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| Ardery Blizzards |
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| Ardery Blizzards |
(25-Oct-1996)
Successful Ardery
Landing
Dear Caseyites and others interested,
We had anticipated to write you bits and pieces of Ardery Island news on
blizz-days, which from memory of previous years occurred about every 10 to
14 days. However, the weather has been a bit of a softie over the past three
weeks, and the 'Dedicated Casey Met-staff' keeps predicting more of the
same. At he moment it's snowing, with a 10 Knot wind, so uncomfortable
enough outside to pretend it's a blizz day, stay in the cabin and make a
start with the first 'Ardery Blizzard'.
SUCCESSFUL ARDERY LANDING
Assisted by incredibly good weather and perfect preparations by everybody at
Casey, on the Aurora Australis and back in Kingston, the Ardery Island field
camp was successfully established with all its gear on 4 and 5 Oct 1996. All
of those involved in this complicated operation, thank you! It went so
smooth that it seemed easy! It took two more days to sort out our immense
quantity of cargo, to organize the cabin interiors and to secure the outdoor
boxes in a storm-proof but still accessible manner. Immediately after these
basic preparations we've started the work on the petrel research program,
which focusses on the Antarctic Petrel and Southern Fulmar.
THE ARDERY PETREL RESEARCH
The research on the Petrels of Ardery Island intends to find out how to use
these birds as indicators of changes in the Southern Ocean environment. In
their fisheries agreement, the Antarctic Treaty nations have decided to use
a number of characteristic Antarctic animal species (for example also the
Adelie Penguin and Crabeater Seal) to assess possible or actual effects of
fisheries. This is a complicated issue because animal populations are
continuously adapting to natural variations or changes in their environment
as well. As the most direct link to potential competition for food between
birds and fisheries, the Ardery Program focusses on detecting changes in
body-condition of birds and the way in which this body-condition affects
breeding effort, success, and ultimately chances for survival of both
parents and offspring over the years. This requires that one is able to
follow individual birds within a season as well as over the years. Our
approach to do this is to mark birds both by numbered leg-bands (for visual
recognition) and by an injected microchip (for electronic recognition). By
offering such birds 'artificial nests' which contain an electronic weighing
scale and a reader for the microchip, it should be possible to get a
detailed record of their body-condition changes and breeding behaviour
without disturbance except for the initial capture.
NO SLEEPLESS NIGHTS FOR ARDERY CREW
During the long preparations in Holland for this project, all of your Ardery
crew suffered from sleepless nightly hours, worrying whether all of it would
work out. This project was a jump in the deep end, as we did not know how
birds would respond to injection of the microchips and even less if they
would accept artificial nests. Or if they did, would the electronic system
be up to the real Antarctic conditions? After the first weeks in the field
these worries are largely over and we sleep well. Already a few days after
arrival we could celebrate the first microchip and weight readings on the
computer in the Apple. In spite of some problems with snow we've now
installed 13 nests for Antarctic Petrels (of 20 to deploy in each study
species) and the system works! During the last few days the Southern Fulmars
have also started to return to their colonies on the island, and so
yesterday we've installed the first four nests in the Fulmar colony.
GIANT PETREL SNACKBAR
During the past weeks, when the small population of Antarctic Petrels was
virtually the only birdlife in the area, a few Southern Giant Petrels from
the Frazier Island regularly hopped over for smoko on Ardery. These large,
clumsy looking birds had no trouble at all in catching an Antarctic Petrel
snack. They just land in the colony and wait patiently til the panic ceases;
when some Antarctic Petrels resettle in their vicinity, they just take a
short run, and most times one of the Antarctics does not take off quickly
enough and is grabbed and killed by fierce shakes at the throat. The Giant
then plucks the belly feathers of its victim and from there eats the
skeleton clean in half an hour. We've seen at least 10 victims so far,
representing in the order of 1% of the Antarctic Petrel breeding population
on Ardery. For a 2-week period that's really a lot, as annual mortality is
only about 3% (these birds grow very old). Sex, that's why they come here in
this time of year, obviously is a dangerous thing for these Antarctic
Petrels!
