seychelles. Presentations were given on the project itself by Bertille Bonne
from FBOA detailing the project objectives and activities that have been
implemented. Elisa Socrate from SFA presented the history of shark fishing and
catch trends in Seychelles. Arjan de Groene from GIF talked about the
importance of sharks and initiated discussions on how to eradicate the practice
of shark finning and promote sustainable fishing practices.</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1hFWseXM-eY6GNY8OMbKX5Mm8JeO_k0UQPA0YkkTx2WPlgUG7LrGvmWYc1Ixykch1EWaQHQ20muBmAUftT4ZDbk7i92ese_DyTyUmYi2stgvzGMrW1Xr1x8aojWn35d1tZwhWEpa36Pkk/s1600/FBOA+fishermen+workshop+July+2016+%252815%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1hFWseXM-eY6GNY8OMbKX5Mm8JeO_k0UQPA0YkkTx2WPlgUG7LrGvmWYc1Ixykch1EWaQHQ20muBmAUftT4ZDbk7i92ese_DyTyUmYi2stgvzGMrW1Xr1x8aojWn35d1tZwhWEpa36Pkk/s320/FBOA+fishermen+workshop+July+2016+%252815%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Arjan
de Groene from GIF presenting <br />the Importance of Sharks</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There were various comments and valuable suggestions
from the fishermen themselves showing that they are already thinking of ways to
preserve shark populations in Seychelles. Fishermen from PFA were strongly
against shark finning and support the need for stricter regulations and
controls towards this practice. PFA’s suggestions, concerns and ideas will be
shared with SFA in the hope that this will initiate discussions about how fishermen
and SFA can work together to reduce fishing pressure on the shark as top
predator. At the end of the workshop, the fishermen each received a project
tshirt, a copy of the educational comic book developed under the project and GIF's
shark identification guide for artisanal fishery.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguO3X9Ig2FHeWrSermChS6ruWt_Q1GQg-Gjyc9l1CGnPNUemtXW54PFrdbd_JQKp_T_w8nJgwkzQzVoFwLEYr03pSQKHwUWNf4s0y1Xh_N532e6mSXNdz7zsZLl9yWcCIHG2FZkW2xjLFA/s1600/FBOA+fishermen+workshop+July+2016+%252819%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguO3X9Ig2FHeWrSermChS6ruWt_Q1GQg-Gjyc9l1CGnPNUemtXW54PFrdbd_JQKp_T_w8nJgwkzQzVoFwLEYr03pSQKHwUWNf4s0y1Xh_N532e6mSXNdz7zsZLl9yWcCIHG2FZkW2xjLFA/s320/FBOA+fishermen+workshop+July+2016+%252819%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
fishermen from Praslin sharing their views</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi85PROo35kCt8uJkEjPuRVdFP2cT_lp5I0jTq1OcMR8SfEin9TuH3V2UsjeB_sYyg36fV81d341blXKoOvqf-mQK0ivFquumrzKE1iuM6kP_aqnFBIOG_Sv2I9HNrq2obnGAkyAPHIAqDe/s1600/2016.07.02_Grand+Anse+Praslin+primary+%252817%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi85PROo35kCt8uJkEjPuRVdFP2cT_lp5I0jTq1OcMR8SfEin9TuH3V2UsjeB_sYyg36fV81d341blXKoOvqf-mQK0ivFquumrzKE1iuM6kP_aqnFBIOG_Sv2I9HNrq2obnGAkyAPHIAqDe/s320/2016.07.02_Grand+Anse+Praslin+primary+%252817%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
group of children playing the Shark and Rays game</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The following day, we reached out to a group of school
children from Grand Anse Praslin Primary. Through educational games and
activities the children learnt about different shark species found in
Seychelles, the role of sharks in the ocean and the threats they face such as
overfishing, finning and climate change. After receiving their copy of the
Shark Fin Soup comic book the children immediately started reading about the
adventures of Zak with the sharks.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGpDrg8jDQfbzD-EFQvs8ARmS3mAa8IS3wttLvDTOtHSIzw9m6trK9XeHXqAUFyBBfo9WwDn0uMCZXNU1JRfaUJtNFeN_yk2f9Chou1oA7Cr2xYbbibS8d8NdzFbSqrd_tZA6UpGCqEpOc/s1600/2016.07.02_Grand+Anse+Praslin+primary+%252846%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGpDrg8jDQfbzD-EFQvs8ARmS3mAa8IS3wttLvDTOtHSIzw9m6trK9XeHXqAUFyBBfo9WwDn0uMCZXNU1JRfaUJtNFeN_yk2f9Chou1oA7Cr2xYbbibS8d8NdzFbSqrd_tZA6UpGCqEpOc/s320/2016.07.02_Grand+Anse+Praslin+primary+%252846%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Reading
their new comic book The Shark Fin Soup</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">These workshops were another chance for GIF to both
teach and learn about sharks in Seychelles!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The Shark Fin Soup project is funded by the Indian
Ocean Commission SmartFish Programme, a regional fisheries programme funded by
the European Union and co-implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization
of the United Nations. The project is planned to continue until September 2016
whereby another fishermen workshop will be organized with fishermen on Mahe as
well as a wide distribution of the comic book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdcsebNMiy-RBSdbuc7XHSmeupMJrGpPkKWkNdMiRe7u2IPbAWev9xPle0OWlU2h_Dbf95NFSI8UQAnJKyTWrLL9JQ5KoAO42B4ZzgrQxdnHbvv_PA11YZJWMZPfEpKXC6Cg-5miO1N4Nm/s1600/COI+Logo_English+-+Jpeg+Landscape.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="88" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdcsebNMiy-RBSdbuc7XHSmeupMJrGpPkKWkNdMiRe7u2IPbAWev9xPle0OWlU2h_Dbf95NFSI8UQAnJKyTWrLL9JQ5KoAO42B4ZzgrQxdnHbvv_PA11YZJWMZPfEpKXC6Cg-5miO1N4Nm/s200/COI+Logo_English+-+Jpeg+Landscape.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjalPwMsYo4JNtKRKuTIRQDMOA2nfzeX1hbt2A6irKTjkeXFH4Ay7MhBS9Lr5FQbBIOvmctrubhyphenhyphend8LZOXVuiZ_54UjArLY6cZBIzCUJDOqTruLk7idky1D5ppcTKBRUgJm0UBcFBzcWxtc/s1600/FAO_logo_Blue_3lines_en+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="80" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjalPwMsYo4JNtKRKuTIRQDMOA2nfzeX1hbt2A6irKTjkeXFH4Ay7MhBS9Lr5FQbBIOvmctrubhyphenhyphend8LZOXVuiZ_54UjArLY6cZBIzCUJDOqTruLk7idky1D5ppcTKBRUgJm0UBcFBzcWxtc/s200/FAO_logo_Blue_3lines_en+%25281%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-081_RCEYzLsMJLlGNd9TyZsWC4QS14rJxOlZ_LXaXfCsvyve8Qu_Vj84InQPF7rFhz-5wtwwy-3Cb6erKBBp7lL11LPRfbqioFKc1_lGSTxald4wpvDWmU9D8Hws7X-dzuxpHVL1Sybq/s1600/EU_flag_yellow_high.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-081_RCEYzLsMJLlGNd9TyZsWC4QS14rJxOlZ_LXaXfCsvyve8Qu_Vj84InQPF7rFhz-5wtwwy-3Cb6erKBBp7lL11LPRfbqioFKc1_lGSTxald4wpvDWmU9D8Hws7X-dzuxpHVL1Sybq/s200/EU_flag_yellow_high.