Milestones and Madness

Despite November having a lot going on for wildlife there have been a few milestones as well. Beginning with the 23^rd November; this was a very special day as it marked a full year since I arrived on Bird Island!

One year ago: I am still just as (if not more) excited to be here!

It has been an amazing year, tough at times, but spectacular. The wildlife never ceases to amaze me and whilst I have only spent time with a grand total of 15 other people in the past 12 months I have made some brilliant friends. It is always difficult to spend so much time away from home, but when your job is researching the ecology of penguins, petrels, albatross and seals there are worse ways to spend a year!

Wilson's storm-petrels nesting in a rat box! BI is rat free and these NON-poison boxes allow us to check it continues to be so. But if a couple of stormies move in to one of them all the better :)

The following day from my 1 year anniversary on BI marked the 58^th anniversary of science on Bird Island itself. The 24^th November 1958 is the date when the first scientific research crew landed on BI, set up some basic huts and started researching the wildlife. A lot has changed since those early days – thankfully the base is bigger and the clothes a lot warmer! – but the key goals of science on BI remains the same, to understand and protect wildlife and habitats in an ever changing world.

58 years of Bird Island science!

Of course it can’t all be science and research, over a year on an island means a bit of madness is bound to set in! Luckily though the fur seal pups have started to be born, this means the return of the blonding! About a year ago I was introduced to the tradition that when the first pups are born we all dye our hair blonde in camaraderie with the seal pups, who get a blonde marking of their own once counted.

The beach in front of base is getting more seals by the day

Puppies soon learn how to relax!

But this year, instead of just some crazy colours, I have decided to become my study species!

I've not gone crazy........ honest!

After a couple of milestones and going even more crazy we had another major event on the island. First Call occurred over the 1^st and 2^nd December, which means we are now fully stocked with equipment and food for my final months on the island (and more importantly for the new winterers to survive the cold months!).

The RRS Ernest Shackleton sits just offshore, sending our cargo in by tender

Throughout December there will be plenty of work to be doing and it certainly won't slow down any in the new year. But now that first call has come and gone it is time to enjoy what time remains for me down south before last call in March!