Bird Island Research Station is an important centre for research into bird and seal biology. Lying off the north-west tip of South Georgia, Bird Island is one of the richest wildlife sites in the world. The research station, active since 1957, was completely redeveloped in 2005 and today provides accommodation for 10 staff.
Bird Island lies off the north-west tip of South Georgia in the Southern Atlantic Ocean. It is separated by a 500-metre channel, Bird Sound, from the South Georgia mainland. It is approximately 1000km south-east of the Falkland Islands and is accessible only ship.
The station operates all year and has capacity for up to 10 personnel with two extra bunks for short-stay visitors.
There are usually three zoological research assistants plus one technical support staff member on station during the winter. Research assistants spend 18 months on Bird Island specialising in seals, penguins or albatross. The technician typically spends a year on station. The Station Leader is on station throughout most of the summer months and the island station Facilities Engineer may spend between a week and two months ashore at Bird Island each year.
In the austral summer, between October to April, numbers rise to around 10, with visiting scientists from BAS and international scientific institutions.
As part of South Georgia, Bird Island is administered by the Government of South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI), which issues permits to BAS researchers and other visitors. Government Officers are stationed at King Edward Point, South Georgia. The King Edward Point Station Leader acts as Magistrate.
A subantarctic island south of the Polar Front, Bird Island has little protection against Antarctic storms from the south-west. Weather is significantly colder, cloudier and wetter on Bird Island than at the old whaling stations on South Georgia’s northern coast.
Temperatures vary from -10°C to 10°C, hovering around 0°C in winter and 4°C in summer. Damp, misty, low cloud conditions prevail during summer, and gale-force winds can occur all year.
There is no permanent snow or ice on the island, though it is typically snow covered from July to October. Icebergs are often visible from the station throughout the year. Brash ice collects in the bays and occasionally freezes in during winter months.
One of the world’s richest wildlife sites, Bird Island has large, diverse populations of seabirds and fur seals, and is home to 50,000 breeding pairs of penguins and 65,000 pairs of fur seals, whose numbers are now returning to pre-sealing levels.
Importantly, Bird Island is rat-free, so has large numbers of small burrowing birds such as petrels and prions. However, many seabird species are listed as endangered, threatened or near-threatened, with albatross numbers on the island declining rapidly.
Only 12 flowering plants have been reported from Bird Island, including prickly burr, Antarctic water-starwort, Antarctic pearlwort, emerald bog, Antarctic hair grass, tussock grass and Antarctic buttercup. In 2006, one specimen of annual meadow-grass (probably carried from the South Georgia mainland by birds) and patches of water blink were reported for the first time. Bird Island has many mosses, fungi, liverworts, including the ceph liverwort and Marchantia.
BAS policy is to minimise our impact on the environment in which we work. We take this responsibility especially seriously at Bird Island. We control the number of visitors coming ashore through the GSGSSI permitting system and by keeping the station size relatively small.
Part of the reason for its special environmental status is that Bird Island is free from rats, which on mainland South Georgia have devastated populations of burrowing birds and taken eggs from albatross nests.
Because rats would decimate local wildlife, strict precautions are taken to prevent their introduction: baited rat boxes are situated throughout the island and all incoming cargo is inspected on arrival.
It has diverse and concentrated populations of sea birds and fur seals, amounting to one bird or seal for every 1.5m². There are 50,000 breeding pairs of penguins and 65,000 breeding fur seals. Fur seal numbers are now thought to be returning to a similar population size to that before sealing in the early 20th century.
Because the island has no rats, there are large numbers of small burrowing birds such as petrels (700,000 of them) and prions.
However, many sea bird species at Bird Island are listed as endangered, threatened or near-threatened. Numbers of albatross on the island are declining rapidly.
At Bird Island, every care is taken ensure we reduce the risk of introducing new species to the island. Fresh produce is inspected and washed on delivery, and any non-native species found are sent to BAS in Cambridge for identification. New biosecurity protocols ensure that on arrival, visitors scrub their footwear and inspect their clothing, particularly velcro in waterproofs to remove any visual signs of seeds and soils.
To conduct our scientific research, we must be able to travel around the island. After 50 years of scientists walking similar routes to albatross and penguin colonies, there are several well-defined paths around the island. We monitor the frequency of use of each route, and stake routes where paths are not obvious to avoid excessive damage spreading to local habitats.
With no doctors or field guides on Bird Island, BAS provides comprehensive training in advanced first aid, medical response, navigation, and search and rescue, particularly to wintering staff. Remote medical support is available immediately upon request at all times.
Staff take turns to cook evening meals and make bread. Saturdays are kept formal, with three course meals, and birthdays and other celebrations are special events.
Leisure activities include film nights, games and quizzes and the station has a collection of music, instruments and exercise machines.
The station is usually re-supplied twice a year, at the beginning and end of summer, by BAS ships RRS Ernest Shackleton and RRS James Clark Ross. Food, fuel and other supplies are brought ashore by tender and waste removed to the Falkland Islands and the UK for recycling.
For science staff, working hours depend on their study species. Work at the penguin colony – which is 35 minutes walk from the station – is often around dawn and dusk when the birds forage.
Fur seal science is intense from late November to January, when pups are born. The seal study beach is a five-minute walk from the station through thousands of unpredictable seals – not a job for the faint-hearted.
Albatross and petrel science is busy all year, and involves a daily hike around the island over heavy-going terrain, so bird assistants are usually the fittest of the bunch.
While science research assistants help in routine maintenance of water systems and generators, the technician is responsible for keeping station facilities running smoothly, as well as doing more challenging repairs and improvements throughout the winter.
Field huts and hides have existed at one time or other at the following sites, close to breeding seabird and seal colonies:
The last four are used regularly, with the hut at Fairy Point large enough to provide basic offsite accommodation.
Purpose
The BAS scientific research at Bird Island focuses on seabird and seal population dynamics, feeding ecology and reproductive performance.
Research
Population numbers, breeding success, diet and feeding grounds of seabirds and seals have been collected on Bird Island for decades. These long-term datasets are crucial to understanding the Southern Ocean ecosystem.
Much of this data is used by Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) Ecosystem Monitoring Programme. This aims to establish conservation policy and management to protect the current diversity of the southern oceans.
BAS conservation biology research on Bird Island includes monitoring white-chinned petrel, the most commonly reported bird species recorded as fisheries bycatch in the Southern Ocean.
Long-term monitoring of this species showed a decline in nest burrow occupancy of 28% between the 1970s and 1990s. In 2015, with funding from South Georgia fisheries licence fees, 13 chicks were satellite tagged and tracked in near real-time via the Argos system.
