Due to human influences, the number of pelicans along the southern
African coast multiplied at a much faster rate than the rest of the
birds in this part of the world. The pelicans developed unnatural
eating habits which eventually turned into eating the chicks of gannets
and cormorants. Because their numbers got so high, the pelicans
literally decimated the chick populations of cape cormorants on Jutten
Island and gannet chicks on Malgas Island. The thought is to use
human presence to keep the pelicans off these two islands which will
allow the cormorants and gannets to fledge a relatively normal amount of
chicks last year. In turn, the pelicans will be forced to fall
back on their natural food sources (fish) and their numbers will
hopefully return to a normal state. (Click the left and right
arrows to see all the photos.)
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Gerhard is looking northwest towards a lighthouse which kept us company at night.
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We spent a lot of time collecting data for the researchers.
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Gannet chicks are quite funny looking while they're growing out of their fluff and into their feathers.
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This chick is almost ready to fledge. Notice how dark they are for the first years of their lives.
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This adult is feeding a very hungry chick. Thanks goodness we don't eat this way!
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Adult gannets have beautiful markings and blue eyes that look almost white.
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They also have these green lines on their feet which appear almost flourescent in direct sunlight.
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This adult is greeting its mate who's returning from a fishing trip.
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The mates then go through a ritual of rubbing beaks and necks in greeting.
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Gerhard is doing an hourly scan for any pesky pelicans who may have landed on the island while we weren't watching.
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And...there's a pelican hiding amongst the gannets. See how much larger they are?
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This pelican gave Gerhard a "run-for-his-money". Gerhard had to chase him three times before the pelican left the island for good.
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One of the dangers of living on Malgas Island is being attacked by adult Cape gulls who are protecting their chicks.
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Here's the Cape gull chick hiding under a bush.
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This Cape gull chick was brave enough to leave the nest, but the adults still keep close watch over them at this stage.
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Cape gulls can be quite ferocious: they chase each other and gannets off their nests and then steal the eggs to eat.
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As barbaric and sad as it seems, it's a part of nature.
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Cape gulls also kill the doves which nest on the island and eat them.
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Plenty of oystercatchers make Malgas Island their home.
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The adult oystercatcher was watching over its nest which is just a sheltered spot next to a rock.
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There are a few African penguins who nested on the island.
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They, too, are quite cute while they're getting rid of their fluffy down.
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Cape fur seals can be quite devastating to the gannet and cormorant populations, especially when chicks are just starting to fledge.
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Spending time alone on the island was such a refreshing treat for us.
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The sunsets were magical while the voices of the gannets sang us to sleep.
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