Holiday happenings on Macca

Macca holiday update in pictures

Two ellie seals on the beach at Macca with superimposed Christmas Hats
A decorated Christmas tree at Macca with presents underneath on Christmas Eve
Santa arriving on his sleigh in Market Square on Macquarie Island
Mel sitting on Santa’s lap with her gift on Christmas Day at Macca
The table set for Christmas Dinner at Macca
Tim, Ali and Annie wear their Christmas cracker lips
Yummy desserts served up on Christmas Day at Macca
The party lights on in the Mess at Macca for New Years Eve
Danielle in costume using the glow stick as a microphone
Macca expeditioners dancing the year away on New Years Eve

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Cute but feisty

Our first Fur Seal pup count took place over the New Year break. Each January, the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service ranger team (and assorted volunteers) conduct 3 weekly counts to keep an eye on the breeding success of various species of ‘furries’ around the beaches on North Head.

Fur Seals were hunted to annihilation on Macquarie Island in the early 1800s (an estimated 200,000 were killed). They kept their distance until returning to the island in the mid-1950s and are making a slow but steady recovery. This week’s count netted well over 300 pups (all 10/10 on the cuteness scale).

The only problem is their doting parents are rather territorial. Run!

A family group of fur seals in the sun on Macca
A male Antarctic fur seal in his prime, presiding over his harem on Macquarie Island
A female fur seal feeding her pup on the beach on Macquarie Island
A fur seal pup just out of the sea having a scratch
A closeup of a fur seal pup
A fur seal pup trying to climb on a rock with its mother

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Met’s awkward teenager

Our fluffy little skua chick living in the Met enclosure has now become an awkward gangly teenager…

A skua chick in the Met enclosure at Macca begging from its parents
A skua chick in the Met enclosure with wings outstretched

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