BAS biologists have also come up with innovative electronic tagging systems to monitor macaroni penguins, whose population has declined on South Georgia has declined by 70% since the 1980s.
At one colony on Bird Island Research Station, they developed and installed a ‘penguin gateway’. For 10 years, as tagged birds passed between the colony and the sea, the ‘gateway’ recorded the tag number and the time and direction of travel, providing vital information about their survival.
Annual reports including the Bird and Mammal report, Beach Litter Study, and Seal Disentanglements report have been prepared by Bird Island staff for many years.
Collaborative programs with UK universities and overseas establishments – including the University of Texas – have resulted in several scientists visiting Bird Island most field seasons, with BAS logistic support.
Other conservation visitors have included Dame Ellen MacArthur supporting Birdlife International’s Save the Albatross campaign, and scientists conducting bird counting surveys for the Government of South Georgia within the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP).
Before they can go ahead, any studies involving animals must satisfy an Ethics Review Committee.
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10 June, 2016 by Timothy Morley
Tim Morley, Zoological Field Assistant at Bird Island, shares a typical week at Bird Island Research Station as he prepares for midwinter…. With many of our species finishing breeding for …
23 February, 2016 by Jerry Gillham
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2 February, 2016 by James Robbins
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10 November, 2015 by Alastair Wilson
October is another busy month for bird work, with the feathered residents of Bird Island all returning and starting to breed. Almost all of the Northern giant petrels are now …
27 October, 2015 by Sian Tarrant
Leopard seal peak The penultimate month of the lep round has been by far the most exciting. September has been the busiest month yet for leopard seal sightings. It has …
22 September, 2015 by Lucy Quinn
When I last wrote a web diary, back in April, it was at the end of the summer season and the first few intrepid weeks of winter. It’s hard to …
1 June, 2015 by Alastair Wilson
Located at the Western end of South Georgia, Bird Island sits directly in the path of approaching weather, and is often enveloped in cloud and mist. My 3 year old …
1 May, 2015 by Sian Tarrant
Birds Lucy has been busy at the colonies checking black brow albatross and grey headed albatross nests for failures and fledglings. The black browed albatross chicks have all gone now, …
5 April, 2015 by Lucy Quinn
April has been an extraordinarily busy month both work-wise and base-wise. It’s also been a month of change as we have gone from 10 people down to just 4, reflecting …
1 March, 2015 by Jerry Gillham
March on Bird Island feels very like autumn; the days are getting noticeably shorter, more mornings are greeting us with ice and snow, and the summer residents are preparing to …
3 February, 2015 by Cian Luck
February has been a pleasant and productive month for the humans and animals of Bird Island. The beaches have quietened down enough for us to get out and about along …
2 January, 2015 by Robbie Scott
After a fantastically festive celebration of Christmas & New Year, Bird Island is carrying on with its busy summer season. The saving grace of this very busy period was the …
12 November, 2014 by Cian Luck
November’s been a busy month on Bird Island as there’s no longer any denying that summer has arrived. On the first of November I started my daily visits to the …
11 October, 2014 by BAS Bloggers
October Diary day is here, and I’m very sorry to have to say this will be my final entry as the Bird Island base technician. I have both seen and …
9 September, 2014 by Jessica Walkup
September started with a celebration – Jerry’s birthday on the 1st! It is hard to keep secrets and plan surprises on a small base where everyone knows what everyone else …
9 August, 2014 by Jerry Gillham
Film Festival The first weekend of the month brought us the eagerly anticipated Antarctic 48-hour film festival. This annual event brings together all the bases on the continent and islands …
8 July, 2014 by Cian Luck
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1 June, 2014 by Adam Bradley
The first day of December was a memorable one for me: after nearly 3 long weeks of sailing the Southern Ocean on the James Clark Ross, I finally made it …
1 June, 2014 by BAS Bloggers
June began with the monthly Albatross census on and around the whole of the island. Great to have everyone helping out to have the experience of getting up close to …
1 May, 2014 by Jessica Walkup
May began, as most months begin on Bird Island, with a census of all the wandering albatross nests on the island. Everyone helps out with the wanderer census as the …
1 April, 2014 by Jerry Gillham
April on Bird Island feels like a real transition from summer to winter. The changes in the weather and the wildlife are gradual, but looking back to the start of …
1 March, 2014 by Cian Luck
The RRS Ernest Shackleton arrived on the 6th of March for last call. This marked the end of the summer season and the beginning of winter. While this year’s winterers …
1 February, 2014 by Stephanie Winnard
The main event of the month was the BBC arriving aboard the Hans Hansson, to film for the children’s nature show ‘Deadly 60’. Steve Backshall arrived with a team of …
1 January, 2014 by Jessica Walkup
After seeing in the New Year at the end of the jetty, the first day of 2014 dawned bright and sunny. Adam, Cian, Hannah, Steph, and I decided to make …
1 December, 2013 by BAS Bloggers
December was a busy month for the team with the base’s new additions, Adam, Jess, Cian and Rob, getting happily settled into the Bird island way of life. Early December …
30 November, 2013 by Adam Bradley
It is now November, and spring is in the air on Bird Island. Seal puppies are appearing at an ever-increasing rate, the penguins and albatrosses are jealously guarding their eggs …
31 October, 2013 by BAS Bloggers
I have been challenged to write something different for this month’s web diary, and rather than being completely biased and simply writing a long-winded essay on how great seals are …
30 September, 2013 by Stephanie Winnard
The month of September has seen big changes to the amount of wildlife on the island especially the avian species. It is now most definitely spring. From the 1st September …
31 August, 2013 by Jerry Gillham
One season ends, a new one begins August on Bird Island makes the transition from one season to the next. With the few exceptions talked about below the place is …
31 July, 2013 by BAS Bloggers
With the island looking very sparse in terms of animals the month began in the usual way with all of us out conducting the Wandering Albatross chick census. There were …
31 May, 2013 by Stephanie Winnard
May has been an exciting month on Bird Island. One morning we received an emergency call alerting us to a potential tsunami heading for South Georgia due to hit in …
30 April, 2013 by Jerry Gillham
April has been a month of very noticeable changes. For the majority of species it has marked the end of the breeding season and their departure from the Bird Island. …
28 February, 2013 by BAS Bloggers
Much like every month on Bird Island, February has hurtled by in a bit of a blur, and we now find ourselves with little over a week until the final …
