Support from Overseas.

Green Islands Foundation work on Denis Island has been recognised by Belgian specialist pet food company Versele-Laga.

GIF Environmental Officer Catherina Onezia works full-time with the Seychelles magpie robin [SMR] (Copsychus sechellarum) population that was introduced to Denis in June of 2008. The SMR is classified as an endangered species by the IUCN with a global population of approximately only 170 spread over five small populations. Catherina works intensively with the birds checking on their status, well-being and breeding activity. Obviously with such a small global population every individual bird is important and Catherina provides the small sub-population on Denis with individual attention.

A major part of Catherina’s work is the provision of supplementary food to the birds. Each SMR territory has one or more bird feed tables set up and Catherina re-stocks their food supply 3 times a day – once with live insects she has captured around the island and twice with a special bird feed mix that includes grated chicken eggs, bread crumbs, grated carrot or papaya mixed in with a specially balanced high nutrition bird feed and an avian vitamin supplement powder. This feed ensures that the birds are maintained in optimum condition to encourage the breeding activity that is so important in order to properly establish and stabilise the island’s small foundling population. Over the next 3 years the birds will be progressively weaned off this supplementary feed whist at the same time ongoing work continues to improve the quality of the natural habitat on the island.

Versele-Laga produce the special feeds and supplements that we require for the supplementary feed mix. When I placed our order for the two products (Orlux Uni patee and T16 Nutribird pellets) with Versele-Laga however, on hearing of the nature of our work with the Magpie robins they offered to supply our needs for free!!!

We are most grateful to Versele-laga, and in particular their Export Manager Mr Bob Smitz, for their support in our efforts.

Versele-laga is a producer of premium and specialist pet food with more than 40 years experience in this domain. Their website can be accessed via the link below for more details on their products:

http://www.versele-laga.com/NUTRI/Nutrition/Pages/Start/index.jsp