Falklands Conservation

NEWS DIGEST 18

From Falklands Conservation Newsletter 01/01, Stanley

May 2001

Field Season 2000/2001 Review

This field season has been particularly busy. We started with a joint project with the Fisheries Dept in early October attempting to locate the squid Loligo gahi spawning grounds by looking at the diet of Gentoo penguins. We managed to collect samples from several sites to the west but due to bad weather only collected limited samples from the south. These samples are currently being worked up and the results should be available by mid-year.

A full census of Gentoo, Rockhopper and King penguins was successfully completed in November. Three teams, one on East Falkland, one on West Falkland and one on board Penelope covered all breeding sites around the Falklands. Initial results indicate that Rockhopper penguins are stable with around 272,000 breeding pairs, (300,000 breeding pairs were recorded in 1995/6, however, it is now thought that this is an overestimation due to the methodology used), and Gentoos have doubled in number since the previous census in 1995/6 (65,000 breeding pairs to 113,000 breeding pairs). Counts of immature King penguins were slightly lower (275 down from 339 in 1995/6). However numbers of adult King penguins are increasing and this lower number of immature birds may be a result of inter-annual fluctuations in breeding success. A full report on the 2000/01 Penguin Census will be available in the near future.

During November and January the Falkland Islands Seabird Monitoring Programme was carried out. Breeding pairs and subsequent chicks numbers of Gentoo, Magellanic and Rockhopper penguins were assessed at the three key sites, Saunders Island, Sea Lion Island and Volunteer Point/Seal Bay, along with other historical sites. This season was particularly wet and most key events appeared to take place later than usual. Many land-owners reported Gentoo and Rockhopper penguins were very late laying and that many of the nests were subsequently washed out due to the high rainfall during November and December. Despite the number of breeding pairs of Gentoo penguins increasing island-wide, most FISMP study sites were down and the breeding success was also down. The number of Magellanic penguin burrows occupied was slightly lower than that found in 1999/00 and the overall breeding success was considerably lower than that observed in previous years. The numbers of Rockhopper penguin breeding pairs was virtually stable at all study sites but the breeding success was slightly lower. So overall numbers of breeding pairs at study sites were slightly lower than in previous years but the breeding success was considerably lower, possibly reflecting the lack of food at the correct time and hence the timing of egg-laying being delayed, and the large amount of rainfall during incubation which flooded vulnerable nests.

Diet samples were also taken during incubation and chick rearing. These samples are currently being analysed at the Fisheries Dept and the results will be included in the FISMP Annual Report which will be available mid-year.

Diet sampling

Seabirds at Sea Team Bid Farewell

Team member Keith Gillon looks at the last three years work before he and Andy Black leave the Islands in mid April. Team Leader Richard White, currently working at the Aldabra Research Station in the Seychelles, will return to the Falklands towards the end of May to complete the write up of the third year report and train the new recruits for the fourth year's programme.

Following the completion of three years of seabird and marine mammal surveys, the current Seabirds at Sea Team is disbanding. We will all take away many enjoyable memories of our time in the Falkland Islands. The land based wildlife can be truly spectacular and we have all had the opportunity to spend time outside Stanley, most memorably on Beauchene Island helping with the satellite tracking study of black-browed albatrosses. However, it is the seas surrounding these Islands that support the huge numbers of seabirds and seals that can be seen on the Islands during the summer months. The seabirds and marine mammals seen while at sea have made our experience unique and one that we are unlikely to be able to repeat elsewhere. The range of 'new' species encountered has been tremendous with many non-breeding species complementing the familiar species characteristic of the Falklands.

Although many people probably regard the sea as a homogenous expanse of water, this is far from the case. Over relatively short distances, the species encountered can change dramatically, which adds great interest to the work. Personal highlights during our time here have included watching wandering albatrosses soaring above the ocean swell, the occasional visit by a passing light-mantled albatross while the sight of Peale's dolphins leaping towards the ship, or of a whale blowing always helps to lift the spirits, particularly on cold, wet winter days.

