Aride Island Nature Reserve, Seychelles · 2019. 12. 5. · Aride Island Nature Reserve, Seychelles: Visitor Information & Island Overview September to November 2011 Dr Adam Moolna

Aride Island Nature Reserve, Seychelles:Visitor Information & Island Overview

September to November 2011Dr Adam Moolna

PART A. SUMMARY

Project Summary

This project is based on a comprehensive review of Aride Island Nature Reserve leading to the following outcomes:

(1) Series of Visitor Information boards and other resources for public engagement and visitors

(2) Introductory review for staff and volunteers of island history, biodiversity, environmental management, routine monitoring, research and other activities

(3) Recommendations and comments on management activities and strategies, including collection of relevant preliminary data and analysis of certain existing datasets

(4) Concise key outcomes formatted to include as an appendix in the 2011 annual report

Report Structure

The report is formatted into the following main sections:

Part A. Overview. Summary of project outcomes and context.

Part B. Aride Island Visitor Information. An overview of island biodiversity, monitoring, management and history distilled into ten Visitor Information boards. A0 designs scalable to A1 or A2 in PDF format.

Part C. Review of Aride Island & Activities.

Part D. Analysis & Recommendations. From experience and discussions arising during this project.

An Appendix for inclusion in the Aride Island Annual Report 2011 follows at the end. Annual Reports are the prime archive for reference materials relating to Aride.

For any questions please contact me via email: [email protected]

Aride Island Nature Reserve, Seychelles / Project Report 2011 / Island Conservation Society / Dr Adam Moolna / Page 1

Table of Contents

PART A. SUMMARY.....................................................................................................................................1

Project Summary .................................................................................................................................1

Report Structure...................................................................................................................................1

Table of Contents..................................................................................................................................2

PART B. ARIDE ISLAND VISITOR INFORMATION..............................................................................3

Visitor Information Boards..................................................................................................................3

Storyline for Guided Tours..................................................................................................................3


1. Visitor Information Boards..............................................................................................................5

2. The Essential Aride Island Story for Visitors...............................................................................19

PART C. REVIEW OF ARIDE ISLAND & ACTIVITIES........................................................................23

Review Aims & Related Outputs.......................................................................................................23

Structure of Review............................................................................................................................23

Table of Contents................................................................................................................................24

1. Aride Island.....................................................................................................................................26

2. Biodiversity Summary....................................................................................................................27

3. Environmental Management.........................................................................................................33

4. Monitoring & Research..................................................................................................................35

5. Other Activities & Island Management........................................................................................36

PART D. ANALYSIS & RECOMMENDATIONS.....................................................................................38

Summary.............................................................................................................................................38


1. Seychelles Magpie Robins..............................................................................................................41

2. General Monitoring & Data Issues................................................................................................46

3. Visitor Engagement, Volunteers & More......................................................................................53

ANNUAL REPORT 2011 APPENDIX........................................................................................................56




PART B. ARIDE ISLAND VISITOR INFORMATION

Visitor Information Boards

A series of multi-lingual Visitor Information boards to cover the varied aspects of Aride Island Nature Reserve were developed to serve the purposes of:

(1) Ensuring that all visitors (including guests understanding only Italian or German) are offered at least this baseline level of insight into Aride Island and its value

(2) Engaging visitors whilst they wait at the boat shed during guest debarkation and at the Conservation Centre during entrance ticket sales and tour group organisation.

(3) Presenting a clear, attractive and professional image of the nature reserve to visitors and making them feel welcomed to our island.

Storyline for Guided Tours

The standard itinerary for an Aride Island day visit is to arrive at the boat shed, go to the Conservation Centre to be sold the entrance ticket and to then go on a guided tour of one to two hours around the lowland plateau and then up the western hill path. This is then followed by a stop back to the Conservation Centre shop, after which guests leave the island either shortly afterwards or following a barbecue served by their tour operator.

The character of the visitor audience varies from those disinterested in nature only wanting to have a look around the island to those on organised birdwatching tours. The tour guide (Aride Island ranger or volunteer) therefore needs to vary the quantity and quality of information communicated; but would ideally be able to provide the detailed level of commentary that the keenest visitors would appreciate.

A model storyline that can be used as a reference source to provide that level of detail is provided here, with guidance to where and when during the tour individual aspects of the story are usefully employed.



Table of Contents

PART B. ARIDE ISLAND VISITOR INFORMATION..............................................................................3

Visitor Information Boards..................................................................................................................3

Storyline for Guided Tours..................................................................................................................3


1. Visitor Information Boards..............................................................................................................51.1. Objectives..............................................................................................................................51.2. Design Parameters.................................................................................................................5

1.2.1. Content & Languages...............................................................................................51.2.2. Style & Formatting...................................................................................................5

1.3. The Final Visitor Information Boards....................................................................................61.3.1. Series of Ten Visitor Information Boards.................................................................61.3.2. A0 Portable Document Format (PDF) Files..............................................................61.3.3. Individual Board Summaries in This Report............................................................6

1.4. Overview Visitor Information Board.....................................................................................71.5. Contents for Aride Island Visitor Information Boards...........................................................8

1.5.1. Board 1: Aride Island Nature Reserve .....................................................................81.5.2. Board 2: Village & Infrastructure ...........................................................................91.5.3. Board 3: Pirogues & Coconuts...............................................................................101.5.4. Board 4: Seabird Colonies & Visitors.....................................................................111.5.5. Board 5: Landbirds & The Magpie Robin..............................................................121.5.6. Board 6: Flora & Wright's Gardenia.......................................................................131.5.7. Board 7: Monitoring Our Nature............................................................................141.5.8. Board 8: The Old Plantation Lodge........................................................................151.5.9. Board 9: The Plateau Marsh...................................................................................161.5.10. Board 10: Lizards & More Wildlife......................................................................17

2. The Essential Aride Island Story for Visitors...............................................................................192.1. Guided Island Tours for Visitors..........................................................................................19

2.1.1. Tour Context & Requirements................................................................................192.1.2. Reference Resource Enabling Guides to Provide Detailed Commentary................19

2.2. Reference Storyline for Guided Tour...................................................................................19Conservation Centre for General Introduction..................................................................19Walking towards the Lodge..............................................................................................19By the coast......................................................................................................................20Lizards..............................................................................................................................20Terns: Sooty Terns & Bridled Terns.................................................................................20Fairy Terns; Noddies........................................................................................................20Frigatebirds; Shearwaters; Tropicbirds.............................................................................21Magpie Robins; Fodies; Warblers.....................................................................................21Sunbirds; Blue Pigeons; Moorhen; Turtle Doves..............................................................21Banyan Tree & Generator Shed........................................................................................22Wright's Gardenia; Night-Flowering Cucumber...............................................................22Christopher Cadbury Memorial........................................................................................22Plateau Marsh & Black Mud Terrapins............................................................................22Barbecue & Visitor Shelter; Beach Erosion......................................................................22Other: 'Mini Coconut' Bwa Sousouris Seed......................................................................22


1. Visitor Information Boards

1.1. Objectives

Aride Island Nature Reserve is of interest to a wide variety of audiences in a a wide variety of ways, from foreign tourists visiting the island for a few hours to university researchers needing an insight into the possibilities for fieldwork. On the island itself, there are few engagement materials for the visitor. Discussions with the Island Manager and Conservation Officer suggested a Nature Trail with information boards around the lowland plateau would help give visitors a full overview of Aride Island. However, preliminary planning for a Nature Trail ran into a number of problems – the key issue being the visual impact that display boards might have on the “wilderness” aspect of the reserve outside of the existing village.

A revised plan was therefore made for Aride Island Visitor Information boards to be placed in association with existing buildings: the boat shed and Village; the Conservation Centre; and the Lodge. These will cover various aspects of biodiversity, island history, and how we monitor and protect nature on Aride. Visitor Information at the boat shed and Conservation Centre will be especially useful to engage visitors during the extended waits that are necessary for boat landings and entrance ticket purchases to be completed.

Ten subjects for Visitor Information boards have been identified and an A0-size template completed. Completed electronic versions will be left ready for printing and installation on the island at predefined locations on basic frames if approved by ICS management. Completed Visitor Information board designs will also be printed in colour on A4 paper and laminated on the island and put up on display in the Conservation Centre. A similar set of all 11 boards on laminated A4 may be mounted to a frame for display at the boat shed on tourist days. It is also recommended that the Visitor Information boards be made available on the Aride Island website for interested persons to view.

1.2. Design Parameters

1.2.1. Content & Languages

Information content will be limited to four brief statements to stay within the attention span of the casual visitor. This will also allow the use of a sufficiently large font size. Visitor Information boards will have English, French, Italian and German text boxes of the same information statements. The great majority of visitors to Aride are proficient in at least one of these languages. Creole, as one of the three official languages of Seychelles, was also considered. However, Creole speakers can also understand English and French so this would not add to the reachable audience (and would have space costs that would reduce text and photograph sizes possible). Russian and Arabic text boxes were considered after the Marketing Director of Helicopter Seychelles indicated that they expected to be bringing mainly Russian- or Arabic-speaking clients if they begin helicopter trips to Aride. However, this would at most be two trips per week (4-8 people) and is only a possibility for the future – so, in the interests of immediate audience needs, it was decided to limit translations to the four languages needed now.

1.2.2. Style & Formatting

Visitor Information boards are designed to A0 size in PowerPoint but can be scaled to A1 or A2 depending on optimum sizing for production and installation. Each board consists of 6 photographs and 4 key pieces of information given in separate boxes for English, French, German and Italian translations. The prime font used is Arial with point size as follows: board number (72); board title (112); information text (44); language title (72); photograph caption (36); copyright caption (20); design tag (20). A specific logo for “Aride Island Visitor Information” was designed using the font Purisa (point size 63 for “Aride Island”, 60 for “Visitor Information”) and silhouette images drawn of a turtle hatchling and a Magpie Robin.


