Conservation project Malgas - the end!

We woke this morning to rain and a wonderful gift on the door step a curious Penguin was having a gander through the front door. They really are gorgeous and very sweet!

Sadly today we are leaving the island. The boat arrived to collect us at 7am along with the replacement crew for Malgas and Jutten island. A quick flit across the bay to Jutten island to drop off the new recruits and collect the old and its back to Mykonos. What a way to start the day, in the afternoon i was back at work, all seems so surreal really!! Wonderful memories.

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Conservation project Malgas Island, Saldanha - Day 5 (Final day)

And just for a change a few more pictures of birds! I cannot believe that 5 days have just flown by, pardon the pun! No Pelicans to report - which is great news.

Actually caught a Kelp gull with an egg in its mouth awhile back, but really there is nothing one can do, frustrating! Oh and i obviosusly got too near a nest as this time the gull actually banged me on the head, i nearly jumped out of my skin, they really are quite aggressive. I think between Heidi and myself we have taken enough pictures to last us a lifetime but you just cant help yourself, these Gannets are magnificent creatures. When you are sitting in the middle of the colony surrounded, you just cant help but click away.

Oh i forgot the main event of the day, i emptied the toilet, that was interesting - i will save the detail. We went for our last patrol this evening with an absolutely magnficant sunset - we are so lucky to be here. Really sad to leave its been a truly wonderful experience.

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Tomorrow morning we get collected at 7am and its back to the mainland and reality, but i will definately be back. I will never forget this truly magical place.

Conservation project Malgas Island, Saldanha - Day 4

We woke up this morning  to the demise of a poor starling killed and eaten by two Kelp gulls, i know these birds as scavengers, i havnt experienced them actually attacking other birds, quite strange.  Finished our first patrol for the morning no Pelicans sighted. There are loads of lovely fluffy babies and as always the colony is a hive of activity.

Yesterday we came across a juvenille Cape Comorant who appeared to have fallen from his nest, he could fly but was very shaky - the poor thing spent the night trying to get back to his parents and this evening Heidi found him dead on the rocks, so sad and there is nothing you can do, nature has to take its course.

Been quite misty here today but not cold, in fact it gives Malgas a different look and feel, really pretty.

Last patrol of the day and we are lucky enough to be able to go right into the middle of the colony. There is a sort of path which the Gannets seem to use as a runway, they are very cumbersome taking off and landing, often just literally splat!

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Conservation project Malgas Island, Saldanha - Day 3

Time just flies when you are having fun no doubt about it. Today i did a patrol on my own as Heidi volunteered to empty the toilet,  something which i definately wasn't going to argue over. The toilet bucket gets attached to a rope and flushed out into the sea, feel abit sorry for the fish in the area!

No Pelican sightings today which is a relief, in fact no fatalities at all thus far. We had a passing visit from the navy doing a patrol and then a visit from law enforcement to bring us a gas bottle - its been a busy day. In addition we drew some water from the tanks to replenish what we had used, this is rain water used for washing and such things.

The Gannets are fascinationg to watch and i never tire of this. The mornings are quieter but by early evening the Gannets almost swarm over the colony looking for their mates. We saw a terrible fight today between two Gannets obviously over a nesting area, and one poor Gannet went away with a bloody forehead. Generally they appear quite placade and are not bothered by us at all, the Kelp gulls on the other hand as mentioned previously can be quite nasty!

I have managed to stick to Paleo 100% despite Heidi eating yummy rusks and rye bread, i have resisted so far!

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Conservation project Malgas Island, Saldanha - Day 2

After an excellent nights sleep, how wonderful to wake up to the sound of birds and not the sound of traffic! Still no sign of Pelicans which is a good thing, but the Kelp gulls and Sacred Ibis remain a nuisance. Sadly this afternoon i saw a Kelp gull steal a tiny baby Gannet for its supper, so sad but it's nature i guess.

Our days are wonderful, basically we watch birds all day long! Heidi does a really early morning recky to check that no Peli's have arrived, breakfast and then  we are out on our patrol round the island, well except we cant at this stage get right round as there are too many birds in the way and we dont want to disturb them. I spend quite alot of time on the roof as you have an excellent view point from there over the entire island. In the evening we do our rounds again this time counting all eggs that have been predated by Kelp gulls so far it really hasnt been too bad considering the amount of birds on the island.

Our main focus remains to keep the Pelicans away from the Gannets as best we can as they swallow the Gannet babies whole if they get a chance. To the best of my knowledge this only happens here in South Africa and the reason is due to Pelicans feeding on farmers offal and not fishing like they should, this has apparently now stopped.

Have a look at some of the days sightings here: http://picasaweb.google.com/sbramhall/MalgasDay2#