By Tessa Cole, RSPB Senior Research Assistant

I thought I’d take a rainy windy day to update you the first three weeks of this year’s RSPB seabird tracking efforts: two projects, FAME (Future of the Atlantic Marine Environment) and a new project ‘tracking 2012’ which sees us extending the number of sites we are able to work in. This is the third year FAME has been collecting data on where seabirds are foraging, so we’re starting to acquire quite an insight in to their exploits away from the cliff tops. As well as research on the Atlantic coastline, tracking 2012 is happening out on the East coast in the North Sea this year. I will update you on how all the other teams are getting on later in the season.

My colleague AJ and I are on the Island of Colonsay (Inner Hebrides) for the summer. After receiving some expert training on wilderness first aid and rope access in Aviemore in the first week, we’ve now been let loose on the cliff tops! Although we use ropes, no actual climbing is involved which is good as I get the Elvis legs which would be more than a little inconvenient when balancing on a cliff top!  We work hard to be as invisible as possible. Sometimes I wish someone had invented an invisibility cloak (mind you the military probably has…..maybe we should ask them if we can be the guinea pigs for gadgets like that!)

We work silently with just one person, creeping towards the cliff edge, peering over till we can just see the bird's head. Everything is done in slow motion and we spend a lot of time crawling around on all fours or pretending to be rocks. Bet you’ve never seen a CV with “brilliant at acting like a rock” written on it……but it’s actually rather a useful skill in our line of work. The birds are caught and we quickly record their measurements and weight, but most importantly we attach a small GPS device (a tiny version of the sat nav in your car).  The birds are then released quickly and calmly.  They don't return to the nest immediately, so we wait patiently to protect the eggs or chicks from predators until the adult comes back. This can take ages, but however long it takes and however bitter the wind you have to stay as still as a rock (preferably whilst hiding behind an actual rock too!).  Natural seabird egg predators such as gulls can be a problem, so if one of them starts being cheeky we suddenly jump up and start making as much noise as possible to scare them off……what a funny sight we must look! After all this we go through it all again three days later when we attempt to re-catch the bird to retrieve the GPS device to find out where they have been foraging. We re-catch over 50% of the tags we put out but sometimes the weather gets in our way or the birds become wise to our catching methods - however the tags are designed to fall off within the week so the bird isn’t left sporting this season's must have accessory.

We start off working on shags, as they breed earlier than the other species we’re working on (Razorbills, Guillemots, Kittiwakes and Fulmar).  This means we can wean ourselves gently in to the chaotic season ahead!  Most of them are currently incubating three relatively small eggs, hunkering down and ignoring what the weather throws at them. I was on this project last year but only caught kittiwakes then.  They are easier to learn catching skills on due to their high hormone levels telling them to stay on the nest with their eggs and chicks. Kittiwakes are also rather angelic, gentle birds compared with the MUCH heavier shags who like to aim their beak for a point between your eyes…..hence the very fashionable safety goggles we model! 

AJ and I have now caught our first shags of the season and managed to get the GPS tags back three days later…..the nerves and adrenalin rush you get are huge, we generally need a power nap and some chocolate to bring us back to life after releasing the birds! The highs of getting our first GPS tags back are now replaced by the worry that we’re one hit wonders after several days of checking nests only to find the partner of the bird we’re trying to retrieve a tag from is always incubating the eggs. This cycle of ecstatic highs and frustrating lows will continue throughout the season but at least we’ll know we’re guiding the scientific process of designating Marine Protected Areas and steering the placement of renewable energy developments away from sensitive places for our breeding seabirds. Anyway, who can complain when they have a view like this from their “office”!

The FAME project is funded by the European Commission through the European Regional Development Fund, Atlantic Area Transnational Programme to the sum of €2.2 million with an additional €1.2 million funded by the project partners.  Investing in our common future

I might have been lamenting the wettest April since records began here in the UK (it did slightly dampen a week on the glorious north Norfolk coast), but the weather had a bigger impact on brave British adventurer Sarah Outen.  It kept her on the shores of Japan, no doubt a little frustrated as she waited to set off on the next stage of her incredible London2London loop of the world.  But the weather lamented at last, and at 7.06am on Sunday morning, she left the shores of Japan.  Next stop, Vancouver.  4,500 nautical miles away.