1.3. The Final Visitor Information Boards

1.3.1. Series of Ten Visitor Information Boards

Subject LocationAride Island Nature Reserve Inland from the boat shedVillage & infrastructure Inland from the boat shedPirogues & coconuts By the old pirogue 'Goelet'Seabird colonies & visitors Outside the Conservation CentreLandbirds & the Magpie Robin Outside the Conservation CentreFlora & Wright's Gardenia Outside the Conservation CentreMonitoring our nature Outside the Conservation CentreThe old plantation lodge In front of the LodgeThe plateau marsh In front of the LodgeLizards & more wildlife In front of the Lodge

One further Visitor Information board gives an overview list of the ten specific boards (see below). Three copies of the overview board would be desirable, with one placed at each of the following locations: (1) at the boat shed; (2) outside the Conservation Centre; (3) in front of the Lodge.

1.3.2. A0 Portable Document Format (PDF) Files

Visitor Information boards for professional printing are A0 size in PDF format. Photographs are JPEG format at 150 dpi and width 260.1 mm by height 195.1 mm). Final PDF file size is 26 MB. This file is with ICS and I will be contactable for the file if necessary by email to: [email protected] or through my website www.giant-tortoise.co.uk.

1.3.3. Individual Board Summaries in This Report

The Visitor Information board images that follow are inserted as a JPEG image (150 dpi resolution and width 160.02 mm by height 125.12 mm; scaled to fit from A0).


1.4. Overview Visitor Information Board

EnglishWelcome to Aride Island. This series of ten Visitor Information Boards gives an introductory overview to our islandInformation is given on our nature, history and ecological monitoring in English, French, Italian and GermanOf course, if you would like information in another language please ask our staff and we will try to helpEnjoy your tour. We look forward to welcoming you again in the future or seeing you online at ArideIsland.comFrenchBienvenue à Aride Island. Ces Panneaux Informatifs pour les visiteurs vous donne une introduction générale à notre îleLes informations sur la nature, l’histoire et le suivi écologique sont données en anglais, français, italien et allemandSi vous souhaitez des informations dans une autre langue, n’hésitez pas à le demander à notre équipeNous vous souhaitons une agréable visite et nous espérons vous accueillir de nouveau sur l’île ou sur ArideIsland.comItalianBenvenuti sull'isola di Aride. Questo elenco di 10 informazioni turistiche servirà per darvi una introduzione sull'isolaLe informazioni sulla nostra natura, storia e monitoraggio ecologico sono fornite in inglese, francese, italiano e tedescoOvviamente, se preferite informazioni in un’altra lingua chiedete al nostro staff e proveremo ad aiutarviGodetevi la visita. Speriamo di rivedervi in futuro oppure online su ArideIsland.comGermanWillkommen auf der Insel Aride. Diese 10 Informationstafeln geben einen einführenden Überblick über unsere InselInformationen zur Natur, Geschichte und Überwachung gibt es auf Englisch, Französisch, Italienisch und DeutschBitte wenden Sie sich an unsere Mitarbeiter, wenn Sie Informationen in einer anderen Sprache erhalten wollenGenießen Sie Ihre Tour. Wir freuen uns, Sie in der Zukunft wiederzusehen. Wir sind auch online auf ArideIsland.com


1.5. Contents for Aride Island Visitor Information Boards

1.5.1. Board 1: Aride Island Nature Reserve

EnglishAride is the northernmost of the granitic islands. The island is 1.5 km by 0.5 km, with a total land area of 73 hectaresOne of the most important seabird islands on Earth, Aride also has populations of Magpie Robin and Seychelles WarblerThe small tree Wright's Gardenia and the Night-Flowering Cucumber are found naturally only on Aride IslandThe Island Conservation Society today manages and protects Aride, which has been a nature reserve since 1967FrenchAride est l’île la plus au nord des îles granitiques; elle s’étend de 1,5 km sur 0,5 km, avec une superficie de 73 hectaresImportante île pour les oiseaux marins, Aride a aussi la Pie Chanteuse et le Rousserolle des SeychellesL’arbuste Bois Citron et le Concombre de Nuit sont trouvés à l’état naturel sur Aride uniquementL’ Island Conservation Society aujourd’hui gère et protège Aride, qui est une réserve naturelle depuis 1967ItalianAride è la più settentrionale delle isole di granite delle Seychelles; misura 1,5 x 0.5 km, con una superficie totale di 73 ettariFamosa per gli uccelli marini, Aride ha importante popolazione di Gazza Robin e Canarino delle SeychellesIl piccolo albero della Gardenia di Wright e il Night-Flowering Cucumber si trovano in natura nell’isola di ArideLa Island Conservation Society oggi amministra e protegge Aride, che dal 1967 è stata eletta riserva protettaGermanAride ist die nördlichste Granitinsel der Seychellen; sie ist 1,5km x 0,5km groß mit einer Gesamtfläche von 73 HektarSie ist eine bedeutende Insel für Seevögel und hat Vogelbestände des Seychellendajals und RohrsängersDen kleinen Rothmannia annae Baum und die Nachtblühende Gurke findet man in freier Natur nur auf ArideDie Island Conservation Society verwaltet und schützt Aride, die seit 1967 ein Naturschutzgebiet ist


1.5.2. Board 2: Village & Infrastructure

EnglishLife in the Village is quiet, with an island population of usually 8 people living in the houses you see in front of youRainwater is collected for use as drinking water, after filtering and boiling, and the well provides water for washingMains electricity can be supplied by diesel generator or from an evolving solar power systemBoats are vital to island life. We take our rubbish to Praslin weekly, collecting supplies at Grande Anse for our returnFrenchLa vie dans le village est calme, avec une population de 8 personnes, vivant dans les maisons que vous voyez devant vous L’eau de pluie est collectée pour être utilisée comme eau potable. Le puits procure l’eau pour la lavageL’électricité provient d’un générateur diesel et des installations à énergie solaire pour l’autres usagesNous transportons nos déchets à Praslin par bateaux et nous prenons des ravitaillements sur notre retourItalianLa vita nel villaggio è tranquilla, con una popolazione di 8 persone che vivono solitamente nelle case davanti a voiL’acqua piovana viene raccolta per essere usata come acqua potabile. Il pozzo fornisce l’acqua per il lavaggioL’elettricità è fornita dal generatore Diesel e da installazioni di pannelli solari per l’utilizzo principale e per altri serviziLe barche sono vitali per la vita. Portiamo la spazzatura a Praslin ogni settimana, e raccogliamo provviste a per il ritornoGermanDas Dorfleben ist ruhig. In den Häusern vor Ihnen leben die normalerweise 8 Bewohner der InselNach dem Abkochen wird Regenwasser als Trinkwasser verwendet. Der Brunnen liefert Wasser für die ReinigungEin Dieselgenerator und mehrere Solarstromanlagen sorgen für die Netzversorgung und andere ZweckeBoote sind unerlässlich. Wir bringen unseren Müll jede Woche nach Praslin und holen Vorräte für unsere Rückkehr


1.5.3. Board 3: Pirogues & Coconuts

EnglishCoconut palms dominated the lowland plateau until work began in the 1980s to restore the native ecology you see todayCopra was produced on the island in drying kilns and Sooty Tern eggs harvested, both long stoppedTraditional wooden boats for the island, such as the 'Goelet' exhibited nearby, were still being used up until 1989The artist Marianne North, who painted extensively across Seychelles, visited Aride's coconut plantation in 1883FrenchLes cocotiers dominaient le bas plateau jusqu’à ce que les travaux commencent à 1980 pour restaurer l’écologie naturelleDurant les années de plantation, le coprah fut produit sur l’île et les œufs de Sterne Fuligineuse furent récoltésLes bateaux traditionnels en bois de l’île, comme le ‘Goelet’ exposé près d’ici, étaient encore utilisés jusqu’en 1989L’artiste Marianne North, qui a peint de nombreuses toiles à travers les Seychelles a visité Aride en 1883ItalianLe palme da cocco dominavano la pianura finché non iniziarono lavori negli anni ‘80 per ristabilire l’ecologia originaleDurante gli anni nella piantagione fu prodotta sull’isola in degli essicatoi Copra e raccolte di uova di Sterna FuligginosaLe tradizionali barche in legno dell’isola, come le “Goelet” sono esposte qui accanto, e sono state usate fino al 1989L’artista Marianne North, che dipinse girando per le Seychelles, visitò le piantagioni di Cocco di Aride nel 1883GermanKokosnusspalmen prägten das Bild bis in den 1980er Jahren die Wiederherstellung der ursprünglichen Ökologie begannWährend der Bebauungsjahre wurde Kopra in Brennöfen hergestellt und Rußseeschwalbeneier wurden gesammeltTraditionelle hölzerne Boote, wie zum Beispiel das ‘Goelet’, welches Sie hier sehen, waren bis 1989 im GebrauchDie Künstlerin Marianne North, die häufig auf den Seychellen malte, besuchte die Kokosplantage auf Aride 1883


1.5.4. Board 4: Seabird Colonies & Visitors

EnglishAride has the world's only hillside Sooty Tern breeding colony, elsewhere they nest on low-lying flat landOther breeding tern species include the Fairy Tern, Roseate Tern, Lesser Noddy and Common NoddyOther breeding seabirds include Audobon's Shearwater, Wedge-Tailed Shearwater and White-Tailed TropicbirdsThere is a non-breeding Frigatebird colony and regular island visitors include the Ruddy Turnstone and WhimbrelFrenchAride a l’unique colonie de Sternes Fuligineuse nichant sur la colline, ailleurs elles nichent sur un terrain platLes autres espèces de sternes nicheuses comprennent la Sterne Néréis, la Sterne Bridée, la Sterne de Dougall et les NoddisLes autres oiseaux marins nichant comprennent le Puffin d’Audubon, le Puffin Fouquet et le Phaéton à Bec JauneIl y a une colonie de Frégate du Pacifique et de Frégate Ariel (non nicheuse) et le Courlis Corlieu est un visiteur réguliersItalianAride ha l’unica colonia di allevamento di Sterna Fuligginosa in collina al mondo, non in terre pianeggianti a bassa quotaAltre specie di Sterna allevate includono la Sterna delle Fate, la Sterna di Dougall, la Sterna Stolida (Minore e Bruna)Altri uccelli marini allevati sono la Berta di Audubon, la Berta Cuneata e il Fetonte CodabiancaC’è una colonia non allevata di Fregata Maggiore e Minore e visitatori regolari sono il Voltapietre e il Chiurlo PiccoloGermanAride ist der weltweit einzige Ort, wo Rußseeschwalben an Hügeln brüten, andernorts nisten sie im FlachlandAndere brütende Seeschwalbenarten umfassen die Feensee-, Rosen-, Zügel- und Noddisee-schwalbeWeitere Brutseevögel sind der Schuppen-und Keischwanz-sturmtaucher, und der Weißschwanz-TropikvogelEs gibt eine nicht-brütende Binden- und Arielfregattvogelkolonie. Ein regelmäßiger Besucher ist der Regenbrachvogel


