Falklands Conservation

Double Island 22.2 acres (9.3 acres Tussac / 3.1 acres Dune)
Outer and Double Islands were purchased as nature reserves by Falklands Conservation in early 1998, largely with donations from members. On 30th October 1998 they were visited by Michael Morrison and Robin Woods as part of the second season's work on the Johnny Rook Survey. Robin Woods reports here on what they found.

Double Island aerial view

Double Island, with an approximate area of 9ha is in the eastern margin of Queen Charlotte Bay. It consists of two large hummocks, joined by a low sandy ridge, fairly densely covered in tussac grass up to a height of at least 2m. This probably reflects the thinner soils of the island, and it is likely that the island has never been stocked. There is abundant Blue Grass on the island and an area of dune.

Ten sea lions were seen including one bull on the sand beach area. Twenty three bird species were recorded, of which 13 were probably breeding. These included Ruddy-headed Goose, Falkland Steamer Duck, Magellanic Penguin, Kelp Goose, Magellanic Oystercatcher, Blackish Oystercatcher, and Dark-faced Ground-tyrant. A flock of about 100 South American terns were observed fishing along an offshore reef, and some 70 Dolphin Gulls on the sandy beach where we found the wing of a Thin-billed Prion. A Johnny Rook, a second year bird, was present and it followed us to Outer Island.

These two Islands carry good stands of mature and in places, very dense tussac grass. Sea lions use both Islands, with apparently far more on Outer Island. Outer Island had a larger and less disturbed flora than Double Island. The endemic Falkland Cudweed was found growing here and ten of the 16 species identified were native plants. The extreme shortage of songbirds however, with no Black-throated Finches, Cobb's Wrens, Long-tailed Meadowlarks or Tussacbirds on either island was most noticeable. Unfortunately, both islands are heavily infested with rats. Many droppings were found beneath overhanging tussac skirts. The remains of a dead rat are now at the Natural History Museum, Tring, awaiting identification. Whilst Falklands Conservation as owners can protect these Islands from grazing by herbivores, their conservation status would be greatly enhanced if the rats could be eradicated. How we can undertake a project to do this is now being investigated.

Double Island consists of two small Tussac covered islands, joined in the centre by a neck of sand dune and sand beach. The Tussac Grass is fairly dense, but does not exceed 2m in height.

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