Page 13 - Kyalami Issue 1 2025

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NATURE

MSC Musica in Durban harbour

SAVING MARION

ISLAND'S SEA BIRDS

TEXT AND PHO T O S B Y ANTHONY CAVANA GH

EMPOWERING

he islands are located at a latitude Bird Life South Africa, together with the
of 46.5 degrees south, in an area Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the
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. Project which although currently still in
Albatross in particular use these strong the planning phase, aims to raise enough Atlantic Prion
winds to glide effortlessly above the ocean. money to eradicate the mice. To this end,
Average temperatures are in single digits, Bird Life SA has, over the past few years,
with the 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
fourteen species of Petrel, four species birders on Flock 25, the fourth such
of Prion and four species of Penguin. The voyage aboard the MSC Musica which
smaller Prince Edward Island is rodent free sailed from Durban on 24 January 2025
but the larger Marion Island is infested and arrived off Marion Island three days
with house mice which were inadvertently later. Approximately half of the birders
introduced to the island by whalers and on board were from overseas and the
sealers in the 1800’s. bow and stern of the ship, as well as Light-mantled Albatross
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
but the mouse population continues to SA employed the services of 65 top
increase. It is estimated that 19 of the bird authorities on seabirds and marine
species breeding on the island may become mammals who, on a roster system, were
locally extinct if the mouse problem is not seated on the open port and starboard
resolved. decks and observation areas on the bow Sooty Albatross

Kyalami Estates • CONNECT • Issue 1 • 2025 11