"This little island is one of the wonder spots of the world. It is the great focus of the seal and bird life in the Australasian sub-Antarcti regions, and is consequently of far greater significance and importance in the economy of that great area then its small dimensions suggest."
Sir Douglas Mawson 1919
Hi.
Its been quite a while since my last post. We have been very busy here, with many ships visiting our shores and the arrival of a number of summer expeditioners to carry out important research on this wonderful bio-diverse island.
First of all I would Love to wish everyone a fantastic Christmas and festive season.
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| Have a Merry Christmas and wonderful New Year |
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| The 25 Macquarie Island 2013 Winter crew, including 11 dogs and a photo bomb by a gentoo penguin |
On the 25th of October a ship appeared on the horizon. It was L'Astrolabe. Apart from fishing vessels it was the first ship we had seen since the departure of the Aurora Australis way back in early March this year.
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| The appearance of L'Astrolabe on the northern horizon |
Three of our expeditioners; Craig, Tony M and Patty, were departing and we eagerly awaited the arrival of 14 new people to the Macca crew.
Before Patty left, she carried out more remediation work of heritage items in the artefacts corral between the Post Office and the Green store.
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| Patty and Chris assisting in the removal of a trypot out of the artefact corral - for restoration and storage |
L'Astrolabe anchored in Buckles Bay in near perfect conditions. Soon the IRB's were launched and a small team, travelled out to the ship to greet the incoming expeditioners and brief them on some of the rules and regulations relating to the station.
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| A picture perfect day for the arrival of L'Astrolabe |
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L'Astrolabe arrives in Buckles Bay
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| All the IRB and Landing Beach crew getting ready for the transfer of passengers and cargo |
Personally I received quite a few parcels and letters and cards, from family and friends. Many of the items were belated Birthday presents, plus Christmas presents, which remain on my shelf to be eagerly unwrapped in a few days time. I received some of my favourite biscuits (speculass) and a small fruit cake, lovingly baked by my beautiful wife Donna.
Another special treat was a cd from my daughter Madeleine. She is half of the duo
Porcelain Pill. I am so proud of her.
Also amongst my mail was a card with many beautiful, cute images of my new grand nephew Ollie - precious.
Also arriving in the mail was my new camera. As mentioned in a previous post - my camera was damaged by sea water when a wave washed over me while I was out near the tide gauge in Garden Cove. The camera has been slowly failing since the incident in June. So it was a great relief to receive a new Nikon D7100. All the images from now on have been taken with this camera.
The weather continues to amaze me and everyone else on the island. As L'Astrolabe was disappearing over the northern horizon we experienced a very cold change accompanied by heavy snow.
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| This was the scene a couple of hours after L'Astrolabe left |
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| Late October snow |
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| October 26th snow as seen from the 'golf tee' on Wireless Hill |
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| New camera seems to produce vibrant clear images |
The following day (27th October) also saw heavy snowfalls
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| Heavy snow on the 27th of October |
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| View from the front of the Weather Bureau office |
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| Very large bull elephant seal on the isthmus roadway |
Station life returned to some kind of normality in the last few day of October, with all the newcomers settling into their programs. Some would only be here for the short duration, expecting to leave in early December on Aurora Australis voyage V2.
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| Artistic kelp found on one of my walks |
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| View across Buckles Bay from the Ham Shack |
During the year the MIPEP (Macquarie Island Pest Eradication Program) team has covered a lot of ground. I hadn't really thought about it until Steve (MIPEP) leader hung some maps up in the Mess. These maps are shown in the image below.
The largest map on the left shows all the tracks (taken from GPS) of rabbit day hunting coverage for the months March to October - red is the tracks covered just in October - all up approx 11,000 km (6,835 miles). The next map is the same as the first with October's milage also in blue.
The third map with the (yellow) is the tracks covered in night time spot-lighting (it is better to see the rabbits eyes at night in a spot-light) - all up approx 2,300 km (1,429 miles). The last map (green) is the tracks that the 2 rodent hunters covered between March and October) - approx 1,700 km (1,056 miles).