1.5.5. Board 5: Landbirds & The Magpie Robin

EnglishThe Seychelles Magpie Robin was brought to Aride in 2002 and we have a population now of over 25 birdsIn each of the five Magpie Robin territories on the plateau you will see an adult pair and one or more fledglingsAride also has healthy populations of endemic Seychelles Warblers, Fodies, Sunbirds and Blue PigeonsYou will see many Common Moorhen and Turtle Doves. We are trying to eradicate the Barn Owl, which kills other birdsFrenchLa Pie Chanteuse a été apportée à Aride en 2002 et nous avons maintenant une population de plus de 25 oiseauxDans chacun des cinq territoires de Pie Chanteuse, vous verrez une paire adulte et un ou plusieurs oisillonsAride a aussi de riches populations de Rousseroles des Seychelles, Foudis, Souimangas et Founingos rougecap Vous verrez de Gallinules poule et Tourterelles des bois. Nous essayons d’éradiquer l’Effraie des clochersItalianLa gazza Robin delle Seychelles fu portato ad Aride nel 2002, e adesso abbiamo una popolazione di >25 uccelliIn ognuno dei 5 territori della Gazza Robin nella pianura vedrete una coppia adulta e uno o più uccelliniAride ha anche una sana popolazione di Passeri, Fodies, Sunbirds e Colombe Azzurre endemiche delle SeychellesVedrete molte Gallinelle d’Acqua e Tortore. Stiamo provando a sradicare il Barbagianni, che uccide gli altri uccelliGermanDer Seychellendajal wurde 2002 auf Aride eingeführt und wir besitzen heute einen Bestand von über 25 TierenIn jedem der 5 Dajalgebiete im Tieflandplateau können Sie ein Elternpaar und 1-2 Küken findenAride beherbergt außerdem den Seychellen Rohrsänger, Webervögel und die Blauen SeychellentaubeSie werden viele Teichhühner und Turteltauben sehen. Wir versuchen die Schleiereule auszurotten


1.5.6. Board 6: Flora & Wright's Gardenia

EnglishThe Wright's Gardenia tree, with sweet-smelling beautiful white flowers, is found naturally only on ArideYou will see Wright's Gardenia trees by the island garden, where we also grow our own fruit and vegetablesAlso found only on Aride is the Night-Flowering Cucumber, which is a yellow-flowered climbing plantLesser Noddies use the soft leaves of 'Bwa Mapou' (Pisonia grandis) to make comfortable nests in the same treesFrenchLe Bois Citron, avec ses belles fleurs blanches d’odeur sucrée, est trouvé à l’état naturel uniquement sur ArideVous verrez les arbres de Bois Citron dans le jardin de l’île, où nous cultivons aussi nos fruits et légumesOn peut trouver uniquement sur Aride le Concombre de Nuit, qui est une plante grimpante a fleurs jaunesLes Noddis Mariannes utilisent les feuilles de ‘Bwa Mapou’ (Pisonia grandis) pour faire des nids au sein des mêmes arbresItalianL’albero di Gardenia di Wright, con bellissimi e profumati fiori bianchi, si trova in natura solo ad ArideVedrete gli alberi di Gardenia di Wright nel giardino dell’isola, dove coltiviamo anche la nostra frutta e verduraReperibile solo ad Aride è il Night-Flowering Cucumber, un rampicante con fiori gialliLe Frigate Minori usano le soffici foglie di ‘Bwa Mapou’ (Pisonia grandis) per fare comodi nidi negli stessi alberiGermanDen Wright's Gardenie Baum, mit seinen süß duftenden, wunderschön weißen Blüten, findet man in Natur nur auf ArideSie werden den Wright's Gardenie Baum im Inselgarten sehen, wo wir auch unser eigenes Obst und Gemüse anbauenAuch den Gurkenbaum, ein gelb blühendes Rankengewächs, kann man nur auf Aride findenArielfregattvögel benutzen die weichen Blätter des 'Bwa Mapou' (Pisonia grandis) für ihre gemütlichen Nester im Selbigen


1.5.7. Board 7: Monitoring Our Nature

EnglishWe monitor our Magpie Robins daily to check on breeding activity, changes to territories and bird healthIdentification rings and biometrics allow us to track population dynamics, relationships and individual bird healthMonitoring nesting activity and habitat requirements for seabirds and turtles informs management action to helpSadly, part of our job is also to protect the island from people. Poachers, for example, still take Sooty Tern eggsFrenchNous faisons le suivi des Pie Chanteuses chaque jour pour observer l’activité de reproduction et la santé des oiseauxLes bagues d’identification nous permettent de suivre le population, la santé des individus et leurs relationsLe suivi de la nidification des oiseaux et des tortues, nous informe sur les actions à mettre en œuvre pour les aiderUne partie de notre travail consiste à protéger l’île des braconniers qui préleve les œufs de Sterne FuligineuseItalianMonitoriamo le nostre Gazze Robin giornalmente, per controllare l’attività di allevamento e la salute degli uccelliGli anelli identificativi e la biometria ci consentono di tracciare le dinamiche della popolazione e le relazioniIl monitoraggio delle attività di nidificazione per gli uccelli marini e le tartarughe informa sulle azioni per aiutarliPurtroppo, parte del nostro lavoro è anche proteggere l’isola. I bracconieri, prendono le uova di Sterna FuligginosaGermanWir überwachen die Dajale täglich um die Brutaktivität, Veränderungen im Gebiet und das Wohlsein der Vögel zu prüfenKennringe und Biometrie ermöglichen uns Populationsbewegungen und die Gesundheit der VögelDas Beobachten des Nistverhaltens für Meeresvögel und Schildkröten liefert Informationen um zu helfenDer Schutz vor Menschen ist auch Teil unserer Aufgabe. Wilddiebe klauen noch immer Eier der Rußseeschwalbe


1.5.8. Board 8: The Old Plantation Lodge

EnglishThe Lodge dates back over 100 years and was the seat of power from which the plantation was supervisedFrom 2005 to 2007 the Lodge was restored, using a mix of original materials and new hardwood when neededThis is a classic example of traditional Creole architecture with the high roof, spacious verandah and open roomsThe verandah overlooks the Village and allowed the plantation manager or owner to keep watch on the workersFrenchLe vieux ‘Lodge’ date de plus de 100 ans et était le siège du pouvoir depuis lequel la plantation était contrôléeDe 2005 à 2007 le ‘Lodge’ a été restauré en utilisant de matériel original et des bois durs modernesC’est un exemple classique d’architecture Créole traditionnelle avec le haut toit, la véranda et les chambres ouvertesLa véranda donne sur le Village et permettait au gestionnaire de la plantation de surveiller les travailleursItalianLa vecchia Loggia ha più di 100 anni e fu la sede del potere da dove veniva monitorata la piantagioneTra il 2005 e il 2007 la vecchia Loggia fu restaurata, usando un mix di materiali originali e legno nuovo dove necessarioQuesto è un classic esempio di architettura Creola con un tetto alto, una spaziosa veranda e camere aperteDalla veranda si vede il villaggio e consente al capo della piantagione di osservare i lavoratori a lavoroGermanDie alte Hütte ist über 100 Jahre alt und sie war der Machtsitz von welchem die Plantage überwacht wurdeDie Hütte wurde 2005 bis 2007 mit Originalbaustoffen und neuem Hartholz wieder hergerichtetSie ist ein klassisches Beispiel der Kreolen Architektur mit ihrem hohen Dach, der Veranda und den offenen RäumenDie Veranda überschaut das Dorf und erlaubte dem Plantagenverwalter oder -besitzer die Arbeiter zu beaufsichtigen


1.5.9. Board 9: The Plateau Marsh

EnglishBehind the beach crest and to the west of the Village the land slopes down into a freshwater marshThe marsh empties and fills with the seasons; there is a drainage ditch to the sea to in case of floodingHabitat management has created suitable habitat in the marsh for reintroduction of Seychelles Black Mud TerrapinThe freshwater lens also provides water for the nearby well; and next to the marsh is the island gardenFrenchDerrière la crête de la plage et à l’ouest du Village le terrain descend vers un marais d’eau douceLe marais se vide et se rempli avec les saisons; il y a un fossé d’écoulement vers la mer en cas d’inondationLa gestion de l’habitat a créé un habitat favorable dans le marais pour la réintroduction de la Tortue Palustre NoireLes lentilles d’eau douce approvisionnent l’eau du puits près d’ici; et près du marais se trouve le jardin de l’îleItalianDietro la punta della spiaggia a ovest del Villaggio la terra si trasforma in una palude di acqua dolceLa palude si riempie e si svuota con le stagioni; c’è una fossa di drenaggio sul mare in caso di innondazioniLa gestione ha creato habitat idonei nella palude per la reintroduzione della tartaruga d'acqua dolce delle SeychellesLa lente d'acqua dolce fornisce anche l'acqua per il pozzo vicino,e accanto alla palude c’è il giardino dell'isolaGermanHinter dem Strandrücken und westlich des Dorfes flacht sich das Land in Richtung eines Frischwassersumpfes abDer Sumpf leert und füllt sich je nach Jahreszeit; dort ist ein Abwassergraben im Falle einer ÜberschwemmungWir haben geeigneten Lebensraum für die Wiedereinführung der Pelomedusenschildkröte geschaffenDie Süßwasserlinse versorgt auch den nahen Brunnen mit Wasser; und neben dem Sumpf befindet sich der Inselgarten