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXLjZ6Qo6y0P6FhXbScB2J6I9Y8J3_FQxk2IFusuLGRF6mTViDum47L6D_ZAfR5DiyKkINclnZGV-INasNtBGbdD8c_3dCTpWqqEfi3B46XrfF24-P0wIUjOEzh5kj51H3gxJtHemAG0yg/s1600/Smartfish+logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXLjZ6Qo6y0P6FhXbScB2J6I9Y8J3_FQxk2IFusuLGRF6mTViDum47L6D_ZAfR5DiyKkINclnZGV-INasNtBGbdD8c_3dCTpWqqEfi3B46XrfF24-P0wIUjOEzh5kj51H3gxJtHemAG0yg/s200/Smartfish+logo.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYLYLPSNfzJNJ75RrUqT39yn-7ClzPKZyVQkDHcH3Nv7Hg9IsqGlLf-3LP18B54TuNvJfN-o4v-L1ixauZKPTcxwaYO2jdQYm-PKn26jfIFG4ZflEgQO6LL1lhDAptxo4V2l7j39ykUI7I/s1600/LOGO_FBOA-nouv-nom.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYLYLPSNfzJNJ75RrUqT39yn-7ClzPKZyVQkDHcH3Nv7Hg9IsqGlLf-3LP18B54TuNvJfN-o4v-L1ixauZKPTcxwaYO2jdQYm-PKn26jfIFG4ZflEgQO6LL1lhDAptxo4V2l7j39ykUI7I/s200/LOGO_FBOA-nouv-nom.png" width="200" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXTSZ0Hkm8hR9NUQO-unpkrLRTD2ZBDbJ-y9PWMrRTd69KRE26QCFABDNxEwnQIV5FSY4o70Vf455sITObN_8ePhBOMPTMYJbyACM65LMhQ_RyyjjyqOt-26DmJHKX9LjlJtcKWMCPDk1N/s1600/SFA+Logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXTSZ0Hkm8hR9NUQO-unpkrLRTD2ZBDbJ-y9PWMrRTd69KRE26QCFABDNxEwnQIV5FSY4o70Vf455sITObN_8ePhBOMPTMYJbyACM65LMhQ_RyyjjyqOt-26DmJHKX9LjlJtcKWMCPDk1N/s200/SFA+Logo.jpg" width="199" /></a><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
GIFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10454056261561614927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748781850921690824.post-14317825510523674622016-06-30T14:42:00.003+05:002016-06-30T14:43:39.280+05:00GIF at the National Expo 2016 <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4JQVSxPFlP17NYpVvdOpOTTf-zXRaiScO0c3JC-DdVykYifLw9uMJfMKo5CqAAG5W1ygv5VcqOAmNnLk3tFcbi2vAf72hvhMPlw0AFT2AZwMYdhE6AauJQ8hCDOQZ4t5y52-mnhYkUrXh/s1600/National+Expo+2016+%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4JQVSxPFlP17NYpVvdOpOTTf-zXRaiScO0c3JC-DdVykYifLw9uMJfMKo5CqAAG5W1ygv5VcqOAmNnLk3tFcbi2vAf72hvhMPlw0AFT2AZwMYdhE6AauJQ8hCDOQZ4t5y52-mnhYkUrXh/s320/National+Expo+2016+%25284%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Participants
at the GIF section</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Once again this year the Green Islands Foundation
participated in the National Expo at Roche Caiman on the 26th and 29th June
2016. The goal of the expo was to celebrate 40 years of Seychelles Independence
and for this a number of organizations and businesses were invited to showcase
their products and activities to the general public. This was a great
opportunity for GIF to show all of Seychelles the conservation activities we
carry out and some of our project deliverables.</span></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;">Located within the EcoVillage we displayed two
of our ongoing projects; the Myna Eradication and the Shark Fin Soup project.
For the Myna Eradication project which we are currently implementing on North
Island, we put up an educational information board explaining the methodologies
used on Denis Island to remove Myna Birds, as well as the camouflage suit the
hunter used to shoot down the last few mynas on the island. It was an
opportunity for the public to try on the suit and take a picture!</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7nkk5V5r9Z-nrKvXTsOGUODxAI_vkjTNY41xufDkGkW8pd7WjybP8703uQ4RlCMEwHbASjDH28FmG6U2oQUuWtmiLSFXxN_BEyFeGuJsR2K1LLGcZH5KuCrGzcnYrLXnXco7LhwLHo4Jj/s1600/National+Expo+2016+%252832%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7nkk5V5r9Z-nrKvXTsOGUODxAI_vkjTNY41xufDkGkW8pd7WjybP8703uQ4RlCMEwHbASjDH28FmG6U2oQUuWtmiLSFXxN_BEyFeGuJsR2K1LLGcZH5KuCrGzcnYrLXnXco7LhwLHo4Jj/s320/National+Expo+2016+%252832%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A
future myna hunter!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">One of our games which was very popular was
"Bullseye on the Myna", a dart game engaging public to get rid of the
invasive species. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqXy7oLcGoSR1dKbTHfqSl4Ehwye80okhlK3cKZT62dYeoxxadqb4OolqkUCzeCJFSnIuOOn1Zx-hHoq8cDRPjjLe5Trj4KZFdCgbO__-Go3X_OTeSkc6Ly7gswAzINUBi4eFElEdpFZJY/s1600/National+Expo+2016+%25289%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqXy7oLcGoSR1dKbTHfqSl4Ehwye80okhlK3cKZT62dYeoxxadqb4OolqkUCzeCJFSnIuOOn1Zx-hHoq8cDRPjjLe5Trj4KZFdCgbO__-Go3X_OTeSkc6Ly7gswAzINUBi4eFElEdpFZJY/s320/National+Expo+2016+%25289%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Aiming
for the myna</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIBhrY5lMc4QWE9_XhZHLQEzbtjjWaXLq99nfIK0C36FqweBNobtOtk4TfBFk5MuMGGdxUbMDogOG-JNYXkn3mX2hJvZvsXFbpbHSzbuTikGLWUS_fWoKPKTXwqnmXKpZd6jBuuNHw0ewK/s1600/National+Expo+2016+%252819%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIBhrY5lMc4QWE9_XhZHLQEzbtjjWaXLq99nfIK0C36FqweBNobtOtk4TfBFk5MuMGGdxUbMDogOG-JNYXkn3mX2hJvZvsXFbpbHSzbuTikGLWUS_fWoKPKTXwqnmXKpZd6jBuuNHw0ewK/s320/National+Expo+2016+%252819%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Displays
at the expo</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For the Shark Fin Soup project we displayed some
deliverables developed by GIF in the past namely our Shark Identification guide
for the Seychelles artisanal fishery, one of our Shark posters outlining the main
threats sharks face globally, and two preserved specimens of shark species in
Seychelles. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Our "Wheel of Fortune" was used to
test the participants knowledge on sharks and the lucky winners won the star
prize: a copy of the Shark Fin Soup comic book! We also had other giveaway
stickers to encourage more participants.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim0ecj6WBlF8-Z8DrYBO7EecyEYqENZXa6ACk0d4qqP56tIBjzS1snaKHZFWgit5iKTiY1b_JzalmgG8uNlty2aw1Hd7mCji-QSXWw1c3ZXocfCthyphenhypheng6HCnbq8UyKtUJ2cYmRYoyf9CfXj/s1600/National+Expo+2016+%25286%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim0ecj6WBlF8-Z8DrYBO7EecyEYqENZXa6ACk0d4qqP56tIBjzS1snaKHZFWgit5iKTiY1b_JzalmgG8uNlty2aw1Hd7mCji-QSXWw1c3ZXocfCthyphenhypheng6HCnbq8UyKtUJ2cYmRYoyf9CfXj/s320/National+Expo+2016+%25286%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Looking
