Sooty Tern Summary 2008 (Part 2).

This post follows on from my post of 21st September.

Once the area had been selected the next issue was to identify an appropriate form and source of models. As part of the scientific basis of the project we wanted to offer the birds a variety of stimuli in various combinations so as to properly assess their preferences. We investigated various options and ultimately went for 3 types:
· Moulds were made in the UK to enable the production of fibreglass models in Seychelles.
· 2-dimensional models were made out of plywood and painted
· Plastic models of crows were bought in UK and repainted and tails added to resemble sooty terns.
Unfortunately for some technical reason, that frankly still escapes me, the moulds and particularly their rubber interiors were not suitable for the local production of fibreglass models. So we were left with two types.
The sound system used to broadcast colony noise was purchased from a company that makes sound systems to scare pest species off crops in Europe. This was modified to play the noise of a sooty tern colony.
These different options plus control plots were combined with variations in vegetation management to generate 8 different stimuli combinations each repeated twice over the project area.

Vicki Wheeler and Tori Yates arrived at the end of May and set out the project with Chris Feare and the help of the Island Manager Camille Hoareau.

Observations were taken at set times (day and night) from a viewing platform constructed at one side of the project area. The interaction of Sooties with the trial area was recorded in terms of time spent overflying the area, height of flight and of course landings within the area. Tori and Vicki were equipped with night vision glasses to assist their nocturnal data collection.

Without going into specifics (because there are papers to be written and much more work to follow over the next 2 to 3 seasons), the area was successful in engendering interest amongst overflying sooty terns including numerous landings and demonstrating a clear preference for certain parameters.

At the end of the season models were re-positioned to reflect the favoured formulation and some 30 were re-painted as juveniles to give the impression of a successful small colony. I was supposed to follow up on this closely for another month but unfortunately broke my arm at that time and didn’t visit the island for a period of 5 weeks. However, occasional sightings by at least three individuals confirmed that the new formulation was particularly successful with 5 -10 birds seen to land at a time and numerous birds circling low overhead.

So with the results of the first season now gathered, it is for us to refine our approach accordingly for next season and hopefully optimise the scope for the establishment of a small breeding colony. It was certainly a most encouraging first year!