Pictured here is a displaying male frigatebird (Fregata magnificens) at the globally important nesting colony on Great Tobago.  [photo NPT]

 Darwin Initiative takes to the skies

For the past three weeks the staff from the Darwin project have been back in Anegada monitoring the bird and turtle activity and have literally taken to the skies in their effort. With the help of the BVI Police Surveillance plane and crew, project staff have expanded their turtle efforts beyond Anegada and have begun conducting aerial surveys of all the potential turtle nesting beaches in the BVI. The Darwin project staff are delighted with the support of the BVI Police Department and when asked about the expansion of the project Darwin Project Officer Dr Andy McGowan said "Without the BVI Police Department kindly donating their time and flying expertise this level of beach monitoring would just not have been possible and all the project partners are thrilled to have the BVI Police Department involved in the project. Anegada will continue to be the central focus of the Darwin Initiative project, but we felt that by encompassing all of the beaches in the BVI we would be able to provide a much clearer picture of the number of turtles nesting here and the data that we collect will be much more valuable".

It is not just the turtle work of the Darwin project that has been expanding beyond Anegada. Project staff have also undertaken an initial survey of the nesting seabirds throughout all of the BVI and the results of this survey will directly feed into the Important Bird Areas directive currently being worked upon by the staff at BVI National Parks Trust. The BVI is regionally important for almost all of its nesting seabirds and in some species cases it is globally important.

Despite all the additional activities of the Darwin project staff the work on Anegada continues. The bird surveys have revealed that the Greater flamingos have been relatively successful this year and the latest survey counted 15 new chicks which all appeared to be doing well. Further to this 8 new species have been added to the growing bird list for the island. The turtle work also continues and although no turtle nesting has been recorded as yet 21 new turtles have been caught, tagged and released.

More information on the project can be accessed on the project website www.seaturtle.org/mtrg/projects/anegada or interested parties can contact BVI Conservation and Fisheries Department, Road Town, Tortola, 284-494-5681.