Macquarie Island’s rich, diverse flora and fauna (including the human and canine variety) prove stunning subjects for photos. Auroras, sunsets, penguins, a cheeky seal and much more on offer this week.
Macquarie Island Pest Eradication Project
The MIPEP team arrived back on station on the 27th July. They will spend the next six days phoning home, catching up with partners, family and friends, attending a monthly pest eradication meeting to talk about their experiences, and participating in a half day search and rescue training session. Of course some rest and social time will be part of the mix as well. The quiet township of Macquarie Island doubles in population at the end of each month, a time we all look forward to.
Ranger in charge
Richard, Macquarie Island’s Ranger in Charge, was in the field this week conducting marine debris survey with the help of Robby, Matt and Colin. A summary of what they found washed up on the beach is as follows :
- 10 fragments of glass
- 184 plastic fragments
- 16 timber
- 485 fishing twine
The monthly bird counts was also conducted during the week. All six wandering albatross chicks are going well and new grey petrel remote breeding sites have been discovered. A minor reroute of the Jessie Nichol track has been undertaken to avoid a recent landslip and a royal penguin breeding colony.
Work
On the work front, the team continue to complete their weekly and monthly tasks and also attend to the unexpected. This week it was the steriliser in the kitchen to break down and it wasn’t long before Ray, our resident electrician, resolved the problem: a new element. Thanks goodness, there are two items you don’t want out of action for too long, particularly when we know our population is about to double:
- the dishwasher; and
- the coffee machine
Maria, our chef, is also busy preparing ahead for the arrival of the hunters. There’s nothing more the team want after spending a month in the field than a professionally cooked meal.
Social
It was discovered late last Friday night the disco lights weren’t performing as they should be so Maria and Mango were on the job first thing the next morning. We’re pleased to advise the lights are now working and will be switched on this weekend for the special theme night.
Other activities during the week include darts (and yes Tom, a fine score), a few movies on the big screen and many discussion on what to wear to this week’s fancy dress party.
