Ascension Island
Our day on Ascension began and ended in fine style. A dawn Zodiac cruise at Boatswainbird Island has to be one of the finest tropical seabird experiences in the world. As the sun rose over this guano-covered monolith the full splendour of the sight was revealed. The island is a seabird city; 10 species breed here. The sky was full of birds and every available piece of real estate on the island seems to be occupied. While the summit is populated by Ascension frigatebirds and boobies, the sheer cliffs are the haunt of noddies and white terns clinging to seemingly impossibly small nesting ledges.
This rock is the last refuge of the endemic Ascension frigatebird. The 500 metres that separates Boatswainbird Island from the mainland of Ascension is all that prevented feral cats from sending the species to extinction; the fate that met the two endemic landbird species that were once found on Ascension.
But there is good news for the frigatebirds and other seabirds of Boatswainbird Island. An ambitious programme to clear Ascension Island of the feral cats that wiped out the once abundant seabird colonies has been successful and the mainland is once again a safe place for seabirds to lay an egg and raise a chick. Several species have already recolonised the mainland, although not the Ascension frigatebird, yet.
After a full day of activities on shore and dinner on board we returned to the island after dark. The beaches of Ascension are home to a large, and increasing, population of breeding green sea turtles. The end of March is the peak season for these animals coming ashore to lay their eggs on the beaches of Ascension at night and we were privileged to witness this event, as well as hatchling turtles heading for the ocean.
There is so much more to tell of what happened during the day at Ascension. But space does not permit an account that includes the bow-riding bottlenose dolphins, the stark volcanic landscape, sooty terns or Green Mountain. For me the story of Ascension is one of hope, of good news. A place where seabird populations are increasing and green turtles are thriving.
Our day on Ascension began and ended in fine style. A dawn Zodiac cruise at Boatswainbird Island has to be one of the finest tropical seabird experiences in the world. As the sun rose over this guano-covered monolith the full splendour of the sight was revealed. The island is a seabird city; 10 species breed here. The sky was full of birds and every available piece of real estate on the island seems to be occupied. While the summit is populated by Ascension frigatebirds and boobies, the sheer cliffs are the haunt of noddies and white terns clinging to seemingly impossibly small nesting ledges.
This rock is the last refuge of the endemic Ascension frigatebird. The 500 metres that separates Boatswainbird Island from the mainland of Ascension is all that prevented feral cats from sending the species to extinction; the fate that met the two endemic landbird species that were once found on Ascension.
But there is good news for the frigatebirds and other seabirds of Boatswainbird Island. An ambitious programme to clear Ascension Island of the feral cats that wiped out the once abundant seabird colonies has been successful and the mainland is once again a safe place for seabirds to lay an egg and raise a chick. Several species have already recolonised the mainland, although not the Ascension frigatebird, yet.
After a full day of activities on shore and dinner on board we returned to the island after dark. The beaches of Ascension are home to a large, and increasing, population of breeding green sea turtles. The end of March is the peak season for these animals coming ashore to lay their eggs on the beaches of Ascension at night and we were privileged to witness this event, as well as hatchling turtles heading for the ocean.
There is so much more to tell of what happened during the day at Ascension. But space does not permit an account that includes the bow-riding bottlenose dolphins, the stark volcanic landscape, sooty terns or Green Mountain. For me the story of Ascension is one of hope, of good news. A place where seabird populations are increasing and green turtles are thriving.
