One of the most frequently asked questions by my friends back home is: "Does the magic wear off? Does the fantastic wildlife get old after a while? Is it just as special several months in?"
Here's my answer:
Perhaps if the island was static, the same old every day, my interest might wane after a while. But nowhere I've ever lived has shown as much obvious and consistent change as Macca! Our team has only been on the island for around four months now, yet I have been amazed at the incredible change that has already occurred.
We have watched over the weeks as the elephant seal population on the isthmus exploded, going from around 100 to 300 plus! And we anticipate over 3,000 in the height of summer! We watched the arrival of the HUGE beach master seals, followed by the pregnant females and the births of their adorable babies.
We witnessed the gentoo penguins go from beach wanderers to building grassy nests and laying eggs.
The fur seal population has dramatically increased down the eastern coast, making for striking ocean-dropped photos.
The snow has come in strong spits and spurts, and the seas have inundated the local beaches, changing the scenery.
Work schedules change frequently as maintenance activities get pushed aside by more pressing fault repairs or change requests.
The seasonal shifts, from weather to wildlife, have blown me away and continue to excite me for the months ahead. I can't wait for the advent of the royal penguins and the rock hoppers, the birth of the gentoo babies, and to watch the seal pups grow up. Even as the summer season slows to an end, I greatly anticipate the changes as the island returns to a more 'quiet' state. And if that's not enough to entertain, there's always the occasional earthquake or two to keep us on our toes!
While life always has its ups and downs no matter where one lives, with an incredibly supportive community, the occasional field trip to new places, and social events every few weeks - no, I don't think the magic will wear off for quite some time ;)
Andy Leeder, Senior Comms Tech Officer