All this walking with no rabbits seen for over 2 years. These people are pretty special and also super fit.
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| Coverage of the MIPEP team |
I found out from Steve that over the 3 years that the hunting program has been going the hunters have covered over 79,000 kms in total (49,088 miles). That is equivalent to walking around the earth twice!!
After a initially cold start to November the weather seemed to improve with temperatures rising and quite a few sunny days.
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| Plant life in the ozone hut enclosure |
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| Campbell Stokes sunshine recorder |
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| The elephant seals are everywhere - this one is in front of the Biology building |
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| We have had some stunning sunsets at Macca - this one from station overlooking Hasselborough Bay |
Between the 30th of September and the 16th of November, the SMA (Special Management Area) of Secluded Bay on North Head was open. This meant that with permission from the ranger we could wander into Secluded Bay.
This one of the bay where a lot of fur seals congregate and they breed between November and January.
Kris, the summer ranger, walked there yesterday as part of a wildlife census. He counted 21 new Antarctic fur seal pups.
Clive and I took the opportunity, to wander up the wireless hill track and across North Head, dropping down the steep slope into Secluded Bay.
On the way we stopped off a the radio antenna, where one of the newly arrived scientists, botanist called Natalie, was setting up a nursery for
Azorella macquariensis plants. This plant which is endemic to the island has suffered severe dieback and is now considered endangered. Natalie, during her 7 week stay on Macca, set up the nursery (with the help of many of the expeditioners) and wandered all over the island collecting samples to re-plant at the Nursery - you can find out more on the project
here
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| View from near the top of the Wireless Hill track on North Head |
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| Clive helping with the azorella nursery on Wireless Hill |
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| Azorella macquariensis nursery complete with watering system |
After Clive fixed part of the Nursery we moved on to Secluded Bay. Again we had to negotiate a steep climb down the tussock covered slope.
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| Clive contemplating the steep southern jump-down into Secluded Bay |
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| Clive making his way down the steep slope into Secluded Bay |
The track takes a turn to the south across the steep slope which brings you to a ridge from which you can see into the next little bay to the south
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| This section of track takes you across the slope - Clive can be seen in the distance |
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| The view from a ridge into the next bay which is surrounded by sheer cliffs - A closer look will show you 11 light mantled sooty albatross nesting in the cliff face |
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| A close up of 9 of the light mantled sooty albatross nesting in the nooks of the cliff face |
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| Clive negotiating the last section of the jump-down into Secluded Bay |
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| A watchful big male fur seal in Secluded Bay - note how long his whiskers are |
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| View from the northern end of Secluded Bay - the track we came down on goes across the top of the cliff you can see at the end of the bay |
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| We climbed up the northern side of Secluded Bay - this is the view into the Goat Bay (to the north) and North Head, with Gorilla Rock offshore |
After the birth of nearly 2000 elephant seal pups around the isthmus during September and October, the weaned pups are everywhere. It is fantastic to see all their antics and sometimes quite humorous.
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| Weaners hanging around the Comms building |
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| Remembrance Day 1100 on the 11/11/13 |
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| 'I got in but how do I get out' |
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| 'Is that my Dad over there?' |
As I mentioned before; I haven't been able to wander beyond station limits in a while, though there has been so many things happen around station.
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| New comers Natalie, Ingrid and Jimmy, coming back to station after being out for 3 days down island with Marty (FTO) for field training |
Remnants of a digester on West Beach
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| This was the biggest male elephant seal that Clive and I encountered on East Beach - We estimated that he was 7 metres long (23 ft) and 2 metres wide (6.5ft) at the shoulder (measure that out in your lounge) |
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| The azure waters of Buckles Bay |
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| A large male elephant seal took up residence for 2 weeks in the artefact corral |
Thanks for viewing this blog over the last year. It has been an amazing journey so far. We leave this wonderful island in March, so still many photo opportunities to go.
The next few posts will be about the incredible wildlife of this island.
Until then please have a safe and happy holiday.
Barend (Barry) Becker
(barend@netspace.net.au)
Macquarie Island 54° 30' S 158° 55' E
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