1.5.10. Board 10: Lizards & More Wildlife

EnglishAride has the highest density of lizards on Earth, which includes the Wright's Skink found only on seabird islandsWe also have Seychelles Skink, Bronze Gecko, Green Gecko, the rarely seen Burrowing Skink and two snakesOther picturesque wildlife on Aride includes the Seychelles Fruit Bat, two species of snake and land hermit crabsHawksbill turtles frequently nest on Aride between September and March, sometimes joined by green turtlesFrenchAride a la densité de lézards la plus élevée sur terre, comprenant le Scinque de Wright associe avec les oiseauxNous avons aussi le Scinque des Seychelles, le Gecko Brun, le Gecko Vert et rarement vu le Scinque FouisseurLes autres animaux comprennent la Chauve Souris, des Bernard l’Hermite terrestres, et deux espèces de serpentsLa Tortue imbriquée fait son nid sur Aride entre Septembre et Mars, de temps en temps rejoint par la Tortue VerteItalianAride ha la più alta densità di lucertole sulla Terra, che comprende lo Scinco Wright trovato solo sulle isole di uccelliAbbiamo anche lo Scinco delle Seychelles, il Geco Bronzato, il Geco Verde, e lo Scinco ScavatoreAltra fauna su Aride include il Pipistrello della Frutta delle Seychelles, due specie di serpente e granchi eremiti di terraLe tartarughe embricate nidificano su Aride tra settembre e marzo, a volte accompagnate da tartarughe verdiGermanAride hat die höchste Echsendichte der Welt, zu welcher der Seychellen-Skink und der Bronzegecko gehörenWir haben auch den Wright’s Skink der nur auf Inseln mit Meeresvögeln gefunden wird, gehörtAndere Wildtiere auf Aride sind der Seychellen-Flughund, Schlangen-arten und LandeinsiedlerkrebseKarettschildkröten nisten häufig auf Aride September - März, manchmal zusammen mit Suppenschildkröten


1.6. Object Positions Within Visitor Information Board

Width (cm) Height (cm) X coord. (cm) Y coord. (cm) Description

84.10 118.90 n/a n/a A0 whole board

20.53 10.53 2.00 2.00 Info trail logo

4.05 3.29 17.85 5.51 SMR silhouette

3.00 3.29 3.50 5.51 Turtle silhouette

13.49 9.53 100.07 2.50 ICS logo

26.01 10.46 46.46 8.60 Aride Island line map

74.84 12.53 22.53 2.00 Specific board title

30.94 33.79 1.00 14.53 “ENGLISH”

30.94 33.79 86.96 14.53 “FRENCH”

30.94 33.79 1.00 49.32 “DEUTSCH”

30.94 33.79 86.96 49.32 “ITALIANO”

26.01 19.51 32.94 20.07 Top left photograph

26.01 19.51 59.95 20.07 Top right photograph

26.01 19.51 32.94 40.58 Middle left photograph

26.01 19.51 59.95 40.58 Middle right photograph

26.01 19.51 32.94 61.09 Bottom left photograph

26.01 19.51 59.95 61.09 Bottom right photograph

25.01 2.00 33.44 39.58 Top left photo caption (below)

25.01 2.00 60.45 39.58 Top right photo caption (below)

25.01 2.00 33.54 57.59 Middle left photo caption (below)

25.01 2.00 60.45 57.59 Middle right photo caption (below)

25.01 2.00 33.44 78.10 Bottom left photo caption (below)

25.01 2.00 60.45 78.10 Bottom right photo caption (below)

Visitor Information design components and positions. Visitor Information boards are designed to A0 size (118.90 x 84.10 cm) in PowerPoint but can be scaled to A1 or A2 depending on optimum sizing for production and installation. Each board consists of 6 photographs (captions can be placed at the top or bottom of each photograph) and 4 key pieces of information given in separate boxes for English, French, German and Italian translations. Template object sizes and locations defined in cm. Photographs have a 0.2 cm continuous black line border.


2. The Essential Aride Island Story for Visitors

2.1. Guided Island Tours for Visitors

2.1.1. Tour Context & Requirements


The character of the visitor audience varies from those disinterested in nature only wanting to have a look around the island to those on organised birdwatching tours. The tour guide (Aride Island ranger or volunteer) therefore needs to vary the quantity and quality of information communicated; but would ideally be able to provide the detailed level of commentary that the keenest visitors would appreciate.

2.1.2. Reference Resource Enabling Guides to Provide Detailed Commentary

A model storyline that can be used as a reference source to provide that level of detail is provided here, with guidance to where and when during the tour individual aspects of the story are usefully employed. The ordering would vary depending on the route taken and further anecdotes, along with specific points of interest as encountered, would of course improve this stock narrative.

2.2. Reference Storyline for Guided Tour

Conservation Centre for General Introduction

Welcome to Aride Island, the northernmost of the granitic islands of Seychelles. Aride is roughly half a km wide north to south and 1.5 km in length east to west; the south coast beach you landed on is around 800 m long, although that changes with seasonal sand movements. Aride was a coconut plantation up until the late 1960s and became a nature reserve from the 1970s, thanks to its purchase for nature conservation by Christopher Cadbury of the old chocolate-making family. Today it is one of the most important nature reserves in the world because of its bird populations.

Seabirds are the prime nature interest on Aride. Numbers fluctuate somewhat throughout the year; but we have a peak population during the south-east monsoon of roughly one and three-quarter million seabirds, all ranging across the seas to fish, bringing that food and energy supplies gained back to Aride. That ocean feeding catchment means that Aride supports an amazingly high density of life. In an average 10 m by 10 m square, there are 170 seabirds and 30 lizards.

Today, we'll be walking around the lowland plateau of Aride. Tucked beneath the rocky hills that dominate the island, the plateau was formed from sedimentation and the infilling of a shallow lagoon. We'll explore a small part of the hilltop at the western end, going up to a dramatic viewpoint on the hilltop (unless it's Sooty Terns are breeding on the hilltops, in which case we will only go a short distance up the hillside to the start of the colony).

Walking towards the Lodge

Inland from the village you will see the beautiful wooden lodge, built in the traditional creole style, that was the old coconut plantation manager's house. From his verandah, he could keep a watchful eye on the labourers down here in the village.


By the coast

The surf crashing onto the beach is regularly fierce – we only have visitors landing on calm days for everyone's safety. This has helped to keep Aride free from rats by reducing the ability for people to land boats on the island and the opportunities for stowaway rats to land with those boats. The boat shed faces the only location, because of reefs and submerged rocks, where it is possible to beach boats safely. That determined the historical location of the village here.

Lizards

Aride has the highest density of lizards anywhere on Earth – boosted by a combination of the food brought in by the seabirds, including the invertebrate population feeding on the detritus, and the absence of rats. Two similar lizard species dominate – the larger Wright's Skink, the found only on seabird islands, and the smaller Seychelles Skink that you will see readily on Praslin and Mahe, We also have the nocturnal bronze gecko, the green day gecko and a burrowing skink that lives underneath the leaf litter.

Terns: Sooty Terns & Bridled Terns

Terns dominate the island. As well as the Sooty Tern, there are large populations of Lesser Noddy, Common Noddy and Fairy Tern; with small populations of Bridled Tern and Roseate Tern.

The most abundant seabird on Aride, with a peak colony size of 750,000 birds during the August breeding season peak, is the Sooty Tern. Present on the island from March to October, the Sooty Tern nests here, uniquely, on the hilltop. All other known Sooty Tern nesting sites are on flat low-lying land. Sooty Terns have disaggregated breeding over the period from March to November – some pairs will have successfully raised a fledged chick before other pairs have even laid their first egg.

Sooty Tern eggs are sadly a target for poachers on Aride, so we have to maintain careful patrols. Sooty Terns lay a single egg. If they lose this, they will usually make a second attempt. If the second egg is taken too the birds may even extend to a third attempt, depending on timing and energy. This laying of further eggs is sometimes misunderstand as meaning that taking the first egg causes no harm – however, nests of second and third laid eggs are almost always unsuccessful.

The Bridled Tern, with a colony of some 200 birds, looks similar to the Sooty Tern but the white bar on the face extends beyond the eye. The dark feathers are also distinctly brown in comparison to the black of the Sooty Tern. Sooty Terns are larger than the Lesser Noddy and Bridled Terns are smaller, making it easy to distinguish the species when seen together with Lesser Noddies. Bridled Tern breeding, in contrast to that of the Sooty Tern, is highly synchronous.

Poachers also take birds, particularly the Wedge-Tailed Shearwater ('Fouke Dezil' in Creole), for meat. It is a horrific sight for staff to find piles of wings that have literally been torn off live birds that are then stuffed, still living, into sacks for transport back to Praslin by poachers.

Fairy Terns; Noddies

The iconic Fairy Tern breeds year-round on Aride. The Fairy Tern does not make a nest as such, instead laying and balancing its single egg in a depression on a branch or at the fork between branches. Juvenile Fairy Terns have light brown mottling on their feathers, which distinguishes them from the pure white adults. The chick is a little ball of white fluff. Being so white, Fairy Terns are particularly vulnerable to the night-hunting Barn Owl. The remaining two tern species breeding on Aride are the similar Lesser Noddy (340,000 birds) and the Brown Noddy (16,000 birds). The Brown Noddy, considerably less abundant than the Lesser Noddy on Aride, is ironically known also as the Common Noddy. Noddies breed during the SE monsoon months and are difficult to distinguish unless seen side by side – the Lesser Noddy being smaller and having a distinctly more slender bill. The pale cap of the Common Noddy is also prominent at the front and sharply delineated, unlike the whole-head and merging pale cap of the Lesser Noddy


Frigatebirds; Shearwaters; Tropicbirds

The famous Frigatebird colony of Aride is on the inaccessible cliffs of the north side. You can often see them flying above the island – they are unusual seabirds in that their feathers are not waterproof, meaning that flocks take to the air whenever rain approaches. This also means that Frigates cannot dive into the sea to fish and can only take flying fish and squid right at surface – or instead engage in piracy, harassing smaller birds until they disgorge their catch which is then seized in the air.