for the answer to win a prize</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Throughout the two days we were able to
increase awareness on the need for conservation to protect Seychelles unique
biodiversity. Engaging with the public and learning about their thoughts,
knowledge and experiences is crucial for us to adapt our awareness campaigns
and conservation efforts, but also to identify the gaps and priority issues as
viewed by general public.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A big thank you goes out to the Ministry of
Environment and Energy and Climate Change who organized the EcoVillage and
invited us to join together with the other environmental NGO’s. Thank you to
all the participants who visited the GIF tent and to the Fishermen and Boat
Owner's Association (FBOA) for sponsoring the prizes. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1TOgcGWYpt0myuJMXP0DjyORXMgLFzDeO5VzRVDoUEyB1WvBWXvfwCW5pMZF7wew_yHIugqLeJGMbQ3e-ZGMiZ81eErExgAn-bnSeN88mVAVn1YbOPQvouARuKVwoAfBkapKXmZONRJBk/s1600/National+Expo+2016+%252829%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1TOgcGWYpt0myuJMXP0DjyORXMgLFzDeO5VzRVDoUEyB1WvBWXvfwCW5pMZF7wew_yHIugqLeJGMbQ3e-ZGMiZ81eErExgAn-bnSeN88mVAVn1YbOPQvouARuKVwoAfBkapKXmZONRJBk/s320/National+Expo+2016+%252829%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Minister of MoEECC, Mr. Dogley visiting our displays</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
GIFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10454056261561614927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748781850921690824.post-17245299644990409242016-05-02T22:45:00.001+05:002016-06-30T14:19:20.909+05:00Tommy's musings and reflections on volunteering for GIF on Denis Island<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnbK8g-aZjVBtlCVc2nULRaSmryjvNGw0qdJUyN_hSmxN-_U3vTRZVZPPH-gu1rICZHRwXJygip3hRZrIrWUA09ojQ7W3gPAfc2rma3Flr1Vu2YWXaWUmQu3KDlRA5MbFuh8WYHLbIsnEN/s1600/House+Reef+%2528Tommy+Fieldsend%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnbK8g-aZjVBtlCVc2nULRaSmryjvNGw0qdJUyN_hSmxN-_U3vTRZVZPPH-gu1rICZHRwXJygip3hRZrIrWUA09ojQ7W3gPAfc2rma3Flr1Vu2YWXaWUmQu3KDlRA5MbFuh8WYHLbIsnEN/s320/House+Reef+%2528Tommy+Fieldsend%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: small;">House reef (Tommy Fieldsend)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">T<span style="line-height: 18.4px; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 18.4px;">ucked away in the far north-east corner of the Seychelles Archipelago lies Denis Private Island, a tiny speck of emerald glinting in the Indian Ocean. Denis is home to some truly remarkable animals, and so, as any budding zoologist would, I jumped at the chance to spend six months working in this special place.</span></span></span><br />
<i style="line-height: 18.4px; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></i>
<i style="line-height: 18.4px; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></i>
<i style="line-height: 18.4px; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></i>
<i style="line-height: 18.4px; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></i>
<i style="line-height: 18.4px; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></i>
<i style="line-height: 18.4px; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></i>
<i style="line-height: 18.4px; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></i>
<i style="line-height: 18.4px; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></i>
<i style="line-height: 18.4px; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></i></div>
<a name='more'></a><span style="line-height: 18.4px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Unusually, Denis Private Island has no mammals: none ever made it across the Indian Ocean without the help of man, and those that did stow away with the first human settlers have since been eradicated. Whilst the island is home to half-a-dozen species of crab, five species of lizards (three of which are endemic), and a number of other conspicuous arthropods, it is really the bird life that makes Denis a Mecca for zoologists and nature-lovers alike.</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 18.4px; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px;"></span><br /><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px;"></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6El3LzQL33z_EmhLWLVq1tiDJ-FicqdXxj8Rtp3ieYnDsUEBqElOvkiQJUsaVzZ1MMbBXWHmjzSpX3B3l5gAQtNChtv_6uBaHZzSh9TSIdsKWGtNjTxzvxAebInElVXAPeM5HtYTo9Mwk/s1600/Magpie+Robin+%2528Tommy+Fieldsend%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6El3LzQL33z_EmhLWLVq1tiDJ-FicqdXxj8Rtp3ieYnDsUEBqElOvkiQJUsaVzZ1MMbBXWHmjzSpX3B3l5gAQtNChtv_6uBaHZzSh9TSIdsKWGtNjTxzvxAebInElVXAPeM5HtYTo9Mwk/s320/Magpie+Robin+%2528Tommy+Fieldsend%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Seychelles Magpie Robin (Tommy Fieldsend)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 18.4px; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="line-height: 18.4px;">Denis is home to several rare and endemic birds, the most conspicuous of which is the endangered Seychelles magpie robin (</span><i style="line-height: 18.4px;">Copsychus sechellarum</i><span style="line-height: 18.4px;">). Since these birds resemble magpies but are in fact robins, their name is as apt as it is unimaginative. In the manner of all robins, Seychelles magpie robins are highly inquisitive; when you are working outdoors, you can be certain that a small group of them will arrive within minutes to appraise your efforts. This examination is inevitably conducted with about as much discretion as would be shown by the members of a Women’s Institute meeting that has just been disrupted by the arrest of a neighbour. The robins will hop about on the ground or flit from tree-to-tree, all the while trading scandalous gossip about you in their bizarre calls, which resemble blasts of radio static. Occasionally, my fellow volunteer Nick and I are even subjected to surprise home inspections; these consist of a pair of robins bouncing around our house and verandah, screeching their disapproval at our slovenly lifestyle, and generally bemoaning the degenerate ways of today’s youth.