I still think she's a bit mad, but I also still think she's amazing.  I have no doubt at all that she will achieve her goal, and in around 150-200 days time, expect to be telling you that she made it.  The first woman to solo row across the northern Pacific.  The biggest bit, with no convenient tropical islands to break the journey.  Staggering, isn't it?

You can keep up to date with Sarah's progress via her website.

By Colum Delaney, Policy Advocacy Officer (Northern Ireland)

2012 could be a watershed year for Northern Ireland’s marine environment.  

After years of campaigning, the NI Marine Bill is finally being discussed at Stormont, with the legislation expected to be on the statute books by 2013. This crucial piece of legislation will determine how our seas are managed in the future.

Of course, the hard work begins now.

RSPB Northern Ireland has been working through the Northern Ireland Marine Task Force (NIMTF) to ensure that our local politicians recognise that the Marine Act must have nature at its heart.

We are already years behind England, Scotland and Wales in protection for our seas. Amongst a range of measures, the NI Marine Bill will introduce powers to allow for the creation of a new type of protection: Marine Conservation Zones – areas of the sea dedicated to protection for species, habitats or features on the sea floor (like caves and reefs).

If you live in Northern Ireland, why not send a pre-prepared email to your MLA asking them to support a strong natured focused Bill here: www.communityni.org/campaign/marine-act

Wherever you live, if you would like to lend your support at this time, please go to the NIMTF website and vote ‘Yes’ for a Marine Bill with wildlife at its’ heart - www.nimtf.org/

Also, why not ‘tweet’ your support – and in 140 characters, tell us what the sea means to you. Use the hash tag #theseameanstome to let us know your thoughts, memories, hopes and fears for the future of our seas.

Thank you for your support.

Colum

Kittiwakes: Anthony Griffiths

Guy Shorrock (rspb-images.com)

I was excited to read that last week the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) made a landmark decision - all longline vessels in the Indian Ocean will now be required to use two seabird bycatch mitigation measures.  This follows a similar decision made by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) last November.

This is great news for albatrosses, who often get caught on longline hooks - it is estimated that over 300,000 seabirds are accidentally killed in this way every year.  It is believed this is the primary reason behind 17 of the world’s 22 species of albatrosses being threatened with extinction.

The mitigation options are simple; fishermen can choose from using tori lines (bird streamers which scare birds away from the hooks), or they can add weights to hooks to make them sink more quickly or set their hooks at night when most birds are less active.  The RSPB - with your support - has played a major role in devising and testing technologies and fishing practices to reduce the problem.  Getting legislation in place is an important next step towards bringing these iconic ocean wanderers back from the brink of oblivion. 

Successes like these are addictive - its great to see progress, and know that what we are doing is really making a difference.  There's more to do, but together we will Save the Albatross.

Find out more about our Save the Albatross campaign, and how you can help, at http://www.rspb.org.uk/albatross

By Gareth Cunningham, Marine Policy Officer, Wales

The Welsh Government has launched its Marine consultation Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) - Potential Site Options for Welsh Waters to create new highly protected Marine Conservation Zones (hpMCZ) in Welsh waters. This is an important step towards safeguarding marine biodiversity and recovering the health of Welsh seas. Unlike the rest of the UK, Wales has decided to designate highly protective areas. These sites will be protected from the extraction and deposition of living and non-living resources and all other damaging activities. The final sites are intended to supplement the existing Marine Protected Areas and contribute to the recovery, resilience of these areas whilst developing a better understanding of natural ecosystems.

The 10 candidate sites are located: Skomer, Dale In Pembrokeshire, South West of Strumble Head, an Offshore site near Newquay, Bardsey Island, St Tudwal’s Island, a site on the North Llyn peninsula, the Mouth of the Dwyfor, North east Menai Strait and Puffin Island. An interactive map can be found here.

The consultation will end on 31 July and until then members of the public, sea users and coastal communities have the opportunity to share their views on proposed potential locations for new protected areas called Marine Conservation Zones in Wales. The Welsh Government intends to designate 3-4 hpMCZs by early 2014. 

RSPB Cymru will be responding to the consultation and calling on our supporters to get involved and have their say. Further details of how to get involved will be uploaded soon and on twitter @RSPBCymru, or you can follow #hpMCZs

Photo Anthony Griffiths