Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation visit Denis Island.

Last weekend Denis played host to a team from both SBC TV and radio. The primary reason for their visit was to record programmes about the introduction of the Seychelles Paradise Flycatcher (Terpsiphone corvina). 23 Flycatchers were transferred from La Digue to Denis in November of last year in the first ever transfer of this critically endangered species (see posts of 5th and 16th January for more information)[1]. Prior to the transfer the only breeding population of the bird was restricted to the island of La Digue where its habitat is coming under increasing development pressure. It is very important to establish additional breeding populations of the species on other islands so as to reduce the risk from stochastic events such as storm, fire or disease that a single population in a restricted area is prone to.

To assist with the coverage I asked Rachel Bristol the Project Officer responsible for the flycatcher transfer to also visit the island so she could give the necessary interviews. Filming and recording went very well with the cameramen getting really good footage of females on two separate nests and a male in close attendance in one territory.

In addition to covering the flycatcher project, film and interviews were also taken on the progress of the Magpie-robin project, the woodland conservation project and more generally about the natural history of the island – including footage of bee-eaters perched along and flying over the runway.

The SBC crew also visited the new “Belle Etoile” Villas, filmed them and interviewed the Hotel Resident Manager Mr. Paul Horner about this new initiative for the national tourism programme “Check-in”.

The natural history filming was for the national environmental TV series “Karnen Lannatir” whilst the radio recordings were for the weekly radio show “Nature Watch”. Whilst drafting this post I have just spoken to Lucille Adrienne who produces the radio show and she advised me that she has sufficient recording for 3 and possibly 4 fifteen minute spots – including good recordings of the song of the Flycatcher and the bee-eaters so that should make for an interesting listen. The programmes will go out on SBC MW as of next week at Thursday 11:30 hrs and repeated Friday 17:15 hrs.

This latest media coverage is another plus for GIF’s Public relations and outreach programme that seeks to raise awareness of the achievements of the ongoing work on Denis Island. Our sincere thanks go to: the SBC crew Mr. Jerome Dogley, Mme. Lucille Adrienne, Mr. Claude Vidot and Mr. Guilmer Philoe for their interest in the environmental work on Denis Island; and Mme. Lena Desaubin from the Department of Environment for facilitating arrangements.

[1] The transfer of Flycatchers to Denis was: enabled by the agreement and cooperation of the La Digue Development Board, and the partnership and support of UK Darwin Initiative, Nature Seychelles, the Seychelles Department of Environment, the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Environment, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Wildlife Vets International, RARE UK and the University of Kent.