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju3tkpl2VFVn2tbu7Dx14_o2xpzJvwPKT1xra38w7MHggVSiQkqJxsPelQ50fgi99OIDT6vz5qjMSRd__r9LjYZ_fP94rdnDrSzhJrLxnlLStStpGqDVE8KXQTRhJF4ONfwNEce7SckQEZ/s1600/Male+Flycatcher+%2528Jeff+Watson%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju3tkpl2VFVn2tbu7Dx14_o2xpzJvwPKT1xra38w7MHggVSiQkqJxsPelQ50fgi99OIDT6vz5qjMSRd__r9LjYZ_fP94rdnDrSzhJrLxnlLStStpGqDVE8KXQTRhJF4ONfwNEce7SckQEZ/s400/Male+Flycatcher+%2528Jeff+Watson%2529.jpg" width="230" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Male Seychelles Paradise Flycatcher (Jeff Watson)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18.4px; text-align: justify;">Far more enigmatic than the Seychelles magpie robin is the critically endangered Seychelles paradise flycatcher (</span><i style="line-height: 18.4px; text-align: justify;">Terpsiphone corvina</i><span style="line-height: 18.4px; text-align: justify;">). Found only in the forests of Denis Island and nearby La Digue, flycatchers are small, captivating birds; females have milk-bottle-white breasts, jet-black heads, and backs, wings, and tails of chestnut brown. Save for a flash of bright blue across the eye, males are almost completely black, but are more readily distinguished by their two magnificent, elongated tail feathers, which can reach two-to-three times the length of their body.</span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3khifn5M_QTL0yvb41K98Gl3ZwqmUuCK7ckn1oDsCWj5SCBGzDEsEQ2Cbu_EfHQp1ukT-XMib5Zs6nMN6Gd3W4hhHCFUSlc3KGCvopl8e4hmObCbcD_jm1FgTl-CyPSZE3YKigrhXY3Yq/s1600/Female+Flycatcher+%2528Nick+Burnham%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3khifn5M_QTL0yvb41K98Gl3ZwqmUuCK7ckn1oDsCWj5SCBGzDEsEQ2Cbu_EfHQp1ukT-XMib5Zs6nMN6Gd3W4hhHCFUSlc3KGCvopl8e4hmObCbcD_jm1FgTl-CyPSZE3YKigrhXY3Yq/s320/Female+Flycatcher+%2528Nick+Burnham%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Female Seychelles Paradise Flycatcher (Nick Burnham)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px;"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px;"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18.4px;">Like the island itself, the sea surrounding Denis is a naturalist’s nirvana. On two occasions I have been lucky enough to encounter pods of bottlenose dolphins (</span><i style="line-height: 18.4px;">Tursiops</i><span style="line-height: 18.4px;"> sp.), calmly inquisitive in the face of boats and their crew; on the first of these occasions, several of my colleagues were diving nearby, and were able to witness the pod harrying a baby whale shark (</span><i style="line-height: 18.4px;">Rhincodon typus</i><span style="line-height: 18.4px;">), which, dwarfing its aggressors despite its tender years, was apparently suitably unimpressed.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjUHNjdEkmUANIPU9GS126Halaqt3_HFC_NusIuffJTu8ro_BKI9fLHEEUSPMuiMnBO5DICLz-BcwZCB7kZ2deQL_1cw7x2gctZJc9nnorHWbcekL72fNocaJ9FpDdLlFM9Dep1XhPwQKI/s1600/Blue+Lined+Surgeonfish+%2528Nick+Burnham%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjUHNjdEkmUANIPU9GS126Halaqt3_HFC_NusIuffJTu8ro_BKI9fLHEEUSPMuiMnBO5DICLz-BcwZCB7kZ2deQL_1cw7x2gctZJc9nnorHWbcekL72fNocaJ9FpDdLlFM9Dep1XhPwQKI/s320/Blue+Lined+Surgeonfish+%2528Nick+Burnham%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Blue lined surgeonfish (Nick Burnham)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18.4px; text-align: left;">The coastal waters of Denis Island are a veritable metropolis, where thousands of citizens hustle and bustle their way between towering skyscrapers of coral. Clown surgeonfish (</span><i style="line-height: 18.4px; text-align: left;">Acanthurus lineatus</i><span style="line-height: 18.4px; text-align: left;">) dressed in ostentatious sherbet-yellow suits with neon-blue pinstripes rush about the reef like preoccupied businessmen, whilst chain gangs of black-and-white convict tangs (</span><i style="line-height: 18.4px; text-align: left;">A</i><span style="line-height: 18.4px; text-align: left;">.</span><i style="line-height: 18.4px; text-align: left;"> triostegus</i><span style="line-height: 18.4px; text-align: left;">) toil away under the midday sun, chipping away miniscule fragments of coral. More than once I have watched an endangered humphead wrasse (</span><i style="line-height: 18.4px; text-align: left;">Cheilinus undulatus</i><span style="line-height: 18.4px; text-align: left;">) trundle past with several smaller fish in hot pursuit, the sight resembling a gaggle of tardy children chasing a double-decker school bus with a rather oblivious driver.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgowMznUm65_qrJG9L2Y2rgytbIODHTUJFGkCLExLw4IcZ3voFDLO61MLdcl1kU7_kQ8dbmxJrX5MZ_6kfw_9fpFqRsdCa5xvd4FFFqLAbrRbzeOzmQ1hkueoj4IhCcg70rxX-RbTGvzJn2/s1600/Green+Turtle+%2528Tommy+Fieldsend%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgowMznUm65_qrJG9L2Y2rgytbIODHTUJFGkCLExLw4IcZ3voFDLO61MLdcl1kU7_kQ8dbmxJrX5MZ_6kfw_9fpFqRsdCa5xvd4FFFqLAbrRbzeOzmQ1hkueoj4IhCcg70rxX-RbTGvzJn2/s320/Green+Turtle+%2528Tommy+Fieldsend%2529.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Green Turtle (Tommy Fieldsend)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18.4px;">Encircling this busy reef is a tranquil savannah of seagrass. Out here, the blazing sun heats the Indian Ocean to uncomfortably warm temperatures, and spotted eagle rays (</span><i style="line-height: 18.4px;">Aetobatus narinari</i><span style="line-height: 18.4px;">) glide overhead, as dark, silent, and ominous as storm clouds; green turtles (</span><i style="line-height: 18.4px;">Chelonia mydas</i><span style="line-height: 18.4px;">) also visit these submarine pastures to graze on seagrass, only to vanish in a whirl of inky-blue water when disturbed.