31 January, 2013 by Stephanie Winnard
We saw in the New Year Bird Island style with an excellent meal followed by a fancy dress evening in Doctor Strange’s laboratory. Since then the team has been busy …
31 December, 2012 by Jerry Gillham
The unseasonably warm and dry December has allowed plenty of long, enjoyable days outside for the new field assistants to try and learn all they can from the 2012 wintering …
30 November, 2012 by BAS Bloggers
The inhabitants of Bird Island have been having quite an eventful time since Jon wrote our last diary entry. One of the most significant events has been the arrival of …
31 October, 2012 by BAS Bloggers
When I last spoke to you, back in June, the theme of my entry was of animals leaving the island for the winter, so it seems apt that I now …
30 September, 2012 by BAS Bloggers
Well spring seems to have officially sprung here on Bird Island. We celebrated the spring equinox on September 22nd by making cider with the remnants of our apples (I use …
31 August, 2012 by Ruth Mugford
The first weekend of August was a busy one on Bird Island, as it was the date of this year’s Antarctic 48-hour Film Festival. The Film Festival has been running …
31 July, 2012 by BAS Bloggers
With the island looking very sparse in terms of animals the month began in the same usual way with the all island wandering albatross chick census, and I am pleased …
30 June, 2012 by BAS Bloggers
June is the time when island and its inhabitants get fully settled into the winter; the majority of the summer breeding animals have now left, and our little island is …
31 May, 2012 by BAS Bloggers
I cannot believe it’s been over a month since the four of us were stood at the end of the jetty waving goodbye as the JCR sailed away for the …
30 April, 2012 by Ruth Mugford
The beginning of April on Bird Island saw the successful completion of the building projects which were started last month. In particular, the rusty and decrepit old jetty was gradually …
31 March, 2012 by BAS Bloggers
With the arrival of the Technical Team on the FPV Pharos early this month, work started in earnest on the all the various building projects: the repair of the gantry …
28 February, 2012 by BAS Bloggers
After a busy start last month, the intensity of science activities has increased significantly as the fur seal pups, mollymawk, gentoo and macaroni penguin chicks have matured and there have …
31 January, 2012 by BAS Bloggers
After a truly memorable New Year, it was back to work for all of us on Bird Island. Gradually, the landscape around base began to change as the territorial male …
31 December, 2011 by BAS Bloggers
As always with Bird Island, nature changes constantly between the various species, and, the weather tends to stay the same! It can go from snow to sun through hail and …
30 November, 2011 by BAS Bloggers
Over the last couple of months, it has been a period of transition at Bird Island as we have transitioned from the Overwintering team to the full Summer team. In …
30 September, 2011 by BAS Bloggers
The final Wanderer chick survey for the season kick-started September. The vast majority of chicks survived the constant batterings handed out by the squalls and blizzards that regularly accompany life …
31 August, 2011 by BAS Bloggers
The weather has had the biggest impact on life at Bird Island this month. Southerly winds kept the temperature well below freezing causing the streams around base freeze into beautiful …
30 June, 2011 by BAS Bloggers
June on Bird Island is dominated by the Midwinter Celebrations. Midwinter is celebrated at research stations throughout Antarctica, as it represents the turning point in the long, dark winter months …
31 May, 2011 by BAS Bloggers
Life on Bird Island was made a little more interesting with the onset of an unforeseen blizzard which impacted smack-bang in the middle of the monthly Wanderer chick survey. The …
30 April, 2011 by BAS Bloggers
The whole base (all 4 of us!) turned out on the 1st of April to conduct the Wandering Albatross chick census. The aim is to provide information on the number …
31 March, 2011 by Stacey Adlard
March is a month of change on Bird Island. It is the transition month between summer and winter. This is my last month on Bird Island, after 2.5 years here, …
31 January, 2011 by Agnieszka Fryckowska
The new year took us all by surprise here at Bird Island. Not only did it come around very fast but it also reduced the number on station quite significantly. …
31 December, 2010 by Joe Corner
For 13 months, I have been living and working at Bird Island, and now yet another Christmas is quickly dawning on us. For me this will be my fourth Antarctic …
30 November, 2010 by BAS Bloggers
Welcome to Bird Island When I told people that I was going to live on a tiny island in the sub-Antarctic for two and a half years, most of them …
31 October, 2010 by Andrew Wood
This month the diary is mainly penned by the “new arrival”. I arrived in late September heralding the start of spring (but somebody forgot to tell the weather man). A …
30 September, 2010 by Joe Corner
A year on Bird Island can be compared to that of the school year back in the UK. The academic year starts off in September, and continues all the way …
31 August, 2010 by BAS Bloggers
August. The month that marks the mad scramble to the finish line — the end of winter. Or maybe it marks the mad scramble to the starting line — the …
31 July, 2010 by Joe Corner
This month I thought I would have a bit of a change from the usual diary entries. So: A day in the life of a Bird Island Techie. 0700 One …
30 June, 2010 by BAS Bloggers
by Claudia Mischler, Albatross Field Assistant June here on the little island was a fantastic month. We finally got a nice thick snow layer shortly before mid-winter. The white stuff …
30 May, 2010 by BAS Bloggers
May is the month of transition between summer and winter on Bird Island. The last of the summer staff left Mid April, so by May we were starting to get …
30 April, 2010 by BAS Bloggers
April began as April begins every year on Bird Island, with the Wandering Albatross egg/chick survey. Wandering Albatross begin laying their eggs during December and the final egg is laid …
31 March, 2010 by BAS Bloggers
The month started with two days of gentoo penguin chick counts across the island; this involved most of the folks on the research station heading out to all the breeding …
28 February, 2010 by Stacey Adlard
February began with the whole island Wandering albatross census. This year we only have 697 active nests, which is sadly the lowest number on record. Very strong winds during January …
31 January, 2010 by Joe Corner
Well, 2010 has commenced, and for the third year in a row I have been in the Antarctica to see the New Year in. New Years Eve started with all …
31 December, 2009 by BAS Bloggers
December tends to be the month when everyone thinks of Christmas and a time to kick back and spend time with family and friends. But down here on the little …
30 November, 2009 by BAS Bloggers
It is my first visit to Bird Island and I have heard nothing but glowing comments about this place. I was worried that this would lead me to disappointment but …
31 October, 2009 by BAS Bloggers
October is ‘peak season’ for the flying-bird fieldwork team on Bird Island. Both Derren and Stacey have spent long days in the field monitoring the arrival of the black-browed and …
30 September, 2009 by BAS Bloggers