Light-Mantled Sooty Albatross

Personal highlights during our time here have included; watching wandering albatrosses soaring above the ocean swell, the occasional visit by a passing light-mantled albatross while the sight of Peale's dolphins leaping towards the ship, or of a whale blowing always helps to lift the spirits, particulary on cold, wet winter days.

Although the current team members are leaving, the Seabirds at Sea Project will continue with two new employees joining Falklands Conservation in early June. Over the next year, at sea surveys will continue to fill seasonal and spatial gaps in coverage. The emphasis of the project work will however shift towards gathering data on the direct mortality of seabirds by fisheries within Falkland Islands waters. Incidental mortality of seabirds associated with fisheries has been identified as one of the major reasons for the declining population size of numerous species of albatross and petrel. Information collected during direct observations from fishing vessels will help evaluate the effect of this potentially serious threat to seabirds within Falklands waters.

Rare Bird Sightings: March 2001

Fork-tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus savana) at Volunteer Point
Previously recorded only three times in the Islands. Breeds in Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, southern Brazil and northern Argentina.

Chilean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus chilensis) at Protector Beach, New Island
Infrequent vagrant from South America.

Cocoi Heron (Ardea cocoa) in front of Government House, Stanley
Irregular vagrant, widely distributed in South America.

Violet-eared Dove (Zenaida auriculata) at Port Stephens & Little Chartres
Frequent though irregular visitor. - the only pigeon occurring in the Falklands, usually singly in gardens or near settlements. Most birds have been reported in March/April.

Cinereous Harrier (Circus cinereus) on Sea Lion Island
This is a former breeding species, probably lost through destruction of natural grassland and through shooting.

Patagonian Mockingbird (Mimus patagonicus) at Roy Cove
A vagrant, which breeds in Argentina and is rare in Chile.

Comments on status from 'Guide to Birds of the Falkland Islands' by Robin Woods

Open Day at Falklands National Herbarium

On 18th April the Falklands National Herbarium was on display to the public for the first time. Over 50 Islanders, including Governor Lamont, visited the Department of Agriculture to view the collection, now holding specimens of almost half the plants found wild in the Islands. It is hoped to complete the collection so that all species are represented by the end of next summer.

Visitors to Herbarium on Open Day

The idea of collecting Falkland Islands plants and preserving them for reference and research in a herbarium is not a new idea. On and off over the last 200 years such collections have been made. However, these have all been sent overseas rather than being retained in the Islands. These collections have proved of immense scientific value over the years, but because Islanders have been unable to access them easily they have been of no use in developing local knowledge of the plants of the Falkland Islands.

The Falkland Islands are home to 347 plant species, 171 of which are native and 13 are found nowhere else in the world. How little is generally known about the flora locally is ably illustrated by how few plants, until recently, have had common names. Many of these plants may have potential economic and commercial values as yet unknown and this could well represent an important area of future research and diversification.

This National Herbarium will be of great conservation and education value. It provides a unique reference collection that will allow present and future Islanders to learn more about the plants that grow into the Islands. This is essential if we are to successfully manage and conserve the flora of the Falkland Islands.

It is supported by the Shackleton Scholarship Fund, Falklands Conservation and the Department of Agriculture. Particular thanks are due to the special contributions from Robin Woods who donated his entire collection of Falklands plants, painstakingly collected over many years, FIDC who have given their seaweed collection and to Aidan Kerr, David Broughton and Jim McAdam for their botanical expertise.

Pilot Whales stranded at Ruggles Bay

A large number of dead pilot whales have been discovered on a beach in Lafonia. Between 25 and 35 dead pilot whales have been sighted on the calcified seaweed bed at Ruggles Bay. This is the first significant stranding since the one at Elephant Beach a year ago. On that occasion 189 dead whales were counted.

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