We have both Greater and Lesser Frigatebirds on Aride, with the Lesser more numerous, and most of the birds are juveniles – recognisable by their all-white heads. Greater and Lesser Frigatebirds can be distinguished by sight of their armpits in flight with some difficulty. The Lesser Frigatebird has white armpits, whereas the Greater Frigatebird has all-dark armpits.

Aride similarly has two species of Shearwater, which both nest in burrows. The Audobon's Shearwater is larger, around 45 cm in length, and has white underparts as both adult and chick. The Wedge-Tailed Shearwater is all-dark and smaller, around 30 cm length. The Audobon's Shearwater nests year-round, with no seasonality. The Wedge-Tailed Shearwater also nests year-round but with a strong seasonal bias, most burrows being prospected from August to September and most chicks fledging December to February.

The White-Tailed Tropicbird is white with dark bands and has a distinct large yellow beak. Its ong streaming white tail that gives it the Creole name 'Payanke', which comes from the French 'Paille-en-Queue that literally means 'straw-tailed'. White-Tailed Tropicbirds nest year-round in hollows. On the lowland plateau these are usually the base of old coconut trees and on the hill, where there are less coconut stumps, these are usually rock crevices. Aride's remaining seabird species is the Red-Tailed Tropicbird, which is rarely seen because there are only 3 to 6 pairs at a time on Aride. This few nests are on the far north side of the island away from the inhabited and accessible lowland plateau.

Magpie Robins; Fodies; Warblers

Our flagship landbird is the Seychelles Magpie Robin. It is a robin-like member of the thrush family that gets its name from the magpie-like appearance of its white wing patches on a dark background. The Magpie Robin looks black at first glance but actually has a very dark blue sheen. The current population of over 25 birds was established on Aride in 2002 after several reintroduction attempts. A male and female pair control a territory of 200 to 250 m2 and may have up to four nesting attempts per year. Fledglings stay with the parents as juveniles but are then chased away to find their own territory when they reach adulthood. Individual birds are identified by the coloured rings. We usually refer to each bird with the left leg colour combination as its name, for example 'violet-green' or 'blue-blue'.

As we walk around the island you will notice large numbers of small brown sparrow-like birds fluttering around, which are the Seychelles Fody and the Seychelles Warbler. The Seychelles Fody is more numerous and its behaviour more sparrow-like, skipping along the ground and pestering humans for food. It has a short stubby bill compared to the Seychelles Warbler's long narrow bill. The Seychelles Warbler is usually seen darting through the undergrowth picking insects off vegetation and is more timid than the Seychelles Fody.

Sunbirds; Blue Pigeons; Moorhen; Turtle Doves

Our remaining endemic landbirds are the Seychelles Sunbird and the Seychelles Blue Pigeon. The Sunbird is small and grey, with the male developing an iridescent blue on its throat and head in breeding plumage. Small and active, they have a curved bill and feed on nectar. The Seychelles Blue Pigeon interestingly recolonised Aride naturally, the birds probably flying over from Praslin. The Common Moorhen is mainly found around the marsh and is a territorial bird with distinct large yellow feet, groups of which are often seen fighting in vicious territorial disputes. The hard red shield on the front of the head is a formidable weapon. We are also likely to see familiar Turtle Doves and Barred Ground Doves. The Barn Owl is a formidable predator that kills especially Fairy Terns and one that we are trying to eradicate from Aride.


Banyan Tree & Generator Shed

This very large Banyan Tree or 'Indian Almond' is very popular for visitor photographs. Also note the dangling vines that evoke images of Tarzan swinging through the jungle. Next to the Banyan is our generatir shed, the generator providing power to the houses in the evenings.

Wright's Gardenia; Night-Flowering Cucumber

A small tree with gorgeous smelling white flowers, Wright's Gardenia is the flagship plant on Aride. This tree is found naturally only on Aride and the healthy population has increased and spread across the island, like other tree species, since the ending of the coconut plantation monoculture. Wright's Gardenia gets its Creole name 'Bwa Citron' from the appearance of the immature green fruit, which resemble a lime or lemon before they mature and turn brown.

Like the Wright's Gardenia, the Night-Flowering Cucumber or 'Peponium' is found only on Aride Island. A member of the cucumber family, this climbing plant has pale yellow flowers open at dusk as night begins and close up when daylight approaches. It climbs on trees using these curly tendrils. A similar species of the same genus exists in East Africa. We do have another climbing plant with similar curly tendrils but different leaves and pink flowers – this is the invasive 'Gro Pwa' or 'Big Pea', a member of the pea family.

Christopher Cadbury Memorial

This memorial stone thanks Christopher Cadbury of the old chocolate-making family for his vital role transforming Aride to the wonder that is today. Not only did he purchase the island initially, he was also highly active in driving forward its progression and management and established an endowment fund to continue to support Aride in perpetuity. Today Aride is one of the most important nature reserves in the world because of its bird populations.

Plateau Marsh & Black Mud Terrapins

The lowland plateau marsh you see behind the beach crest and the Village is the only permanent freshwater on Aride. You can also see the overflow drainage ditch that we have to prevent flooding of the Village in times of heavy rain. We have plans to translocate the Seychelles Black Mud Terrapin to the marsh here from existing populations on La Digue and Praslin. In preparation for this we have dug out a number of deeper ponds within the marsh to ensure good pools of water remain even during extended dry periods.

Barbecue & Visitor Shelter; Beach Erosion

Here we end the tour at the visitor shelter where you will now be joining your tour operators for the barbecue. The previous shelter was actually maybe 4 metres closer to sea but was lost to beach erosion, a warning of one of the longer term threats to the ecology of the low land plateau, particularly with projected levels of sea level rise. You're welcome to enjoy the beach and snorkel – but please take care of the currents, which can be strong and dangerous.

Other: 'Mini Coconut' Bwa Sousouris Seed

(Visitors might pick up one of these seeds and ask if this is a 'mini coconut'). That is actually the seed of the Fruitbat Tree, 'Bwa Sousouris' in Creole. The fibrous seed is enclosed in a pale yellow fruit when it falls from the tree; and it isn't related to the coconut.




PART C. REVIEW OF ARIDE ISLAND & ACTIVITIES

Review Aims & Related Outputs

This review of the island and its management was undertaken in order to:

(1) Give an appropriate representation to visitors in public engagement material (separate Part B)

(2) Generate an overview useful for new and potential staff, volunteers and researchers (this Part C)

(3) Derive recommendations for the achievement of conservation goals on Aride (separate Part D)

Structure of Review

This review is intended to give an introduction to the conservation context and main work activities of Aride Island Nature Reserve (particularly for new and potential staff and volunteers). The review is formatted into the following main sections:

Aride Island. The geography, geology and history of Aride and how it came to be today's nature reserve.

Biodiversity summary. Focus on species and information relevant to conservation objectives.

Environmental management. Overview of habitat management and measures for particular species.

Monitoring & research. Routine monitoring activities and schedules; ongoing research programmes.

Other activities & island management. Boat operations and maintenance of facilities and infrastructure.



Table of Contents

Report Structure...................................................................................................................................1

PART C. REVIEW OF ARIDE ISLAND & ACTIVITIES........................................................................23

Review Aims & Related Outputs.......................................................................................................23

Structure of Review............................................................................................................................23


1. Aride Island.....................................................................................................................................261.1. Geography, Geology & Geomorphology.............................................................................26

1.1.1. Geography..............................................................................................................261.1.2. Geology & Geomorphology...................................................................................26

1.2. History & Steps to Today's Nature Reserve.........................................................................261.2.1. Early History & the Coconut Plantation.................................................................261.2.2. The Cadbury Legacy Purchasing Aride for Nature Conservation...........................261.2.3. Present Day Management by the Island Conservation Society...............................27

2. Biodiversity Summary....................................................................................................................272.1. Arrangement of Species & Groups......................................................................................272.2. Seabirds...............................................................................................................................27

2.2.1. Breeding Seabird Colonies.....................................................................................272.1.2. Non-breeding seabird colonies...............................................................................282.1.3. Visitor Seabirds......................................................................................................28

2.2. Landbirds & Shorebirds.......................................................................................................282.2.1. Conservation Asset Landbirds................................................................................282.2.2. Problem Landbirds.................................................................................................292.2.3. Other Landbirds & Shorebirds................................................................................29

2.3. Reptiles................................................................................................................................292.3.1. Turtles & Terrapins.................................................................................................292.3.2. Lizards....................................................................................................................29

2.4. Other Fauna.........................................................................................................................302.4.1. Crabs......................................................................................................................302.4.2. Fruit Bats & Mice...................................................................................................302.4.3. Marine life..............................................................................................................302.4.4. Insects & Other Fauna............................................................................................31

2.5. Conservation Interest & Other Flora....................................................................................312.5.1. Conservation Interest Flora.....................................................................................312.5.2. Invasive Plants........................................................................................................322.5.3. Other Flora.............................................................................................................322.5.4. Fungi......................................................................................................................33

3. Environmental Management.........................................................................................................333.1. Habitat Management............................................................................................................33

3.1.1. Pisonia 'Bwa Mapou' Management & Removal......................................................333.1.2. Beach Crest & Shoreline Management...................................................................333.1.3. Clearing of Ground Areas for Roseate Tern Colonies.............................................333.1.4. Garden....................................................................................................................333.1.5. Marsh Management................................................................................................33