SKUA'S PREFER WEDDELL SEAL SHIT
The normal predators of petrels on Ardery Island are Skua's. Up to 10 pairs
of them breed on the island, living of petrels and their eggs and chicks.
However, Skua's have been a rarity on Ardery so far, in spite of the fact
that many were reported by the seal counters at Robbo's and Herring Island.
Apparently, the Weddell Seal shit and birth remains is more attractive to
them at the moment.
ARDERY ICE CONDITIONS
Ice pattern over the past few weeks was that occasionally sea ice is blown
out, but that the whole area starts to refreeze in a matter of hours after
the wind has dropped. At the moment, there is solid ice all around with a
layer of snow obscuring only lightly frozen cracks (around the island, and
several between Ardery and Odbert). So, not especially the ideal situation
for a rubber boat (or any other sort of) resupply. It's a wait (for a blizz)
and see (a nice day immediately after) situation. We know you are ready, and
look forward to see you soon, hopefully before the next 'Ardery
Blizzard',
regards, Jan, Jeroen and Willem
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THE 'ARDERY BLIZZARD' IS BROUGHT TO YOU
BY YOUR DEDICATED BIRD-BOFFINS
IN THE DUTCH OVEN DEPARTMENT
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(4-Nov-1996)
Mercy for the
forecasters
Dear Caseyites and others readers,
Today has been a windy day on Ardery Island with over 40 Knots of eastern
winds that have blown out the ice of Sparkes Bay. For the first time after
exactly a month on the island there may be an opportunity for a rubber boat
visit and resupply. We know that Psycho and many others on Casey are working
hard to get things organized and to be ready. It's late evening now, and
during the 'Ardery Blizzard' editorial board meeting the wind has started to
drop... is it really gonna happen? Anyway, it's been some sort of blizz day,
so you're entitled our main local news.
MERCY FOR THE FORECASTERS
Like everyone, the inhabitants of Ardery Island like to make fun of the
weatherforecasters since inevitably they are sometimes wrong. However, the
past week has taught us some modesty. We've had two days of strong southern
katabatics with a lot of snowdrift. At the same time the Caseyites were
having jollies on the sea ice near Herring Island, only 6 km away in
windstill conditions! This crazy contrast persisted for two whole days!
Similarly, yesterday we could see big waves coming straight at us from the
continent and we could hear the wind roar. You could almost touch it, but it
did not reach Ardery as calm conditions persisted over here. Somewhere
between Ardery and Odbert Island there must be a type of 'Bermuda Triangle'
in which winds mysteriously disappear. Other explanations for wind that you
can see coming, but never reaches you, are welcomed by the editorial
board.
WINDMILL REPAIRED
Dutch people on the Windmill
Islands, and during the first bit of wind a week ago, their windmill broke
down. Because of a defect dumpload, far to high voltages in the windmill
burned part of the internal contacts. Willem, however, took it apart, made
some improvised changes and its running again like (not) before. It had no
problems with today's strong winds.
SWIVEL'S WONDERS
Jan had hoped to loose some of some of his oversized insulation layers build
up during long periods of desk work back home. So far, there is not much
evidence of success, for the simple reason that the food is too good. Shane
has prepared so much of excellent stuff that each evening ends up in a large
and very tasty meal. Each time when we search the food store, one or another
of Swivels wonders pops up that makes our day. The 100 bread doughs he
prepared will take some time to be depleted, but we're working hard on it.
Life is hell in the Antarctic.
WORK PROGRESS
One would almost forget we're here to work, so some report is appropriate.
In between quite a few 'non-outdoor' days because of snow accumulation and
freezing cold winds, we've managed to install 10 artificial nests in the
Fulmar colony in addition to the 13 that are in the colony of Antarctic
Petrels. The Antarctics have all left for sea, so we focus a bit more on the
Fulmars now. Like the Antarctics, many of them seem to accept these odd
artificial nests fairly easily. Sometimes they appreciate them so much, they
already sit on them before we've even connected the power and data-cables.
Jeroen has also installed 'microclimate' weather stations in the colonies,
so we're getting more and more ready for when the breeding season
starts.
