25 January 2008
The Macca summer science program is in full swing with the recent arrival of the human impact team (IHAT).
Making use of the fantastic weather, Greg, Susan, Jane, Erika and Andrew plant themselves in front of the Macca fuel farm and dig a hole to collect sample soil for analysing in the laboratory while Ben takes off down Island to do remote site sampling with Doug as his sherpa.
 The IHAT team dig a hole with the station leaders help |
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In between unpacking, working, cleaning and socialising, the IHAT team also have been out in the field training to bring themselves up to scratch with the island and their upcoming field work.
 Human Impact groupies led astray by the rangers |
|  The tired hikers chill out at Green Gorge hut. |
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A tired week calls for a celebration, and since the IHAT team have only been here for two weeks it was pretty nice of them to organise their first Friday drinks for the summer.
 Friday drinks in the Bio lab |
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While the TASPAWS team have been out with the IHAT members guiding them around the harsh terrain, they have also been checking up on the status of the rabbit dietary program which is proving successful.
 Team Ranger fencing out more rabbits |
|  Ian concentrates hard on those bunny numbers |
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Back on station the work continues with Tim, Meggsy and Chris working on the store renovation project. The rear storage rack has been cleaned and removed to make way for a new container which will house the group 12 products.
 The storage racks have been pulled out to make way for a new container |
|  Meggsy cleans up the remaining dirt and dust. |
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Chris has also been in and out of the magnetic absolute hut performing scientific measurements and installing a new magnetic data collection point for Geoscience Australia.
 Chris sits ready in the magnetic absolute hut |
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The tradies have been hard at it making use of the great weather. Matt, Greg and Lionel perform cleaning on the fuel farm tanks donning the BA gear and entering into the smelly deep of a fuel tank.
 Matt gets ready to go into the deep, dark stomach of a fuel tank |
|  The Macca summer trade group |
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The summer wildlife continues to amaze most station crew with their ability to survive and not survive. As new life starts to flourish, the weaker lives are quickly brought to an end.
 A proud fur seal looks over his territory |
|  A new bunch of King chicks have started to hatch |
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 Kings on the beach looking for trouble |
|  Natalie looks over two possible Hooker seal attacks |
|  A Giant Petrel finishes off a struggling Royal penguin |
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