September is a busy time on Bird Island, a time of transition from the quiet times of winter, both for work and wildlife, to the start of the summer breeding …
31 August, 2009 by Stacey Adlard
This month we have been treated to some gorgeous weather, which is such a rare treat on Bird Island. We have had full days of blue skies and sunshine and …
30 July, 2009 by Stacey Adlard
Wildlife: July started in a rather lazy way, as we all recovered from the hectic midwinter celebrations of the week before. On the 1st, we were lucky enough to find …
30 June, 2009 by BAS Bloggers
As the island and its inhabitants settle further into winters icy grip (well, more slush than ice I’m afraid!) the last of the summer breeding birds vacates the island, leaving …
31 May, 2009 by BAS Bloggers
May is considered to be the month of change at Bird Island, between the mild summer and the Antarctic winter… and it is at Bird Island that those changes on …
30 April, 2009 by BAS Bloggers
The month of April had an interesting but late start for me on Bird Island, arriving back from a two-week stay (or as some less sympathetic base members have called …
31 March, 2009 by BAS Bloggers
Last month on Bird Island… After a little more than two years on this amazing island, sharing my daily life with great people and thousands of penguins, albatrosses, petrels and …
28 February, 2009 by BAS Bloggers
February is high summer on Bird Island. Although the days have started to get shorter, for the last two years February has brought some fine, settled days, perfect for exploring …
31 January, 2009 by BAS Bloggers
The first day of the New Year was dedicated to the clearing of fuzzy heads and a gentle introduction to the world with a walk across the meadows and back …
31 December, 2008 by Stacey Adlard
December was a busy month on Bird Island. With the breeding season in full swing, the field assistants were out at all hours monitoring, counting, checking, tagging and weighing various …
30 November, 2008 by BAS Bloggers
Beasts of England For much of early November, Bird Island was covered in fog. Going out across the island to do the day’s work, familiar landmarks like Tonk and La …
31 October, 2008 by BAS Bloggers
The month started out with Ewan, Felice and I assisting the BBC Frozen Planet Team for a few days. This was a welcome change from our regular work and a …
30 September, 2008 by BAS Bloggers
Like the previous months, September started with the all island wandering chick census; the last one of the winter but also the last one for this year; the chicks are …
31 July, 2008 by BAS Bloggers
Just over a year ago, I was graduating from university. Following four years studying Marine and Environmental Biology at St Andrews, and with a lifelong interest in marine mammals, I …
30 June, 2008 by BAS Bloggers
June has been a busy month on the little rock. After Mays comings and goings we finally settled into winter with just the four of us. Despite the base accommodating …
31 May, 2008 by BAS Bloggers
May at Bird Island, first month of the winter… After a busy and long summer, May has been the first month without any ship calls with just the four winterers …
30 April, 2008 by BAS Bloggers
April is a month of transition on Bird Island. For many of the animals that call this place home during the summer, April is the month that sees them depart …
31 March, 2008 by BAS Bloggers
Well this could be an emotional diary entry, as it covers my last full month on the magical wee rock, which has been my home since November 2005, before I …
28 February, 2008 by BAS Bloggers
Being still in the midst of wildlife breeding season February is always a busy month at Bird Island keeping the zoological field assistants at a hectic pace. The young in …
31 January, 2008 by BAS Bloggers
All our own celebrations aside for the turn of the year, life pretty much carried on as normal here at BI. The multitude of wildlife never broke stride from their …
31 December, 2007 by Claire Waluda
December at Bird Island is a busy time, filled with new life. With pups and chicks as far as the eye can see, the sounds and smells are rich and …
30 November, 2007 by BAS Bloggers
This month’s diary entry will have the distinctive mark of a new arrival on Bird Island: his head filled with the overwhelming sights and sounds of this amazing place – …
31 October, 2007 by BAS Bloggers
Well, it falls to me to write the newsletter this month as I’m the newbie on the island. Bringing the boys winter to an abrupt end; Andy, Chris, Jaume and …
30 September, 2007 by BAS Bloggers
Well the 1st of September marks the beginning of spring in the Southern Hemisphere and we have definitely seen the change of the season here at Bird Island in more …
31 August, 2007 by BAS Bloggers
By Rob Dunn Wintering Technician Welcome to the August diary from Bird Island. We have been enjoying the snow-covered hills that have now been around for a while. I remember …
31 July, 2007 by BAS Bloggers
Welcome back to BIRD ISLAND July diary, right in the middle of the winter. July has been the coldest month since the winter started but not only, it’s been also …
30 June, 2007 by BAS Bloggers
June is a very important month in the BI calendar. With the last ships of summer having left us long ago, all of the seals and most of the albatrosses …
31 May, 2007 by BAS Bloggers
Welcome to a summary of what has been happening down here at Bird Island during the merry, merry month of May! While you all back in the Northern Hemisphere may …
30 April, 2007 by BAS Bloggers
April Diary Hello from Bird Island. It was great to finally arrive after doing a stint at Halley this summer, and a brief stay at Signy. I thought I would …
31 March, 2007 by BAS Bloggers
Bird Island, March Dairy On 7th of March 17h00, I just came back from Big Mac (macaroni penguin colony) when Ali our Base Commander was calling the Base on the …
31 January, 2007 by BAS Bloggers
January – gone already – I cant believe it. This month is dedicated to the South Georgia Pipit – the most remarkable bird in the southern ocean in my opinion. …
31 December, 2006 by BAS Bloggers
BIRD ISLAND DIARY – DECEMBER I feel as if it is my duty to warn you that this edition of the Bird Island Diary is being written by an American, …
30 November, 2006 by BAS Bloggers
November Newsletter – by Iain Staniland “Ah Remember remember the month of NovemberAlbatross penguins and pups” Anon. Well something like that anyway. This month I get the chance to write …
31 October, 2006 by BAS Bloggers
October has been a month of new arrivals, and some farewells on both the animal and human side of things. This month has also seen the winter period, when there …
30 September, 2006 by BAS Bloggers
Sunshine and snow on Bird Island September has to be my favourite month of the winter. The days are getting significantly longer and the weather is just the best – …
31 July, 2006 by BAS Bloggers
With the Antarctic Darts Championship under our belts, midwinter done and dusted and no imminent birthday celebrations, July was always going to be a quieter month. I thought I would …
30 June, 2006 by BAS Bloggers
It’s been all go on all fronts down here at Bird Island over the last month, this is going to be bit of an epic so would advise getting a …
31 May, 2006 by BAS Bloggers
Finally a month alone, and what a great month it has been! The base is now well and truly complete – the beginning of the month saw Matt (with help …
30 April, 2006 by BAS Bloggers
What a month it has been. The first day of April bought the start of this year’s Wandering Albatross chick census, with the eight members of base all taking to …