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK8TJ_CLL8HBN-CGADTqZbSbNFtmF9XumHov1z4lGeP8hE_nVqy_Y17z5XB9xK0FJUyiPeT7CmtSdfgoYvCxaCEj_h3TtTuF_P_lIUa36nfN89ntC1AgdOfEXGnlRr0sAvT_eQMg8HBkeM/s1600/Spotted+Eagle+Ray+%2528Tommy+Fieldsend%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK8TJ_CLL8HBN-CGADTqZbSbNFtmF9XumHov1z4lGeP8hE_nVqy_Y17z5XB9xK0FJUyiPeT7CmtSdfgoYvCxaCEj_h3TtTuF_P_lIUa36nfN89ntC1AgdOfEXGnlRr0sAvT_eQMg8HBkeM/s200/Spotted+Eagle+Ray+%2528Tommy+Fieldsend%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Spotted Eagle Ray (Tommy Fieldsend)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Despite the island’s undeniable beauty, life on Denis is not without its hardships: the heat, humidity, mosquitoes, and isolation can all take their toll. But come the evening, when the setting sun paints the sky in shades of vanilla, peach, and candyfloss pink, and the last rays of sunlight dance and sparkle on the sapphire-blue sea, life here does not feel like a hardship at all.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVYInf-btkHRWnW5tqdevFiu2nhdKGPpcX36B4jz-0bzje1WO5io2rMatOErBJ51waQRzEoY7EvKTriY_sHyBQk8AwScK6zUaOHumnS6MVquD75_K9gGvgYR_QDsT3_-4_AjMB6qQU0q0K/s1600/Tommy+Watching+Sunset+%2528Nick+Burnham%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVYInf-btkHRWnW5tqdevFiu2nhdKGPpcX36B4jz-0bzje1WO5io2rMatOErBJ51waQRzEoY7EvKTriY_sHyBQk8AwScK6zUaOHumnS6MVquD75_K9gGvgYR_QDsT3_-4_AjMB6qQU0q0K/s640/Tommy+Watching+Sunset+%2528Nick+Burnham%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Tommy watching sunset (Nick Burnham)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
GIFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10454056261561614927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748781850921690824.post-41771398488120475752016-04-25T13:19:00.001+05:002016-04-25T13:19:09.015+05:00School of sharks at the Carnaval de Victoria!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf6-g1DqEwVVbvMCTmgkRJTrGBH9lwGjWe3NAUKah7rdVESqK2KyghZsWTR-MyTBmOB77UN9o9Yq6eb8JkCPxUhuOZgM15XbzYic0awLHZ2FE6xl3JK9Xw1t8hmGl3rUUeGlzFGz-52s5D/s1600/Blog+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf6-g1DqEwVVbvMCTmgkRJTrGBH9lwGjWe3NAUKah7rdVESqK2KyghZsWTR-MyTBmOB77UN9o9Yq6eb8JkCPxUhuOZgM15XbzYic0awLHZ2FE6xl3JK9Xw1t8hmGl3rUUeGlzFGz-52s5D/s640/Blog+1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
If you were at the Carnival in Victoria last Saturday 23rd April then you surely did not miss the school of sharks swimming around, promoting and celebrating the release of the comic book "Shark Fin Soup" , the importance of sharks and giving a positive image to our friends the sharks.<br />
<a name='more'></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDeFMnsSFoexkvbJlt9htAPEIPCaVXik-DbrksLjgY_2ViJ29IgS0HKAFfA06lIBnV_P512aeykPSY2m3Fyiwkv8z0X1xG1c8jY6nY6xe0PvZMVr3sZFWHEgy-lxLaQs9Z_kj3XwTeydmW/s1600/Blog+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDeFMnsSFoexkvbJlt9htAPEIPCaVXik-DbrksLjgY_2ViJ29IgS0HKAFfA06lIBnV_P512aeykPSY2m3Fyiwkv8z0X1xG1c8jY6nY6xe0PvZMVr3sZFWHEgy-lxLaQs9Z_kj3XwTeydmW/s320/Blog+4.JPG" width="320" /></a><span lang="EN-GB">Participating in the "shark float" were schoolchil<span id="goog_555630689"></span><span id="goog_555630690"></span>dren from the French school, local fishermen and the project partners including the Fishermen and Boat Owners Association (FBOA) and Green Islands Foundation (GIF). The team marched alongside the float, singing and dancing, wearing their shark hat which they made with the help of their art teacher Mr. Vincent Uzice. The float was built on vehicles made available by local fishermen and design by Allen Camille who was inspired by the characters from the comic book and outputs of the project. The shark float paraded throughout Victoria for all the public to see.</span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpvZFpqtmrHYl6e6qV8xOSiVF8autnRkrTc8t0JpiGnMbEztyHHEq1dLK6i8mIJzMM9B9PDQ6bV7D8SVmKDmcBfgQwV4BE3UttYBePH4UULaDd85UrYIUDeWMa0K1CrDjlge2tVsAhPoKG/s1600/blog+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpvZFpqtmrHYl6e6qV8xOSiVF8autnRkrTc8t0JpiGnMbEztyHHEq1dLK6i8mIJzMM9B9PDQ6bV7D8SVmKDmcBfgQwV4BE3UttYBePH4UULaDd85UrYIUDeWMa0K1CrDjlge2tVsAhPoKG/s320/blog+2.JPG" width="297" /></a>The comic book created by Peter Lalande tells an exciting story and informs readers on the impact of shark finning and the need for a more sustainable use of sharks. Participating in the carnival proved an excellent way to reach out to as many people as possible and a fun way to communicate on the comic book and the project. Members of the public were invited to discover the comic and the exciting adventures of Zak with the sharks through a lottery carried out throughout the parade, where we gave away comic books and shark T-shirts.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk0BVqtxIYeV8ahiv8qAsCtrAAoiZeebo0gwsiyXkZpSQCkqteRyQQFPpxxOt5y5pQ4026ttSzcpq4YYc4E1ZveKDk2TwHAhq-TDwTjctOlKsulQojPK6zSDfum9u4scUJ1lqFA1a9zRKd/s1600/Blog+6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk0BVqtxIYeV8ahiv8qAsCtrAAoiZeebo0gwsiyXkZpSQCkqteRyQQFPpxxOt5y5pQ4026ttSzcpq4YYc4E1ZveKDk2TwHAhq-TDwTjctOlKsulQojPK6zSDfum9u4scUJ1lqFA1a9zRKd/s320/Blog+6.JPG" width="320" /></a><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">This event is part of the ‘Shark fin soup’ project<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">which aims to raise awareness on the importance of sharks in Seychelles through several outreach campaigns and the creation of a children's comic book by local artist Peter Lalande. This project is funded by the European Union and co-implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations through the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) - SmartFish Program. </span><br />
<br />
