Page 23 - Dainfern Precinct Living Issue 2 2025

NATURE

SAVING SEA BIRDS MSC Musica in Durban harbour

ON MARION ISLAND

TEXT AND PHO T O S B Y ANTHONY CAVANA GH

he islands are located at a lati- Bird Life South Africa, together with the
tude of 46.5 degrees south, in an Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the
area known as the ‘roaring forties’ Environment, have implemented a project
Tbecause of the gale force winds called the Mouse Free Marion (MFM)
prevalent in these southern regions. Alba- Project which although currently still in
tross in particular use these strong winds to the planning phase, aims to raise enough Atlantic Prion
glide effortlessly above the ocean. Average money to eradicate the mice. To this end,
temperatures are in single digits, with the Bird Life SA has, over the past few years,
wind chill factor adding to the cold. booked four sea voyages to Marion Island
specifically for keen birders from all over
Five species of Albatross including the the world to see the birds and to raise
Wandering, Dark-mantled (Sooty), Light- funds for the MFM project.
mantled, Indian yellow-nosed and Grey-
headed Albatross breed there, as well as Sue and I joined 1900 other keen bird-
fourteen species of Petrel, four species ers on Flock 25, the fourth such voyage
of Prion and four species of Penguin. The aboard the MSC Musica which sailed
smaller Prince Edward Island is rodent free from Durban on 24 January 2025 and
but the larger Marion Island is infested with arrived off Marion Island three days
house mice which were inadvertently intro- later. Approximately half of the bird-
duced to the island by whalers and sealers ers on board were from overseas and
in the 1800’s. the bow and stern of the ship, as well Light-mantled Albatross
as the open decks, were bustling with
The mice are having a serious effect on the birders keen to spot the various birds
breeding birds, both adults and their chicks, and take as many photos as possible.
and many have succumbed to predation by Photographs are often the best way to
the mice. Cats were introduced to Marion positively identify some of smaller bird
Island in a misguided attempt to solve the species such as the Prions, Storm petrels
problem, but they too attacked the birds. By and Shearwaters.
the 1990’s, the cats had been eradicated To assist in bird identification, Bird Life SA
but the mouse population continues to employed the services of 65 top authori-
increase. It is estimated that 19 of the bird ties on seabirds and marine mammals
species breeding on the island may become who, on a roster system, were seated on
locally extinct if the mouse problem is not the open port and starboard decks and
resolved. observation areas on the bow and stern Sooty Albatross 23
Cornwall View • Issue 5 2016
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