31 March, 2006 by BAS Bloggers
And the end of another summer on Bird Island has arrived. The penguins have fledged, the albatross chicks are growing up fast with their adult feathers showing through under the …
28 February, 2006 by BAS Bloggers
Aaahhh, and relax. The Bird Island Redevelopment Project drew to a satisfied close on the 3rd February, with the removal of the building and demolition waste from the beach. We …
31 January, 2006 by BAS Bloggers
January was heralded by the obligatory hangovers, which were soon forgotten by getting back to work on seals, seabirds, IT, and multiple base tasks. The seal team closed the SSB …
31 December, 2005 by BAS Bloggers
What a month! December, usually a month of joyous celebration has lived up to this reputation admirably on Bird Island. The RRS James Clark Ross now long gone, it was …
30 November, 2005 by BAS Bloggers
Another month of comings and goings As mentioned at the end of last month, on the 29th, the Morrisons boys turned up, along with our resident base commander Vicky Auld, …
31 October, 2005 by BAS Bloggers
Bird frenzy October is always the transition month on Bird Island. Its begins with skiing, short-ish days, clear beaches with leopard seals and elephant seals matching fur-seal numbers, skies only …
31 August, 2005 by BAS Bloggers
A fun and frantic month Hello and welcome to Bird Island’s August web page! Well, it has been another fun-filled and frantic month. We have had a few extremes of …
31 July, 2005 by BAS Bloggers
Snow, sun and skis July has sped by, bringing with it snow and ice and some great sunny days too enabling the skis to come out and some time to …
30 June, 2005 by BAS Bloggers
The builders leave June has been one heck of a big month on Bird Island. The race to the finishing line for the new building, colder weather, midwinter celebrations, final …
31 May, 2005 by BAS Bloggers
Tommo arrives Well hello from Bird Island, I have just arrived on this wondrous isle this month, so as the new boy, it is my duty to write this newletter, …
30 April, 2005 by BAS Bloggers
Some final thoughts Some final thoughts before returning home… After 906 days living on what might equate to some as little more than a wind swept rock in the middle …
31 March, 2005 by BAS Bloggers
A doctor writes The duty of writing this month’s newsletter has fallen to me- Jenny, the base doctor. I have been at Bird Island research station for the last two …
31 January, 2005 by BAS Bloggers
A quiet month…. sort of The January diary for Bird Island is written by Isaac Forster and is available in pdf format by clicking the link below. Bird Island January …
31 December, 2004 by BAS Bloggers
A new Base Commander Happy New Year to all readers, especially those nearest and dearest to the Bird Island team. December passed in a flash. Here we are in the …
30 November, 2004 by Paul Cousens
A tech writes The November diary for Bird Island is written by Paul Cousens and is available in pdf format by clicking the link below. Bird Island Diary – November …
31 October, 2004 by Iain Staniland
Birds, seals and more birds The October diary for Bird Island is written by Iain Staniland and is available in pdf format by clicking the link below. Bird Island Diary …
30 September, 2004 by BAS Bloggers
Spring The Bird Island Castaways unchanged after 5 months of isolation….. September is the beginning of spring on Bird Island; many of the migratory birds are beginning to return, a …
31 August, 2004 by BAS Bloggers
One moonlit night The August diary for Bird Island is written by Chris Green and is available in pdf format by clicking the link below. Bird Island Diary – August …
31 July, 2004 by BAS Bloggers
A month of respite The July diary for Bird Island is written by Isaac Forster and is available in pdf format by clicking the link below. Bird Island Diary – …
30 June, 2004 by BAS Bloggers
Midwinter The June diary for Bird Island is written by Sarah Robinson and is available in pdf format by clicking the link below. Bird Island Diary – June 2004 (pdf …
31 May, 2004 by Dave Connor
Alex arrives The May diary for Bird Island is written by Alex Cottle and is available in pdf format by clicking the link below. Bird Island Diary – May 2004 …
30 April, 2004 by Dave Connor
Goodbye to Ben and Nic The April diary for Bird Island is written by Chris Green and is available in pdf format by clicking the link below. Bird Island Diary …
31 March, 2004 by Dave Connor
Where did all the time go? The March diary for Bird Island is written by Ben Phalan and is available in pdf format by clicking the link below. Bird Island …
28 February, 2004 by Dave Connor
Picnics and chicks When you are stuck on an island, size 5km by 1km in the South Atlantic most requirements have a habit of being postponed all too frequently. Necessities …
31 January, 2004 by Dave Connor
Sushi & smoothies Considering the fact that you trip over seals the minute you walk out of the door, you would have thought that ten scats a week is not …
31 December, 2003 by Jaume Forcada
The Bird Island Flying Times December’s Bird Island newsletter could be called the The Bird Island Times, or, to be more precise, the The Bird Island Flying Times, given the …
30 November, 2003 by Dave Connor
Bird Island Dorchester November has been a month of endless variety on Bird Island from both science and base life aspects. The most visible change has been the emergence of …
31 October, 2003 by Dave Connor
Birds and big noses October has seen the skies above the island come alive with birds, the beaches with elephant and fur seals, and the steep rocky slopes with Macaroni …
30 September, 2003 by Dave Connor
Skiing and pirates!?! I am going to start with a big `HELLO` to all my family and friends at home or abroad. This month has absolutely flown by. It has …
31 August, 2003 by Dave Connor
Cakes and messages in bottles As I am sitting in my room trying to write this newsletter, an adult male fur seal, having returned from an oceanic trip, is lying …
31 July, 2003 by Dave Connor
A varied month This month we lost a friend and kindred spirit when Kirsty Brown was killed by a leopard seal at Rothera. The sudden loss of someone so young …
30 June, 2003 by Dave Connor
Midwinter The true South Georgia winter weather has now firmly established itself on this wee island in the Southern Ocean. As I write, ensconced within the shelter of base, the …
31 May, 2003 by Dave Connor
Counting birds We spent the first couple of days of May on Bird Island, counting birds believe it or not! The first day was reserved, as is customary on every …
30 April, 2003 by Dave Connor
Comings and goings April has been a month of comings and goings. We have seen the arrival of winter snow and ice, and of the first of our most impressive …
31 March, 2003 by Dave Connor
A last word from Jane After 2½ years here this has been my last full month on Bird Island. I’ll be leaving in April, almost 30 months to the day …
28 February, 2003 by Dave Connor
WANTED – seals, penguins and albatrosses WANTED!! Have you seen this pup, penguin, whale, moth or worm? No sorry we haven’t but we’ll ask our mates! Come on chaps I’m …
31 December, 2002 by Dave Connor
Christmas and new arrivals December is traditionally one of the busiest months here at Bird Island and this year was no exception, both at work and at play. The month …
30 November, 2002 by Dave Connor