3.2. Other Environmental Management......................................................................................333.2.1. Magpie Robin Nest Boxes & Feeding Stations.......................................................333.2.2. Native Flora Propagation........................................................................................343.2.3. Invasive Animal Species Control............................................................................343.2.4. Invasive Plant Species Control...............................................................................34

4. Monitoring & Research..................................................................................................................354.1. Routine Monitoring Activities.............................................................................................35


4.1.1. Seabirds..................................................................................................................354.1.2. Landbirds................................................................................................................354.1.3. Turtle-Related.........................................................................................................354.1.4. Vegetation...............................................................................................................354.1.5. Other Monitoring....................................................................................................354.1.6. Workload of Monitoring Activities.........................................................................35

4.2. Research..............................................................................................................................364.2.1. Island Conservation Society (ICS) Staff Research..................................................364.2.2. Island Conservation Society (ICS) Volunteers & External Scientists.....................36

5. Other Activities & Island Management........................................................................................365.1. Boat Operations...................................................................................................................36

5.1.1. Boat Launching for Visitor Landings......................................................................365.1.2. Journeys to/from Praslin.........................................................................................365.1.3. Other Boat Use.......................................................................................................375.1.4. Boat Maintenance...................................................................................................37

5.2. Facility & Infrastructure Maintenance ................................................................................375.2.1. Power, Gas & Water...............................................................................................375.2.2. Path, Structures & Buildings..................................................................................37


1. Aride Island

1.1. Geography, Geology & Geomorphology

1.1.1. Geography

Aride is the northernmost granitic island of Seychelles. Further north lie the coralline sand cays of Denis Island (which can be seen in good visibility from Aride) and Bird Island. View from the boat shed on the south-facing beach of most of the granitic islands of Seychelles: Petite Soeur, Grande Soeur, Mariannne, Felicite and La Digue in the east; Curieuse, Praslin and Booby Island facing; Cousin, Cousine, Mahe, Silhouette and North Island in the west. The island is approximately 1.5 km in length (east to west) and 0.5 km in width (north to south), with a total land area of approximately 73 hectares (730,000 square metres).

1.1.2. Geology & Geomorphology

Aride shares the pinkish hue feldspar-rich granite that dominates nearby Praslin. The island's granite is rich in quartz veins formed by the re-precipitation into cracks of quartz dissolved from the original granite. Fossilised raised reefs from earlier times of higher sea levels are exposed in places and there are areas of exposed guano rock formed from fossilised seabird droppings. The southern shore of Aride is fringed by the island's only significant beach. The beach is approximately 0.8 km in length, although the length does change throughout the year due to major shifts of sand along the island's southern coast. The southern side of the island is dominated by a lowland plateau that dips inland from the sea, as a result of which water collects in a hollow behind the village to form a marshy area. The bulk of the island area is steep hillsides with granitic boulders and areas of glacis (smooth granite rock faces). Aride's long existence as a seabird island has left it with a rich soil formed from the readily decaying soft wood and leaves of 'Bwa Mapou' Pisonia grandis enriched with bird droppings.

1.2. History & Steps to Today's Nature Reserve

1.2.1. Early History & the Coconut Plantation

The actual discovery date for Aride Island is uncertain, although it first appeared on French nautical charts in 1770. The first settlers appear to have been the inhabitants of a leper colony that existed from 1817 to 1829. The island then passed into the ownership of the Morel family, with Victorine Morel listed as the proprietor in 1831. His father, Maximilien Morel, was Frenchman deported to Seychelles in 1798 from Reunion Island after a civil uprising. The naturalist Percival Wright visited Aride in 1868 and gave his name to the Wright's Gardenia Rothmannia annae tree found only on Aride and to the Wright's Skink Mabuya wrightii associated with Seychelles' seabird islands. The island was developed as a farm and the agricultural focus was as a coconut plantation by the start of the 1900s. The artist Marianne North, who painted extensively across Seychelles, visited the island in 1883 and painted an iconic scene of the village that is now exhibited at Kew Gardens, England. The island may have passed through the hands of several different owners before becoming the property of the Frenchman Paul Chenard at some point in the 1900s. The island appears to have become a nature reserve around 1967, although the collection of Sooty Tern eggs continued, and soon after Aride was put up for sale on the condition that it continue to be run as a nature reserve.

1.2.2. The Cadbury Legacy Purchasing Aride for Nature Conservation

Aride Island was purchased in 1973 by Christopher Cadbury to run as a nature reserve and the freehold passed to the UK's Royal Society for Nature Conservation (RSNC; now the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts). The island was declared a Special Reserve under Seychelles law in 1975. Christopher Cadbury provided the funding and driving force behind the RSNC's efforts to restore Aride's ecology and his legacy continues to provide the bulk of funding for Aride today.


1.2.3. Present Day Management by the Island Conservation Society

Management of the island was taken over in 2003 by the Seychelles-based Island Conservation Society (ICS), with ICS taking a long-term lease of the island from the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts.

2. Biodiversity Summary

2.1. Arrangement of Species & Groups

This overview of the biodiversity present in Aride is divided into sections (seabirds etc), within which species are listed alphabetically according to Order, Family, then species and genus. Summaries deal with particular groups of interest and brief accounts are given for most species or closely linked groups of species (attention focusing on the main interests of most visiting naturalists). The English common name, Linnean binomial (or 'scientific name'), Family and Order are given for each species. The coverage of Creole common names for flora and fauna in Seychelles is somewhat variable. Whilst all bird species have specific Creole names in common usage and most trees do too, other groups are less well endowed. Creole names, when applicable, are quoted after the English common name. Species are described in the following form:

Common Name 'Creole name' Linnean binomial Order: Family

2.2. Seabirds

There are colonies of 12 seabird species on Aride. Only two of these are non-breeding: the Greater Frigatebird Fregata minor and the Lesser Frigatebird Fregata ariel. Three species breed during the SE monsoon (May to October): the Tropical or Audobon's Shearwater Puffinus l'herminieri, the White-Tailed Tropicbird Phaeton lepturus, and the Fairy Tern Gygis alba. Only one species, the Red-Tailed Tropicbird, breeds during the NW monsoon (November to April). Colonies of the Bridled Tern Sterna anaethus breed with a synchronised 8-9 month cycle and so cannot be pinned to a particular part of the annual calendar. There are also a large number of further seabird species are regular visitors to Aride.

2.2.1. Breeding Seabird Colonies

White-Tailed Tropicbird 'Payanke' Phaethon lepturus Phaethontiformes: PhaethontidaeRed-tailed Tropicbird 'Quelec' Phaethon lepturus Phaethontiformes: PhaethontidaeTropical Shearwater 'Riga' Puffinus l'herminieri Procellariformes: ProcellaridaeWedge-Tailed Shearwater 'Fouquet' Puffinus pacificus Procellariformes: ProcellaridaeBrown Noddy 'Maqua' Anous stolidus Charadriiformes: SternidaeLesser Noddy 'Cordonnier' Anous tenuirostris Charadriiformes: SternidaeFairy Tern 'Goeland blanc' Gygis alba Charadriiformes: SternidaeBridled Tern 'Francin' Sterna anaethus Charadriiformes: SternidaeRoseate Tern 'Diamant' Sterna dougalli Charadriiformes: SternidaeSooty Tern 'Goelette' Sterna fuscata Charadriiformes: Sternidae

The White-Tailed Tropicbird breeds across the lowland plateau on Aride, laying a single light brown egg that is incubated for 40-42 days. Chicks are fully grown approximately 80 days after hatching and only leave the nest when hunger sets in after the parents stop feeding the fully grown chick. The Red-Tailed Tropicbird is rarely seen on Aride (and then usually on the northern side of the island) but has been recorded as breeding here in the past, laying a single red-purple egg that is incubated for 40-46 days. Red-Tailed Tropicbird chicks fledge after 90 days. There were an estimated 450 breeding pairs of White-Tailed Tropicbird on Aride in 2010. Audobon's Shearwater and the Wedge-Tailed Shearwater both nest in burrows, usually dug into the ground (and extending up to 6 foot or 2 metres) but sometimes formed naturally from rock formations. Shearwaters leave the island at dawn to feed from flocks floating on the sea (a phenomenon described as 'rafting') and return at dusk to their nest burrows. Fledged juveniles spend the first 3-4 years of their life at sea without landfall. The Brown Noddy nests [on the ground]. The Lesser Noddy nests in Pisonia grandis trees. The Fairy Tern does not make a nest of any kind. They instead balancing the egg on a branch, usually either in a fork or in the 'cup' formed where a joining branch has fallen off. The Fairy Tern chick has proportionally large feet, which help it maintain a precarious balance on


the 'nest'. Fairy Terns on Aride have suffered from predation by the introduced Barn Owl (Tyto alba) and, given their bright colour, appear particularly vulnerable at night. Fairy Tern number on Aride have declined as the native forest has regenerated and there are probably now less than 1000 breeding pairs. The Sooty Tern suffers despite legal protection from poaching of chicks and eggs, which are eaten as an illicit delicacy in Seychelles. Large breeding colonies spread across the ground at both the western and eastern ends of Aride's hilltop, with a population estimate in 2010 of 42,000 breeding pairs. The Bridled Tern (Antarctic subspecies Sterna anaethus antarcticus) has a limited number of breeding pairs scattered across the Aride hilltop. Roseate Terns, which have a pinkish breeding, nest on open ground areas at both the east and the west ends of the hilltop. Whilst the Bridled Tern breeds on an 8-9 month cycle, the Sooty Tern and Roseate Tern both breed annually and at approximately the same time. Sooty Terns arrive on Aride in April before the Roseate Terns arrive in May. But Roseate Terns breed more synchronously within the colony and leave again before September, whilst Sooty Tern breeding is unsynchronous and late breeders are still on the island with chicks in October.