Everybody had fun informing the onlookers that sharks keeps our oceans alive and to look out for the new comic book "Shark Fin Soup", which is available on the websites of the IOC and FBOA and will be distributed at various workshops with children and fishermen.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs3cmDjYsozRh9C-B1AHfPdQjWf9mnEalLKHw_WxGXtyQx3iupmNOo6wV8hcB7xwQt-mYrOeRXveOzKdRNIBh6OQito5L4FMo915NU03RiZ5VDXcaANJF3m9b1xH23m01bQqhASYQty_ZC/s1600/Blog+5a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs3cmDjYsozRh9C-B1AHfPdQjWf9mnEalLKHw_WxGXtyQx3iupmNOo6wV8hcB7xwQt-mYrOeRXveOzKdRNIBh6OQito5L4FMo915NU03RiZ5VDXcaANJF3m9b1xH23m01bQqhASYQty_ZC/s320/Blog+5a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXVs4e3ATH01JsZ4eeelxCT8X4YXUTVYnGkYLivVInRLuN40NV8AWgXWqbXKsTL_r0cYejrfRc4wr6ZemGhQe9u-HXITWygaWTsCIPksi9oXW0lHKGfKplEz7a3dqbUkVpHYQkd0JJ7EHN/s1600/Blog+8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXVs4e3ATH01JsZ4eeelxCT8X4YXUTVYnGkYLivVInRLuN40NV8AWgXWqbXKsTL_r0cYejrfRc4wr6ZemGhQe9u-HXITWygaWTsCIPksi9oXW0lHKGfKplEz7a3dqbUkVpHYQkd0JJ7EHN/s320/Blog+8.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNgP-W4SkCOHxD85V609O9uRHSCej0jAHMMzetazZWWnessAFHdW4X5hOAnX0yA48oaX4jJtzgVL-Th1GTOhyphenhyphenXfVhKFaNfnFIrMM0EwxiYYCP_HOTI_iLLJMxFg3Q83n4-8fq9_bzRIw5l/s1600/Blog+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNgP-W4SkCOHxD85V609O9uRHSCej0jAHMMzetazZWWnessAFHdW4X5hOAnX0yA48oaX4jJtzgVL-Th1GTOhyphenhyphenXfVhKFaNfnFIrMM0EwxiYYCP_HOTI_iLLJMxFg3Q83n4-8fq9_bzRIw5l/s320/Blog+3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMDv-_cH0aKYJT4NNWIIkUmakMilU3TTM5V6dRvpSSMRpTx8OqDEWSqyWIvQqTryU-aAVWiYOZ2k6sO13NsgIMlIstpwBRpB7em-fqw6DwpQyT4BH6XPK2fS34gfNddl-Xm8o5k8kMvjJV/s1600/Blog+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6rjDLPVSgmYLaPjZnDwLwbaa7Lj0jaXOYb-UDP9F6A3O30Vv6pSE4w-UQL_mGSSudQL8ydgSN8J4EGwkieX9Gg6FyuxDfVQzE4-baQ5alZDBaFi_bpci4ScoDwskLJDp3scpbz2UX2BIZ/s1600/Blog+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6rjDLPVSgmYLaPjZnDwLwbaa7Lj0jaXOYb-UDP9F6A3O30Vv6pSE4w-UQL_mGSSudQL8ydgSN8J4EGwkieX9Gg6FyuxDfVQzE4-baQ5alZDBaFi_bpci4ScoDwskLJDp3scpbz2UX2BIZ/s320/Blog+9.jpg" width="320" /></a><img border="0" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMDv-_cH0aKYJT4NNWIIkUmakMilU3TTM5V6dRvpSSMRpTx8OqDEWSqyWIvQqTryU-aAVWiYOZ2k6sO13NsgIMlIstpwBRpB7em-fqw6DwpQyT4BH6XPK2fS34gfNddl-Xm8o5k8kMvjJV/s320/Blog+7.jpg" width="320" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMDv-_cH0aKYJT4NNWIIkUmakMilU3TTM5V6dRvpSSMRpTx8OqDEWSqyWIvQqTryU-aAVWiYOZ2k6sO13NsgIMlIstpwBRpB7em-fqw6DwpQyT4BH6XPK2fS34gfNddl-Xm8o5k8kMvjJV/s1600/Blog+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6rjDLPVSgmYLaPjZnDwLwbaa7Lj0jaXOYb-UDP9F6A3O30Vv6pSE4w-UQL_mGSSudQL8ydgSN8J4EGwkieX9Gg6FyuxDfVQzE4-baQ5alZDBaFi_bpci4ScoDwskLJDp3scpbz2UX2BIZ/s1600/Blog+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
GIFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10454056261561614927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748781850921690824.post-66805160696421212772016-03-24T13:51:00.001+05:002016-04-08T00:06:50.723+05:00Marine monitoring program: placement of fixed transects<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOXRax-D3sIzZ4g3J1wzZvS64SKsEETq69wwDpAnuq1hkRDJkK36vJPdcZevMqQAfONCC-f-JXl3STATTnTvygPbQ_TX-diUKcwIATQbHhQxod8EWMl4u_VvFLlhnNNgwpM7gj7Um5w0bT/s1600/Concrete+block.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOXRax-D3sIzZ4g3J1wzZvS64SKsEETq69wwDpAnuq1hkRDJkK36vJPdcZevMqQAfONCC-f-JXl3STATTnTvygPbQ_TX-diUKcwIATQbHhQxod8EWMl4u_VvFLlhnNNgwpM7gj7Um5w0bT/s320/Concrete+block.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Carrying the concrete blocks</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit;">Arjan and
Jennifer who work at GIF headquarters in Mahé landed on Denis Island last
Tuesday to install fixed underwater transects for the marine monitoring program.
Our aim was to set out transects at 4 site location around Denis Island to standardize
collection of data on the reefs over the years.
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;">Unfortunately in
typical island fashion; things didn't quite go according to plan. On Tuesday
afternoon the boat engine failed which meant the survey would have to wait
until Wednesday morning. We did however enjoy a few drinks on Tuesday night as
the whole GIF team was together for the first time since Tommy and I had begun
out volunteer placement (although we never really need a reason to have a few
beers after work).</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9tlr9pyBgfVU8wpdtTJ7haEBY-ackpMiT-H4Xh-Ef9wpA7mcWM9CBQPxRgsQg2VeDK1lPD21zL6vOsepDmWiAHUmaRDyh9JkaoJYrPfdm9JK2RDPkeRb5siWwqRp1fuApqwmTOiHz5SmM/s1600/Manta+tow.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9tlr9pyBgfVU8wpdtTJ7haEBY-ackpMiT-H4Xh-Ef9wpA7mcWM9CBQPxRgsQg2VeDK1lPD21zL6vOsepDmWiAHUmaRDyh9JkaoJYrPfdm9JK2RDPkeRb5siWwqRp1fuApqwmTOiHz5SmM/s320/Manta+tow.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Manta tow to find the most suitable site</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit;">We met at the
Dive Centre on Wednesday morning at 8am, which meant an extra hour in bed so no
complains here. Luckily, there were no guests booked for a morning dive so we
were allowed to use the dive boat which was an added bonus. Arjan, Jennifer,
Martijn, Tommy and I set off for our first dive location ‘Batfish’ with our
friendly skipper; fortunately I completed my Padi Open Water Qualification last
year so I was able to assist with the marine work that required scuba diving. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We used 2 concrete slabs to mark each end of the 50 metre transect, Jennifer
took the tape measure at swam 50 metres out from the first marker point, I
followed laying down a rebar every 10 metres and making sure the transect line
was as straight as possible. Martijn and Arjan hammered in the rebar at each of
the 10 metre intervals until we had finished. I was happy enough marveling at
the expanse of coral and beautiful tropical fish that were swimming around.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-3aErr7_zUzce8_KTdi5P1jrgSd88KHeDsjaa3XlkBs8LX-AGXb1WL-WbPrq_qFAuF10ZntRD8J30cFxZouATLHvETIO8KLk81e8IVYzKLzRQeZF82Hbme7hUbSuzVNCPNp6ul36Jbc-c/s1600/Laying+transect.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-3aErr7_zUzce8_KTdi5P1jrgSd88KHeDsjaa3XlkBs8LX-AGXb1WL-WbPrq_qFAuF10ZntRD8J30cFxZouATLHvETIO8KLk81e8IVYzKLzRQeZF82Hbme7hUbSuzVNCPNp6ul36Jbc-c/s320/Laying+transect.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Laying out the transect</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">As we were about
to begin our ascent we saw a juvenile whale shark, somewhere between 5 and 6
metres long swimming majestically above us!