Practice emergencies and a real birthday November usually marks the beginning of summer for Bird Island. However, the winter has stubbornly refused to depart and every time we thought the …
31 October, 2002 by Dave Connor
New faces As I am writing these few lines at the end of this October month, spring or summer have yet to arrive. The island is still coated in snow, …
30 September, 2002 by Dave Connor
Spring is in the air Welcome once again to another month at Bird Island. September seems to have brought a considerable amount of change. With winter rapidly heading towards its …
31 August, 2002 by Dave Connor
More sketches I can hardly believe that August has already come and gone. It still feels like it should be sometime back around July. Time has flown, as Bird Island …
31 July, 2002 by BAS Bloggers
Sledging and Sketches Hello and welcome to another month in the life of the Bird Island winterers – Jane, Ben, Nick and Matt. This is my second winter and second …
30 June, 2002 by BAS Bloggers
Midwinter Welcome to Bird Island, we are now well into winter, and more and more leopard seals are hauling out on the beaches around base. Yesterday, we had four: two …
31 May, 2002 by BAS Bloggers
Snow and winter visitors Last month we brought you pictures of blue skies, green hills, and a rather summery-looking Bird Island. Some of you have been wondering if we are …
30 April, 2002 by BAS Bloggers
Last Call as winter begins Welcome to Winter on Bird Island – at last! It has been a very interesting and unusual month here. The last newsletter ended with “under …
31 March, 2002 by BAS Bloggers
The end of the season approaches Bonjour à tous et à toutes, The start of March was punctuated by departures and arrivals. As RRS Ernest Shackleton sailed past, we knew …
28 February, 2002 by BAS Bloggers
A busy month on Bird Island February is almost over – and this may be my last ever visit to Bird Island, at least that’s the reason the others here …
31 January, 2002 by BAS Bloggers
A New Year begins Welcome to another instalment of the life and times of Bird Island and its inhabitants, human and animal. Our newsletter this month actually begins in late …
31 December, 2001 by Dave Connor
Fur Seals and Festivities Everyone that I had met before my visit to Bird Island told me that I would love this tiny isolated island and it’s wildlife. A visiting …
30 November, 2001 by Dave Connor
First Impressions The peaceful isolation of Bird Island was almost shattered with the arrival of the James Clark Ross (JCR) on the 2nd. But as it turned out the shattering …
31 October, 2001 by BAS Bloggers
Summer Personnel Arrive The island silence of waves and birdcall was shattered by the cacophony caused by fuel barrels being rolled up a steel walkway, and numerous people marvelling at …
30 September, 2001 by BAS Bloggers
Visitors come to Bird Island With only one month of winter left, September is most definitely a time when winterers concentrate lots of their spare energies on enjoying many of …
31 August, 2001 by BAS Bloggers
Preparing for Summer, Sledging and a Birthday Hello again from the Bird Island Trio! Here we are in the middle of winter with deep snow and freezing weather. Oh no, …
31 July, 2001 by BAS Bloggers
Hot Chillies, Fine Wines and Frozen Toilets! “Go on,I dare you to eat a whole chilli.” And so the month started with the utterance of these fateful words. Sure, the …
30 June, 2001 by BAS Bloggers
Midwinter games June sees us in deepest winter here at Bird Island now. The nights are at their longest, but luckily since we are in sub-Antarctica and relatively far north …
31 May, 2001 by Paul Cousens
Seals amid the winter’s snow May saw the onset of true blue winter weather, and the much awaited arrival of the leopard seals (leps), two of these toothy beasts hauled …
30 April, 2001 by BAS Bloggers
What the builders did to us Hello everyone from the inhabitants of the smallest BAS base. We have been in winter mode for one month now, and already we have …
31 March, 2001 by BAS Bloggers
The beakers versus the builders Hello everybody. This is going to be the builder’s version of events for March. Simon Berry is your host for this exciting and funny newsletter. …
28 February, 2001 by BAS Bloggers
What we did to the builders The shortest month is now over and has been full of a variety of events. It has also been frustrating at times and with …
31 January, 2001 by BAS Bloggers
A time of rapid change So what’s been happening this month? Unfortunately for you all, it’s my turn to try and provide a witty commentary on the exciting events of …
31 December, 2000 by BAS Bloggers
Seals with video cameras and seasonal festivities Bird Island Diary When we were asked who would write the December newsletter, we were told in the same breath that as the …
30 November, 2000 by BAS Bloggers
Relief, visitors and the wildlife proliferates Bird Island Diary As the newest member on the station I have the honour (!) of writing the newsletter at the end of my …
31 October, 2000 by BAS Bloggers
Bird Island vagrants Bird Island Diary Keith Reid (BAS, Cambridge) adds the following on the Bird Island October-vagrants. Chiloe Wigeon (Anas sibilatrix): This drake was recorded in Freshwater Bay, Bird …
31 October, 2000 by BAS Bloggers
New arrivals at Bird Island Bird Island Diary New arrivals at Bird Island mark the transition from winter to summer activities. Where would the human community of Bird Island be …
30 September, 2000 by BAS Bloggers
The birds, the unrelenting wind, and a 19th century calm Bird Island Diary With winter and her easy pace almost through, September is a month of great transformation on Bird …
31 August, 2000 by BAS Bloggers
An Introduction to Bird Island Bird Island Diary Wildlife on Bird Island: At this time of year the wildlife is nothing compared to the summer. Presently there are seals mostly …
13 September, 2024
Antarctica’s rapidly receding sea ice could have a negative impact on the food supply of seabirds that breed hundreds of miles away from the continent. New research led by the …
16 May, 2024
The 2023/4 Antarctic field season has wound up and the last of the summer teams are aboard the RRS Sir David Attenborough and heading for home. This season not only …
11 March, 2024
SOUTH GEORGIA. Update, March 2024 – Penguins on the sub-Antarctic Islands of South Georgia have tested positive for Avian flu. This is the first time the virus has been detected …
19 February, 2024
SOUTH GEORGIA. Update, February 2024 – Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) continues to affect the wildlife on the subantarctic islands of South Georgia. The latest results from samples taken from …
11 January, 2024
SOUTH GEORGIA Update, January 2024 – Testing for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) continues on the subantarctic island of South Georgia since it was detected in October 2023. The latest …
20 November, 2023
Last month, October 2023, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) was confirmed on Bird Island, South Georgia in the brown skua populations. Since then, a number of other cases of symptomatic …
13 May, 2023
Scientists are tracking a group of young black-browed albatross, who have begun their first epic journeys across the Southern Ocean. In April 2023, 26 young black-browed albatross on Bird Island …
11 May, 2023
The 2022/23 Antarctic field season has ended, marking the conclusion of another successful year of scientific exploration in one of the world’s most remote and challenging environments. This field season, …
18 November, 2022
