Birds in Bizarre Places

After being here for a few weeks, it seems to me that the birds and other wildlife on Aride make up their own rules, I mean we have turnstones in the woods and moorhens on the beach – what’s all that about?

It feels like every available space on the island is taken up by wildlife, whether it is traditionally known for it or not. The roseate tern colony made up of 500-1200 pairs is in the woodland glades on the hill, with the job just before the breeding season to clear some of the trees and create open areas! We not only have the largest colony in Seychelles, but one of the largest in the Indian Ocean, and the world’s only woodland-nesting colony – there must be something in the air.

Then there are the fairy terns, of which there are over 4,000 pairs and that too, is the largest single population in the Seychelles. They lay their single egg on the nub of a branch, it is very bizarre to see a tern incubating an egg on a branch, then to see the chick perched up there too – that’s life without predators for you.

It’s great living in a place where you can make up your own rules!