In the few seconds we watched the world largest fish swim by, I probably
used up around a quarter of the air in my tank I was that excited. As the whale
shark was beginning to pass by we noticed that the boat was heading in our
direction. At first I figured the boat would drive the shark away but what
happened next wouldn’t have looked out of place in a David Attenborough
documentary. A pod of around 6 or 7 bottlenose dolphins had been following the
boat and suddenly headed straight for the whale shark in an attempt to drive it
away. The shark seemed completely relaxed and unimpressed as the dolphins’
actions as it slowly disappeared into the blue abyss.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVmx1WDasCJcuO6hpbhV5fLi3gZZ32NbTbKhil_aHJStl8xthJJws7xeVy-Tb3ASmKpgTTYxIpCPZPNXvMGzWKErFAzyRDYc45E-iuxgHFrQq1YMlTtno629zUWnfG4CK0YuPen8Z9WlcR/s1600/Carrying+concrete+blocks.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVmx1WDasCJcuO6hpbhV5fLi3gZZ32NbTbKhil_aHJStl8xthJJws7xeVy-Tb3ASmKpgTTYxIpCPZPNXvMGzWKErFAzyRDYc45E-iuxgHFrQq1YMlTtno629zUWnfG4CK0YuPen8Z9WlcR/s320/Carrying+concrete+blocks.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Some more heavy lifting underwater</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We lay out
another 50 metres transect at the next dive site ‘Boulders’ before heading back
for lunch. Everyone was buzzing to tell their own version of events that had
occurred that morning. Tommy had seen the pod of dolphins from the surface so
we had a story from all angles and no one seemed that tired of telling. Janske,
who had been busy with a nature tour in the morning took my place for the
afternoon as they lay down a transect at the final dive site ‘Aquarium’. It was
nice for everyone to take part in the marine work as it was a welcome break
from the usual routine. We also welcomed the arrival of Arjan’s father Jan (who
is currently volunteering on Mahé) for his first visit of Denis.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">On Thursday
morning torrential rain prevented us from starting the last transect, but we
did go on a short island tour to show Jan around. In the afternoon, when the
weather had improved, we set up the final transect on ‘House Reef’ just out the
front of the hotel. Although it was only about 2 metres deep we used the scuba
equipment as we needed to stay under water for long periods of time. Jennifer,
Arjan and I set up the transects with Tommy and Jan following behind in the
kayak. The kayak was a blessing as it could carry all the heavy equipment such
as the camera and the rebars to the site. The shallow water and strong current
made it very difficult to hammer in the rebars and we were often fighting hard
to stay in the same place whilst being aware not to damage any of the
surrounding coral. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnRA57qi7ZphD1-tSB9OZBn6FNafbFFvhGuFHVrCTr79XXPokwM1pFzg8Oh4Q_w8vNRVbnDKQin5ccjSYQIVY03qCyTscYdeWMvspZgUOHILWPdfXG7VZH9IWyBJl2Ypby4KpgQbGJaKLt/s1600/Hammering+rebars.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnRA57qi7ZphD1-tSB9OZBn6FNafbFFvhGuFHVrCTr79XXPokwM1pFzg8Oh4Q_w8vNRVbnDKQin5ccjSYQIVY03qCyTscYdeWMvspZgUOHILWPdfXG7VZH9IWyBJl2Ypby4KpgQbGJaKLt/s320/Hammering+rebars.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hammering in rebar</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">By the time
evening came, everyone was exhausted but happy that all the transects had been
set up. Early April marks 10 years since the start of GIF and given the entire
team were on Denis it made sense to celebrate the anniversary a little early.
We were invited to spend the evening at Janske and Martijn’s house. Janske and
Jennifer as made cookies and baked a cake to mark the anniversary. Even Mr.
Mason brought along a few rock cakes when he joined later on, Tommy and I were
all too happy to drink as eat to our hearts content.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">On Friday we
said goodbye to Arjan, Jennifer and Jan as they flew back to Mahé, thus ending
what was my favourite week on the island so far. At times the work may be tough
and the mosquitoes are a pain but when you get the chance to swim up close with
the likes of whale sharks and dolphins, nothing else seems to matter. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipWiRNV-EaQUrC9vHJmCOLdxA_8hg6DB3mBuUNMiHBxJ-wOX8SWAald_NM4lmU80hnAQ07xex9VU4R4fjTmH7Hgi5matM9TQFgkRaDHa2UMihUJYb6dj5SRWKQfsjSPt9yqiq0BJ4SyKNt/s1600/Marker+buoy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipWiRNV-EaQUrC9vHJmCOLdxA_8hg6DB3mBuUNMiHBxJ-wOX8SWAald_NM4lmU80hnAQ07xex9VU4R4fjTmH7Hgi5matM9TQFgkRaDHa2UMihUJYb6dj5SRWKQfsjSPt9yqiq0BJ4SyKNt/s320/Marker+buoy.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Concrete block with marker buoy</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span lang="EN-US">Nick from England (GIF volunteer)</span></div>
</div>
GIFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10454056261561614927noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748781850921690824.post-17607866005283146262016-03-18T16:18:00.002+05:002016-03-18T16:18:12.424+05:00Denis Island – Part Two<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Week
3 – Fairy Terns and hatchlings</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US"></span></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7kyYJENeZdGrMM5YJ_zzwoRbjg9ffOYXPVpieOEXSO3EVvQWkSl8qREun-C3I8knSBChe12y8Pg7uakqylvZJObux_4J8zeYwJEAQeKvtrqnN5-JTq3ZViq7zny6EYzPnPgFfRk1hqggf/s1600/image001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7kyYJENeZdGrMM5YJ_zzwoRbjg9ffOYXPVpieOEXSO3EVvQWkSl8qREun-C3I8knSBChe12y8Pg7uakqylvZJObux_4J8zeYwJEAQeKvtrqnN5-JTq3ZViq7zny6EYzPnPgFfRk1hqggf/s320/image001.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-US">The
inquisitive Fairy Terns following me on my patrol<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jennifer from GIF,
has flown in to assist with a Fairy Tern survey. In a 200 sq m area we count nests, eggs,
chicks, single birds, pairs of birds and also note the vegetation. We repeat
this over 70 different GPS representative points across the island to establish
a guide to the breeding population.
Apart from a stiff neck and a hairy caterpillar rash we finish in just
over 3 days and then I input the data for later analysis.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglzcMOl963-ER46ceDvpe7oUTIMI_uIQSBoOU4GIw8WKf1JgmdABNZLibpK0CNeqK8Bet8joR-wt73nvhFNI5K6UYgivR8Xrn1sRquzn-5QYkCls-sgLa9Uk2sSb34iiCeJ4Jt6yZX8Zjo/s1600/image003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglzcMOl963-ER46ceDvpe7oUTIMI_uIQSBoOU4GIw8WKf1JgmdABNZLibpK0CNeqK8Bet8joR-wt73nvhFNI5K6UYgivR8Xrn1sRquzn-5QYkCls-sgLa9Uk2sSb34iiCeJ4Jt6yZX8Zjo/s320/image003.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">White ‘Fairy’ Tern egg</span></span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">These delightful birds don’t build a nest,
they lay an egg on a branch and the chick has to hang on for dear life for
about 12 weeks before they can fly. On
the last day of the survey and on a Banyan tree we find a chick that has fallen
from a branch and is hanging by his neck from an aerial root. Quick thinking Martin takes off his shirt
and we use it as a blanket style trampoline so when Janske dislodges the chick
it falls from the heavens into the safety of our T shirt blanket. Safely replaced into the tree another
successful conservation rescue takes place – never a dull day.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US"></span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBJXjHV0n-RrqSF6Tam1KS__DV_0krBd2zqgCB_8qO2gJIKsyKHhb3acmukqJlOoxQ_p5ZQkKqWg_aIjvEU6Hmafx6Cg0SrZ0T1yY6omP3BNwnVmfpoNGZgXj9Rahig1-S8CbgHl0a7hc2/s1600/image005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBJXjHV0n-RrqSF6Tam1KS__DV_0krBd2zqgCB_8qO2gJIKsyKHhb3acmukqJlOoxQ_p5ZQkKqWg_aIjvEU6Hmafx6Cg0SrZ0T1yY6omP3BNwnVmfpoNGZgXj9Rahig1-S8CbgHl0a7hc2/s320/image005.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Hawksbill turtle hatchling</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It's Wednesday and its first light and Jennifer, calls me to the front of the house, we have another
rescue mission on our hands – she has found a couple of baby Hawksbill
hatchlings. They must have become lost in the night and were
probably attracted by an outside light.