Today (18 November) British Antarctic Survey (BAS) joins global celebrations to mark LGBTQIA+ STEM DAY and Polar Pride Day. Polar Pride is a celebration of the contribution of LGBTQIA+ people in polar research …
3 November, 2022
Our Antarctic field season has begun, with a challenging and ambitious range of projects to be delivered at five British Antarctic Survey (BAS) research stations and across the wider continent. …
5 July, 2022
Today, Tuesday 5 July, the Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI) announced the designation of the entire landmass of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands …
27 May, 2022
The British Antarctic Survey (BAS) field season has finished for another year. RRS Sir David Attenborough departed Rothera Research Station for the final time earlier in May and is …
9 March, 2022
Looking for a new challenge? British Antarctic Survey has launched its latest recruitment campaign for a wide range of jobs in Antarctica for the 2022/23 Antarctic season. Antarctica is the …
11 January, 2022
Applications to carry out small-scale research projects in the Antarctic in the 2022/23 season are invited from UK-based researchers. The Collaborative Antarctic Science Scheme (CASS) provides opportunities for scientists in …
23 December, 2021
2021 has been a rollercoaster year for British Antarctic Survey, operating research stations in the Antarctic and the sub-Antarctic through the Covid-19 pandemic, while our new polar research vessel, the …
20 December, 2021
Science and support teams from British Antarctic Survey (BAS) are gearing up for the start of the Antarctic summer field season. All five of our research stations will be open …
14 December, 2021
Data collected from a long-term study by British Antarctic Survey (BAS) scientists shows declining populations of an already relatively rare Antarctic seabird, the South Georgia shag. Published in the journal …
21 June, 2021
British Antarctic Survey (BAS) is celebrating Midwinter’s Day (Monday 21 June) as staff in three British Antarctic Territory Research Stations mark the shortest and darkest day of the year on the frozen continent. The tradition began in …
15 January, 2021
Gentoo penguins are benefiting from a newly enlarged no-fishing zone (known as a No-Take Zone NTZ) around the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia following British Antarctic Survey (BAS) tracking research …
18 December, 2020
Staff at British Antarctic Survey (BAS) ships and research stations prepare to celebrate the festive season. It’s been a year like no other, with extraordinary arrangements made to keep facilities …
12 June, 2020
A new study of albatrosses has found that wind plays a bigger role in their decision to take flight than previously thought, and due to their differences in body size, …
28 April, 2020
Food wrapping, fishing gear and plastic waste continue to reach the Antarctic. Two new studies into how plastic debris is reaching sub-Antarctic islands are published in the journal Environment International. …
7 April, 2020
Exceptional plans to repatriate our people at the end of the Antarctic summer field season
20 December, 2019
As you make the last preparations for the festive period, spare a thought for those who will be working away in Antarctica for British Antarctic Survey. Over 300 staff, scientists …
23 October, 2019
Antarctica – BBC NHU blockbuster
21 January, 2019
The population of Antarctic krill, the favourite food of many whales, penguins, fish and seals, shifted southward during a recent period of warming in their key habitat, new research shows. …
21 January, 2019
British Antarctic Survey scientist Professor Richard Phillips has been awarded funding to use newly developed radar-detecting tags to track the interactions between wandering albatrosses and fishing vessels in the South …
22 October, 2018
BAS marine researchers join nearly 300 international delegates at the annual meeting of the Convention on the Conservation or Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) beginning in Hobart today. For the …
23 October, 2017
Blue Planet II – the nature documentary that explores the deepest and darkest realms of the world’s oceans – is back on the BBC some 16 years after it was …
15 February, 2017
The longest and most comprehensive study to date of what penguins eat is published this month. The study, published in the journal Marine Biology, examines the diets of gentoo penguins …
11 January, 2017
The UK Overseas Territory of South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands is this week launching an ambitious conservation effort to help protect the albatross. South Georgia is a globally important …
4 January, 2017
Construction expert BAM has been chosen to partner with British Antarctic Survey (BAS) to modernise UK Antarctic and other research facilities, enabling British scientists to continue delivering world class research …
25 December, 2016
Dr Lucy Quinn is zoological field assistant at the British Antarctic Survey research station on Bird Island, South Georgia – a job which involves daily expeditions come rain or shine …
29 November, 2016
As spring returns to the southern hemisphere British Antarctic Survey (BAS) has started another research season which will take them over land, sea and ice in search of answers to …
1 August, 2016
A review of breeding distributions, population trends, threats and key priorities for conservation actions on land and at sea for the 29 species covered by the Agreement on the Conservation …
25 July, 2016
A new study of the movements of sub-Antarctic albatrosses tracked from two remote islands some 5,000 km apart, shows that although the birds from each breeding site take similar routes around the Southern Ocean, they forage in different areas for the majority of the time. The results are published this month in the Nature journal Scientific Reports.
12 January, 2016
British Antarctic Survey (BAS) is recruiting now. The smooth operation and maintenance of our research stations depends on skilled technical support teams. Check out our latest vacancies!
8 January, 2016
Two British Antarctic Survey (BAS) personnel, and one former member of staff, have been awarded the Polar Medal. The announcement was made today (Fri. 8th Jan 2016) in the London …
7 October, 2015
Antarctic seabird community structure remains unaffected by changes in food availability A new study of sub-Antarctic seabirds shows that their community structure (how they co-exist and share resources) is unaffected …
18 August, 2015
Bird tracking technology reveals future climate may affect seabird feeding behaviour A two year study of shags on the Isle of May National Nature Reserve in Scotland reveals that when …
10 August, 2015
Antarctic fur seals have unique ‘scent profile’ to recognise their pups Researchers studying Antarctic fur seals have discovered their scent has a unique ‘profile’ which enables them to recognise their …
14 July, 2015
New study uncovers how petrels in sub-Antarctic co-exist during the winter For the first time, scientists understand more clearly how birds living on the remote sub-Antarctic island of Bird Island …
1 April, 2015
New study tracks feeding behaviour of Antarctic fur seals in winter During the Antarctic Summer female fur seals feed in the waters around their breeding breaches. In winter, when their …
26 March, 2015
WWF’s Earth Hour is a global annual event where hundreds of millions of people switch off their lights for one hour to show they care about the planet.