ABOUT LOYALTY AND SUCH
Petrels are often praised by us humans for their loyalty. They mate for
life, isn't it wonderful? Probably we like to detect some qualities in birds
that not always come easy to ourselves. As a comfort, the answer to the
question whether these birds are really so loyal is both 'yes' and 'no'.
'Yes' in the sense that birds indeed tend to return to the same nest and
partner each year. A big 'no' however in terms of sexual loyalty. It is a
common habit in the petrel colonies that when your husband/wife is not at
home, that you hop over to next door to chat up the lonely wife/husband over
there, which usually ends up in a short but hot affair. Being serious
bird-boffins, last night we were discussing the 'why' of this phenomenon in
terms of 'biological advantage'. Willem (we treat him like a bird-boffin,
but he is a technician) got a bit fed-up with our complicated theories and
closed the discussion with a clear-cut one-liner: "A reliable dad for on
the nest, the real studs will do the rest."
RETURN OF THE SKUA'S
The day after the previous 'Blizzard', the Skua's returned to Ardery Island
on 26 Oct. Did they travel maybe with the Adelie Penguins, which also
suddenly appeared that day as black lines tobogganing over the sea ice to
the colonies on Odbert? Whatever the reason, for the Skua's that hold their
territories on Ardery, there can't be much penguin steaks on the menu, as
only petrels breed here, and there are not many of those around at the
moment. They must be hungry.
FAILED MURDER ATTEMPT
A hungry Skua tried to kill a Southern Fulmar in the colony at Robertson
Landing. From a nearby rock it dashed at a Fulmar sitting on the snow
clearing its nest-site. The Skua grabbed it's surprised victim by the neck,
and took off to the snowdrift below the cliff. A severe fight took place,
but finally the Fulmar managed to get free, and although wounded, took off
to sea. For the Skua there was nothing left but a few pieces of food that
were omitted by the Fulmar during the fight. Life is hell in the Antarctic,
especially for Skua's with damaged ego's.
Still looking forward to see you soon, again hopefully before the next
'Ardery Blizzard',
regards, Jan, Jeroen and Willem
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THE 'ARDERY BLIZZARD' IS BROUGHT TO YOU
BY YOUR DEDICATED BIRD-BOFFINS
IN THE DUTCH OVEN DEPARTMENT
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Special Edition
(5-Nov-1996)
Successful resupply for Ardery
Island
SUCCESSFUL RESUPPLY FOR ARDERY ISLAND
After a month on the island, and shortly after publication of the Ardery
Blizz No2, a successful attempt to resupply the bird camp on Ardery has been
made.
In the morning the situation looked pretty desolate (as usual) with heavy
snow reducing visibility to less than 200 meters. Not really a day to
attempt a resupply for Ardery, especially taking into account that that
nobody likes to spend his 'Melbourne Cup' day getting ready for an operation
that may easily fail. Thanks to the persistence of Shane, Andy and Rob, the
operation nevertheless was given a start and boats were transported to the
southern shore of Mitchell Peninsula. The weather-gods (as had been
indicated by the forecasters) looked favourably upon this undertaking and
decided to let the weather gradually improve with just enough wind to
prevent rapid ice formation in Sparkes Bay.
Early afternoon boats arrived at Ardery with a generous supply of beer and
lots of less important stuff. 
Even the steep snowdrift-climb to the cabin was undertaken carrying
all the goodies without a complaint, while doctor Annet was looking after
the well-being of the boats. As a consequence, the editorial board is now
indulging in the new beer supply, but would not let this happen without
letting all of you know that we very much appreciate the work that has been
done by all of you. We've been able to tell this personally to the boating
people, but wanted to let all others know by this special edition. Special
gratitude goes to the group that thought they went on a jolly to Robinsons
Ridge and spent the day helping to get boats into and out of the water, with
a long monotonous wait in between. It's great, thanks a lot!
Jan, Jeroen and Willem
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THE 'ARDERY BLIZZARD IS BROUGHT TO YOU
BY THE GRATEFUL BIRD TEAM
IN THE DUTCH OVEN DEPARTMENT
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