2.1.2. Non-breeding seabird colonies

Greater Frigatebird 'Fregate' Fregata minor Pelecaniformes: FregatidaeLesser Frigatebird 'Fregate' Fregata ariel Pelecaniformes: Fregatidae

Both Frigatebird species occur here but the Greater Frigatebird far outnumbers the Lesser Frigatebird. The colony consists mostly of juvenile birds, it is suspected that they spend their early years here on Aride before moving south to the nearest breeding colony, on Aldabra, after reaching maturity. Much of the behaviour of both Frigatebird species is interestingly determined by the deficient waterproofing of their feathers. This means that, if they land on water, their feathers become waterlogged and they are unable to take off again. They must feed, therefore, in ways that avoid water contact – either taking flying fish from just above the sea surface or engaging in 'piracy' by harrying smaller seabirds to disgorge their catch. Frigatebirds promptly take to the air as rain approaches (so they can try readily when on the wing) and this means that the skies above Aride are filled with soaring Frigatebirds at the first sign of rain.

2.1.3. Visitor Seabirds

Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola Charadriiformes: CharadriidaeCrab Plover Dromas ardeola Charadriiformes: DromadidaeRuddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres Charadriiformes: ScolopacidaeWhimbrel Numenius phaeopus Charadriiformes: ScolopacidaeRed-footed Booby Sula sula Pelecaniformes: Sulidae

A number of seabird species, although they do not form colonies, are regular visitors to Aride. The Ruddy Turnstone is the most common, appearing as groups from August through the NW monsoon, and Whimbrel are also regularly seen. The remaining species are seen as occasional individuals. A greater number of seabirds are spotted on Aride as vagrants. In 2010 these included the following:

Shoveler Anas clypeata Anseriformes: AnatidaeSanderling Calidris alba Charadriiformes: ScolopacidaeGreenshank Tringa nebularia Charadriiformes: ScolopacidaeCattle Egret Bubulcus ibis Ciconiiformes: ArdeidaeCommon Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus Passeriformes: MuscicapidaeBlackcap Sylvia atricapilla Passeriformes: SylviidaeBrown Booby Sula leucogaster Pelecaniformes: Sulidae

2.2. Landbirds & Shorebirds

2.2.1. Conservation Asset Landbirds

Seychelles Blue Pigeon Alectroenas pulcherrima Columbiformes: ColumbidaeSeychelles Warbler Bebrornis seychellensis Passeriformes: AcrocephalidaeSeychelles Magpie Robin - 'Pie Chanteuse' Copsychus sechellarum Passeriformes: MuscicapidaeSeychelles Sunbird 'Kolibri' Nectarinia dussumieri Passeriformes: Nectariniidae


Seychelles Fody 'Tok-Tok' Foudia sechellarum Passeriformes: Ploceidae

The present Seychelles Magpie Robin population was successfully established on Aride in 2002 (intermittent translocation attempts since 1978 had all failed). The total population had reached the high twenties in 2011 (with numbers fluctuating due to births and deaths, the latter often presumed from lack fo sightings of an individual). There are 5 territories (each of 200 to 250 square metres) on the lowland plateau, with an additional territory at each end of the island on the middle slopes of the hillside. The Seychelles Warbler has been a major conservation success story for Aride. Following reintroduction of 19 birds in 1988, the population had grown to 1650 birds by 1998 when it was nearing saturation. The Seychelles Blue Pigeon recolonised Aride naturally in 1991. The Seychelles Fody was reintroduced to Aride of 66 birds from Cousin Island in 2002. The population has grown rapidly since (although there appear to be no figures available) and the 'Tok-Tok' is the most common bird around the Village, where it noisily scavenges food from kitchens. The Seychelles Sunbird is seen around the plateau, with a few on the hill. Most commonly seen around the garden. Recolonised naturally at some point in the early 1980s.

2.2.2. Problem Landbirds

Indian Mynah 'Martin' Acridotheres tristis Passeriformes: SturnidaeBarn Owl Tyto alba Strigiformes: Tytonidae

The Barn Owl predates conservation value seabirds, particularly Fairy Terns which are conspicuous at night with their bright white colouration that makes them an easily seen target for the Barn Owl. The few Indian Mynahs on the island are not a real ecological problem but their eradication is part of the long-term management aim of restoring Aride to a quasi-original state. No steps, however, were being actively taken to control or eliminate Mynahs in 2011.

2.2.3. Other Landbirds & Shorebirds

Green-backed Heron Butorides striatus Ciconiiformes: ArdeidaeGrey Heron Ardea cinerea Ciconiiformes: ArdeidaeMadagascar Turtle Dove Streptopelia picturata Columbiformes: ColumbidaeBarred Ground Dove Geopelia striata Columbiformes: ColumbidaeMoorhen Gallinula chloropus Gruiformes: Rallidae

Moorhens are seen across the lowland plateau, with regular and successful breeding. The Madagascar Turtle Dove is common across the lowland plateau of Aride and is frequently seen around the garden. Barred Ground Doves are also occasionally seen on the lowland plateau, whilst Green-Backed Heron and (less frequently) Grey Heron are sometimes seen on the shore or by the marsh.

2.3. Reptiles

2.3.1.Turtles & Terrapins

Hawksbill Turtle Eretmochelys imbricata Testudines: CheloniidaeGreen Turtle Chelonia mydas Testudines: CheloniidaeBlack Mud Terrapin Pelusios subniger Testudines: Pelomedusidae

The nesting season on Aride for Hawksbill Turtles begins in mid- to late-September and lasts March. Numbers continue to increase as turtle populations recover under the extended protection they have received for the last two decades. The Green Turtle is present in the waters around Aride in much lower numbers than the Hawksbill because of historical predation. It therefore does not often nest on Aride. For the Seychelles Black Mud Terrapin, there is a planned translocation to Aride of 12-20 individuals collected from Praslin and La Digue. The marsh area on the plateau has had some habitat improvement work in advance of the terrapin introduction: 3 deeper ponds have been dug to support residual water pools for the terrapins when the rest of the marsh dries out.

2.3.2.Lizards

Seychelles Skink 'Mabuya' Trachylepis seychellensis Squamata: Scincidae


Wright's Skink 'Mabuya' Trachylepis wrighti Squamata: ScincidaeGardiner's (Burrowing) Skink Pamelascinus gardinieri Squamata: ScincidaeBronze Gecko 'Lezar Brun' Ailuronyx seychellensis Squamata: GekkonidaeGreen Gecko 'Lezar Vert' Phelsuma astriata Squamata: Gekkonidae

One of Aride's claims to fame is that it has the highest density of lizards anywhere on Earth (one every 3.5 square metres). The Seychelles Skink and Wright's Skink predominate and are underfoot all over the island.The Seychelles Skink is ubiquitous to the granitic Seychelles islands. The larger Wright's Skink is in the same family as the Seychelles skink but is only found on seabird islands, which support high lizard densities because of the additional food (seabird eggs and dropped fish). Gardiner's Burrowing Skink is not likely to be seen as burrows under leaf litter and decomposing logs. One found and photographed in October 2011 (and used for the Visitor Information boards) when uncovering leaf litter invertebrates for Magpie Robin feeding. The nocturnal Bronze gecko is common on Aride. It is frequently found associated with Magpie Robin nest boxes, within which the female often lays her eggs. A survey of 25 nest boxes in 2011 found all but two occupied by geckos and 18 boxes containing gecko eggs. This is a conservation issue because gecko presence inside a nestbox is likely to prevent the Magpie Robin making use of it. The Green Gecko is the Praslin subspecies of the Seychelles green gecko Phelsuma astriata semicarinata. It is present on the island but not seen commonly.

2.3.3.Snakes

Brahminy Blind Snake Rhamphotyphlops braminus Squamata: ColubridaeSeychelles Wolf Snake Lycognathophis seychellensis Squamata: Colubridae

Both the snake species on Aride are non-venomous and are rarely seen – and then usually around the plateau marsh or the well. The Wolf Snake is varies in colour from pale yellow to dark grey and has light or dark diamond patches; size, however, distinguishes it from the much smaller Brahminy Blind Snake.

2.4. Other Fauna

2.4.1. Crabs

Coconut (Robber) Crab 'Sipay' Birgus latro Decapoda: CoenobitidaeGrey Hermit Crab Coenobita rugosus Decapoda: CoenobitidaePurple Hermit Crab Coenobita violascens Decapoda: CoenobitidaeOrange Hermit Crab Dardanus megistos Decapoda: CoenobitidaePurple Land Crab Cardisoma carnifex Decapoda: GecarcinidaeGhost Crab Ocypode ceratophthalmus Decapoda: Ocypodidae

There are a number of land hermit crab species on Aride (Family: Coenobitidae). The Coconut Crab Birgus latro is rarely seen; perhaps two sightings per year around the Village.

2.4.2. Fruit Bats & Mice

Seychelles Fruit Bat Pteropus seychellensis Chiroptera: PteropodidaeMouse 'Mous' Mus musculus Rodentia: Muridae

The Seychelles Fruit Bat is commonly seen around the island, particularly flying along the beach at dusk and taking up roosts in the large Casuarina trees. On the hill there is a popular roost by the western hillside Seychelles Magpie Robin feeding station. Mice are seen around the Village houses but are not considered a serious pest problem.