16 February, 2015
Does age matter? Maybe not if you’re a wandering albatross A new study of the wandering albatrosses breeding on the sub-antarctic island of Bird Island (off South Georgia) reveals that …
19 December, 2014
British Antarctic Survey staff prepare to celebrate Christmas far away from home As you make the last preparations for the festive period, spare a thought for those who will be …
23 July, 2014
Genetic study shows major impact of climate change on Antarctic fur seals Genetic analysis of Antarctic fur seals, alongside decades of in-depth monitoring,* has provided unique insights into the effect …
20 June, 2014
Midwinter’s Day celebrations take place at Antarctic Research Stations Staff at the British Antarctic Survey are celebrating Midwinter’s Day in Antarctica. In a tradition which began in the days of …
28 May, 2014
We caught up with Bird Island Research Station Leader Adam Bradley who was living and working on the island when the BBC crew came to film Deadly Pole to Pole. …
27 May, 2014
Deadly Pole to Pole at Bird Island Tune in to CBBC today at 5:25pm to see adventurer Steve Backshall on Bird Island as part of the BBC’s Deadly Pole to …
21 May, 2014
Electronic tags provide 10 years worth of penguin data A team of scientists, led by researchers from the British Antarctic Survey, has used tiny electronic tags to study the decline …
24 December, 2013
Christmas messages from Antarctic staff Many British Antarctic Survey scientists and support staff will be spending this Christmas thousands of miles from home on the frozen continent. BAS has five …
20 December, 2013
British Antarctic Survey field season is underway On the eve of the centenary year of Ernest Shackleton’s Endurance Expedition the ship which bears his name is playing a crucial role …
12 March, 2013
Saving the best for last – wandering albatrosses” last push for successful parenting Romanticised in poetry, the wandering albatross is famed for its enormous wing-span and long life. The bird …
30 April, 2012
Antarctic albatross displays shift in breeding habits A new study of the wandering albatross – one of the largest birds on Earth – has shown that some of the birds …
21 November, 2011
On the eve of the centenary of Sir Robert Falcon Scott’s expedition to the Antarctic, the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) 20011/12 field season is underway. The start of the season …
15 November, 2011
This week on Frozen Planet (BBC1 Wednesday 16 November at 21.00, repeated Sunday at 16.10) the programme explores autumn in the polar regions. As life cools down in the Antarctic, …
7 November, 2011
This week on Frozen Planet (BBC1 Wednesday 9 November at 21.00, repeated Sunday at 16.10) the programme explores Summer in the Polar Regions. As life thrives in the Antarctic, viewers …
31 October, 2011
This week on Frozen Planet (BBC1 Wednesday 2 November at 21.00, repeated Sunday at 16.10) the programme explores Spring in the Polar Regions and how life begins the race to …
20 October, 2011
Series starts Wednesday 26 October, BBC1 at 9.00pm, repeated on Sundays at 4.10pm. Embark on the trip of a lifetime, as the award-winning BBC team behind Planet Earth takes you …
21 June, 2011
Staff at the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) celebrate Midwinter’s Day today. Celebrated as the Summer Solstice in the northern hemisphere, Midwinter’s day is the shortest and darkest day for the …
7 October, 2009
Albatross camera reveals fascinating feeding interaction with killer whale Scientists from British Antarctic Survey, National Institute of Polar Research (NIPR), Tokyo, and Hokkaido University, Japan, have recorded the first observations …
SOC is a project of the NERC CloudSense Programme The biases observed in climate models over the Southern Ocean in surface radiation and sea surface temperature are larger than anywhere …
In order to decarbonise our remote Bird Island Research Station on the sub-Antarctic Island of South Georgia we will be installing a solar photovoltaic and energy storage system.
A new jetty and logistics facilities for Bird Island
Until the last decade, South Georgia held the third largest population of black-browed albatrosses at any island group (Phillips et al. 2016) [4]. However, assuming trends at surveyed sites are …
The South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands (SGSSI) Marine Protected Area (MPA) was established by the Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands in 2012, to ensure the …
Wandering albatrosses are threatened by bycatch. Populations at South Georgia have declined catastrophically since the 1960s due to incidental mortality (bycatch) in fisheries (Pardo et al. 2017) [1]. This led …
CONSEC is addressing the challenge to understand the links between the biodiversity, structure and function of Southern Ocean ecosystems and the impacts of rapid environmental changes to improve scientific knowledge …
The grey-headed albatross is listed as Endangered in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species because of a decline since the 1970s of the largest global breeding population, which is …
The British Antarctic Survey carries out Long Term Science that measures changes in Antarctic ecosystems and seeks to understand the underlying drivers and processes. Marine predators are sensitive to changes …
An estimated 75% of all the litter in our oceans is plastic, and around 5 million tonnes of plastic waste enter the ocean annually. Scientific observations of a significant concentration …
This long-term study monitors the impact of marine plastics and other debris on breeding seabirds at Bird Island. Researchers have monitored the levels of marine plastics and other material from …
Globally-important populations of seabirds breed at South Georgia. However, human-induced impacts have led to the decline of many seabird populations. Four species of albatrosses and white-chinned petrels have shown persistent …
Seabirds are amongst the most globally threatened birds, often as a consequence of incidental mortality (bycatch) in fisheries [1] [2]. At South Georgia, wandering albatrosses have declined since the 1970s [3], and are listed …
It is now estimated that >30,000 whales visit South Georgia in summer, making this sub-Antarctic island the highest-density UK hotspot for recovering whales, including critically endangered Antarctic blue whales. The …
Realising the benefits of the Antarctic Infrastructure Modernisation programme.
Virtual Antarctica ... journey beyond
The white-chinned petrel is the most common bird species recorded as fisheries bycatch in the Southern Ocean [1]. Although currently listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN, limited population trend data …
Many populations of wildlife are remote, inaccessible or difficult to monitor. The advent of sub-metre, Very-High-Resolution (VHR) satellite imagery may enable us study these animals in a much more efficient …
Station Operations Manager