At first we find 10 and take them to the beach. We look a little further and find at least
another 100. We collect them and release
them on mass from the burn for the start of baby turtle `grand national` dash
for the sea. It’s a special sight and my
first Hawksbill hatchlings so a great start to the day. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdgwojzXZxS04gE8c10VfsWADrLYQiJRntsmd-bR_lIoLUPMkSpm0XD-fbcciskwgQ-VGEYLI1J3AGPzjJ7e9Nw-4TubOxfIJV56pmnubX0UBVwiNuer_czEfWAO_iokr2F_GLYWfwV1nM/s1600/image007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdgwojzXZxS04gE8c10VfsWADrLYQiJRntsmd-bR_lIoLUPMkSpm0XD-fbcciskwgQ-VGEYLI1J3AGPzjJ7e9Nw-4TubOxfIJV56pmnubX0UBVwiNuer_czEfWAO_iokr2F_GLYWfwV1nM/s320/image007.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Worth getting up for</span></span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm so addicted to the sunrise now that I'm starting at 5am and getting around to
the East side of the island right on cue for the sun to say good morning. It’s a different world seeing the water in
the dark and I see Stingrays and fish close to the water line. Using my new GIF shark skills I also spot two
lemon sharks and a Blacktip Reef Shark waiting for a fish or a baby turtle
breakfast. I also see half a dozen green
turtles swimming in the shallow waters every morning. What a way to start the day. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Week 4 – “Its just nature”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjInJwKA3VfUN8Aam25Uy1FtVryZ80BhFFdTpCNk65WsRoVgqSQVIo3b4y7_Aquzp9qir9ysgCNc-iOYj8jmUPTu7MP0IO7aYVb6V6ovi12IE45uxF_pePCrh_KT-neb_RGjpeRfIXQCkkR/s1600/image009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjInJwKA3VfUN8Aam25Uy1FtVryZ80BhFFdTpCNk65WsRoVgqSQVIo3b4y7_Aquzp9qir9ysgCNc-iOYj8jmUPTu7MP0IO7aYVb6V6ovi12IE45uxF_pePCrh_KT-neb_RGjpeRfIXQCkkR/s320/image009.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-US">Lady
Giant Tortoise inspecting the tyre we used</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-US"> for `holding` them whilst chipping<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US">I get to chip my first Tortoises today and
feel really part of the program. </span>Quick, turtle on the beach, on my bike to
the back of the farm and there she is just `closing` the nest. Wow she is a big girl a huge Hawksbill but
with a difference, she has a blonde carapace and quite stunning – blondes have
more fun and she attracts quite an audience, even the staff turn out. We do the gps and the tape measure honours
and find she has a tag from 13 years ago on Denis, we give her a new tag and
see her safely off the beach with the paparazzi tucked in behind her. Nice to see. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJaZJQFC97ECL8OcFNxOJj6jZxTGcww8ZworHd4ATKH7YJc941PZ2jYSv7HY7-vQlpJUARKUm4sduc-aLRlnijcjxkbauqrNSoxC7USj3xW9fzIC9QHofRcnm1NRNVjsi7ArCWLn_ZMmPi/s1600/image011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJaZJQFC97ECL8OcFNxOJj6jZxTGcww8ZworHd4ATKH7YJc941PZ2jYSv7HY7-vQlpJUARKUm4sduc-aLRlnijcjxkbauqrNSoxC7USj3xW9fzIC9QHofRcnm1NRNVjsi7ArCWLn_ZMmPi/s320/image011.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Nesting Hawksbill turtle</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Well I moved house today – from Bois Blanc
to the Banyan Tree area. The nice Indian
guy that helped me move said his 2 year contract was up and he was leaving the
island soon. I have a new task – to monitor and report
on the condition of all the Magpie Robin nest-boxes. I find most are unused because of the damp,
however 3 are with nests and one has a chick.
I document all the boxes take photographs and report on their condition
with a few recommendations of my own for the design of future boxes, it is clear that the oversize hole required
for the boxes is letting in the rain – when it rains here it RAINS! A larger lid or even a slightly downward
facing front panel would also help. I
note that the box with the chick is on a tree that is leaning forward and the
box is protected from the rain – makes sense to emulate this as it is a
successful nest site. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvo7PbmqNNJB1oqfOAh2v80iDizBegJQ4ozBBsuAFQRFtpKUphBVJQM2bq95S1PYvmVyhv_dwwwZBKy4Qp4VbdVVfPS18wr8sWUzSXVqhxZOVJfBt4efUkMP_uE6EzjBqoMJaHWaSIACAK/s1600/image013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvo7PbmqNNJB1oqfOAh2v80iDizBegJQ4ozBBsuAFQRFtpKUphBVJQM2bq95S1PYvmVyhv_dwwwZBKy4Qp4VbdVVfPS18wr8sWUzSXVqhxZOVJfBt4efUkMP_uE6EzjBqoMJaHWaSIACAK/s320/image013.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-US">Magpie
Robin chick about 12 days old</span></i></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US">More turtle track counts and more sunrises
to start each day – super nice. </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Nearly time to leave and the new volunteers
have arrived – I am happy to show them the island, pull a few weeds together
and settle the guys in.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">We enjoy a
sundowner together and I am jealous that they will be here for the next few
months.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYmpiIv8bp79wEVWENOkOhJPK4ur-kWjggOpwF1bippoH_k0Osww4YxZKawP7Q_cFGt5C5a1FOP0rbPZdtxAMHtQLQ2UyoZA0PyxFuUUefgYZKatLyhcJq8a7nJkpERtZCwLsM0-kutWM_/s1600/image015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYmpiIv8bp79wEVWENOkOhJPK4ur-kWjggOpwF1bippoH_k0Osww4YxZKawP7Q_cFGt5C5a1FOP0rbPZdtxAMHtQLQ2UyoZA0PyxFuUUefgYZKatLyhcJq8a7nJkpERtZCwLsM0-kutWM_/s320/image015.jpg" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-US">Martjin
at the top of a </span></i><i><span style="background: white; color: #252525; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.5pt;">Casuarina</span><span lang="EN-US"> tree after a `</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-US">tropicbird chick had
falle from the nest.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Just when you think the action is over a
lost Tropicbird chick is sitting on the office steps – it takes 3 days to track
down the finder and with a team of highly trained `conservation detectives` we
eventually find the nest – a new nest, right under our noses at the side of the
main track. It’s a high one and we have
to tie two ladders together for Martjin to make the high climb to pop him
safely back home.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am into my last few days here on Denis
now and its been a truly magnificent time. I have found when I am close to nature time stands still. I haven’t aged a day and I feel
invigorated. Leaving Denis Island
concludes 3 months of a volunteering delight and Denis has just been the icing
on the cake. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Thank you to Arjan at GIF
for making it happen and thank you to Martijn and Janske for coming into my
life and making me feel part of the team.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I have had a wonderful time and would highly recommend Denis Island and
all she has to offer.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is the place
for people who are looking for something truly special.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Its not luxury living but it is living a
dream.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Embrace the experience and take it
forward into your life.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">This adventure
will stay with me forever, thank you.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkpESPRIM_K1RuHfCcnyKSkKPrA1JL8KQhFH43Q9MmzSyuqFts1BbwvfHwCrGDSbOzsADPHnRISl-O1k0u48lTPnQH3xFfXjn7NMO83eQODprJi-YijdFfjdfbi8z7JtzdVRKXTqqxTFGE/s1600/image017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkpESPRIM_K1RuHfCcnyKSkKPrA1JL8KQhFH43Q9MmzSyuqFts1BbwvfHwCrGDSbOzsADPHnRISl-O1k0u48lTPnQH3xFfXjn7NMO83eQODprJi-YijdFfjdfbi8z7JtzdVRKXTqqxTFGE/s320/image017.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US"> P</span>S – When the plane left the grass strip I
actually shed a tear of emotion – I didn't see that coming, the island can do
that to you – it was the only single drop of rain to fall from the sky in 7
days.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Jeremy from England</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
GIFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10454056261561614927noreply@blogger.com1