2.4.3. Marine life

Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus Cetacea: DelphinidaeSpinner Dolphin Stenella longirostris Cetacea: DelphinidaeBonito Tuna – 'Bonit' Euthynnus affinis Osteichthyes: ScombridaeSkipjack – 'Skipdyak' Katsuwonus pelamis Osteichthyes: ScombridaeYellowfin Tuna - 'Ton Zonn' Thunnus albacares Osteichthyes: Scombridae


Aride is a no-take Marine Protected Area to 200 m from shore. Flocks of seabirds, usually Lesser Noddies, feeding on the sea surface around the island indicate that shoals of small baitfish are being chased up to the surface by larger predatory fish. This is the time to go trawling with hook and line for those predatory fish, which are commonly the Bonito Euthynnus affinis. Small groups of Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus are seen around the between Aride and Praslin most months, with individual Spinner Dolphin Stenella longirostris also occasionally observed. Small reef sharks are sometimes seen in the nearshore by the beach

2.4.4. Insects & Other Fauna

Whip Spider ('Whip Scorpion') Phrynichus scaber Amblypygi: PhrynichidaeMosquito Culex quinquefasciatus Diptera: CulicidaeScale Insect (Cockerell) Pulvinaria rubicola Homoptera: CoccidaeBig-Headed Ant Pheidole megacephala Hymenoptera: FormicidaeOwlet Moth sp. Achaea catella Noctuidae: CatocalinaeGiant Millipede Seychelleptus seychellarum Spirostreptida: Spirostreptidae Heliotrope Moth Utetheisa pulchelloides Uranioidea: Arctiidae

The Whip Scorpion is in a sister Order to spiders within the Class Aracnida; they get their name because of their resemblance to true scorpions (Order Scorpiones, also within the Class Aracnida). They are harmless to people despite their ferocious appearance. Whilst the Mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus are abundant in the wetter areas of the lowland plateau on Aride, Seychelles is highly unusual in having no anopheline mosquitoes (the malaria-bearing Anopheles genus). The invasive Big-Headed Ant was confirmed as being present in 2010 on the lowland plateau but no evidence was found of it having spread to the hillsides. The Owlet Moth is widespread and the Heliotrope Moth (Tiger Moth family) is common around beach crest Scaevola. Giant millipedes are commonly seen on the hillside paths.

2.5. Conservation Interest & Other Flora

When Aride became a nature reserve under the Royal Society for Nature Conservation in 1973, the hilltop was mainly barren rock and the lowland plateau dominated by plantation coconut palms. Today the island has largely reforested, naturally on the hilltop and with human assistance on the lowland plateau. Extensive native tree seed planting during the 1990s around the plateau has effected today's early stage forest.

2.5.1.Conservation Interest Flora

Coconut 'Koko' Cocos nucifera Arecales: ArecaceaeScaevola 'Vouloutye' Scaevola taccada Asterales: GoodeniaceaePisonia 'Bwa Mapou' Pisonia grandis Caryophyllales: NyctaginaceaeNight-Flowering Cucumber Peponium sp. Cucurbitales: CucurbitaceaeFish Poison Tree 'Bon Kare' Barringtonia asiatica Ericales: LecythidaceaeWright's Gardenia 'Bwa Sitron' Rothmannia annae Gentianales: RubiaceaeHernandia 'Bwa Blan' Hernandia nymphaeifolia Laurales: HernandiaceaeLaurel 'Takamaka' Calophyllum inophyllum Malpighiales: CalophyllaceaeIndian Almond 'Bodanmyen' Terminalia catappa Myrtales: Combretaceae

Wright's Gardenia is the flagship endemic plant of Aride Island. The Creole name 'Bwa Sitron' is because of some resemblance of the immature green fruit to a lime, before browning on maturity. Found naturally nowhere else in the world, it may previously have been found on some of the other granitic Seychelles islands. Specimens have been planted now on a few other islands. Flowering buds are triggered by heavy rainfall, with the flower opening approximately one week later and lasting, once opened, only 1-2 days. The brown fruit is variable in size and can contain from 20 to 200 seeds, which resemble brown roasted coffee beans. The Night-Flowering Cucumber is a species of Peponium (cucumber family) found only on Aride (Creole 'Calebasse Marron'). A related species Peponium sublitorale occurs on Aldabra at the southern end of the Seychelles archipelago. Pisonia is the most common tree on Aride and presents an important conservation issue (discussed in Part C of this project report) because the sticky seeds entangle birds. Pisonia entanglement may cause death or it may be that birds that are dying on the ground anyway become entangled as a secondary symptom. Barringtonia 'Fish Poison Tree' is the second most abundant tree on Aride, after


Pisonia grandis, and gets its name because a brew from the fruit can be used to stun fish. Takamaka is an important hardwood that was historically used for building the traditional wooden pirogue boats of Seychelles. There have, however, been recent problems with Takamaka wilt disease on Aride, with infected trees are marked for removal and progressively felled by visiting teams from the Forestry Department of the National Parks Authority. Several large Indian Almond 'Bodanmyen' trees line L'Allee between the Village and the Lodge. This tree aas previously more widespread around the lowland plateau. Hernandia 'Bwa Blan' is another large tree planted along L'Allee between the Village and the Lodge. In 2011, a 'Bwa Blan' tree on the eastern side of L'Allee had a favoured nesting cavity for the Magpie Robin pair whose territory it is found in. The lowland plateau was dominated by Coconut palms during the plantation years but the trees have gradually been cut back since the island became a nature reserve. They are now restricted to intermittent areas along the coastal zone. Scaevola is an important salt-tolerant shrub of the beach crest that helps maintain the physical integrity of the beach crest.

2.5.2. Invasive Plants

Cocoyam 'Cocoyam' Colocasia esculenta Alismatales: AraceaePapaya Carica papaya Brassicales: CaricaceaeMange tous Asystasia gangetica Lamiales: AcanthaceaeBred Lanmar 'Bred Lanmar' Ipomoea aquatica Solanales: Convolvulaceae

There a number of invasive plant species on Aride, which environmental management is generally aimed at eradicating. Two species introduced as food plants, however, are maintained in controlled abundance: Bred Lanmar and Cocoyam. Bamboo of an unidentified species is also present around the plateau marsh and controlled.

2.5.3. Other Flora

Pumpkin 'Ziramon' Cucurbita moschata Cucurbitales: CurcubitaceaeCucumber 'Konkombre' Cucumis sativus Cucurbitales: CurcubitaceaeBitter Gourd 'Margoz' Momordica charantia Cucurbitales: CurcubitaceaeIndian Mulberry 'Bwa Tortu' Morinda citrifolia Gentianales: RubiaceaeTree Heliotrope 'Bwa Taba' Argusia argentea Lamiales: BoraginaceaeGlue Tree Cordia myxa Lamiales: BoraginaceaeCassava 'Maniok' Manihot esculenta Malpighiales: EuphorbiaceaeBwa-d-roz Thespesia populnea Malvales: MalvaceaeLemon Grass 'Sitronel' Cymbopogon citratus Poales: PoaceaePuzzlenut - 'Manglier Pom' Xylocarpus moluccensis Sapindales: MeliaceaeSweet Potato 'Patat' Ipomoea batatas Solanales: ConvolvulaceaeChilli 'Piment' Capsicum sp. Solanales:SolonaceaeTomato 'Tomat' Solanum lycopersicum Solanales:SolonaceaeBanana 'Banan' Musa sp. Zingiberales: Musaceae

Indian Mulberry 'Bwa Torti' is spread across the lowland plateau. It gets its Creole name because the fruit surface is a mosaic of bumps that resembles a tortoise carapace. The fruit also has a powerful cheese-like smell when ripe, which makes it a popular demonstration item for tourists on the island tour. The fruit is also commonly used by Seychellois in fish traps, along with coconuts. These are the commoner plant species cultivated in the island garden. Banana trees around the marsh near to the garden also provide food for the island staff. The Bwa-d-Roz tree has a large yellow rose-like flower, which turns pink as it starts to senesce. The English name of the Puzzlenut derives from the inside of the fruit, with the seed pods fitting together like a puzzle into an orb. It is a member of the mahogany Family. The Creole name 'Manglier Pom' derives from the apple-like outer appearance of the fruit, hence “mangrove apple”. Tree Heliotrope 'Bwa Taba' gets its Creole because the sticky leaves resemble the tobacco plant Nicotiana tabaccum. Only one individual plant remains on the beach crest. The Glue Tree (e.g. to the east of the large banyan tree next to the generator shed). Small spherical pink fruits contain a viscous liquid that is an amenable natural glue, hence the common name for the tree.


2.5.4. Fungi

Fungi are seen across the island, with a number of bracket fungi being particularly common on both dead wood and living trees.

3. Environmental Management

3.1. Habitat Management

3.1.1. Pisonia 'Bwa Mapou' Management & Removal

Pisonia seedlings are regularly cut down along the beach crest. Pisonia provides the main nesting habitat for the Lesser Noddy, which favour use of its soft leaves to mould a nest. When Pisonia fruits, however, the sticky seeds readily entangle birds. During the brief Pisonia fruiting periods it is a common sight to find alive, dying and dead birds entangled in Pisonia seeds. There is a resultant ongoing debate as to whether Pisonia forest should be cleared or cut back to reduce associated bird mortality. This has effected a tentative effort to control the abundance of Pisonia along the beach crest, where it is considered to pose a particular threat in position as the first vegetation encountered by low-flying seabirds returning at speed to the island.

3.1.2. Beach Crest & Shoreline Management

Scaevola has been planted extensively along the beach crest in management efforts to protect the sand beach crest from erosion, which in recent years has seen the beach crest eroded several metres inland. Beach crest erosion is considered a particular threat for the near future because of rising sea levels. Efforts to vegetate and stabilise the beach crest, however, have negative impacts on accessibility to the plateau for Hawksbill Turtles coming onshore to nest. Implications and possible remedial management are discussed in Part C of this project report. The shoreline is also walked weekly to collect rubbish by one person.

3.1.3. Clearing of Ground Areas for Roseate Tern Colonies

Roseate Terns nest on open ground in cleared areas at both the west and east ends of the hilltop. Management is undertaken each year prior to the nesting season (May to August).

3.1.4. Garden

The garden in 2011 was growing Cucumber, Tomato, Chillies and large quantities of Pumpkin. Potential development of a Creole heritage and cultural history garden is discussed by Katy Beaver in the Aride Island 2009 Annual Report (Appendix 7).

3.1.5. Marsh Management

There is no active marsh management but some relevant activities occur. Bred Lanmar and Cocoyam are collected from the marsh and some vegetation clearing is done for the garden around the edge of the waters.

3.2. Other Environmental Management

3.2.1.Magpie Robin Nest Boxes & Feeding Stations

The lowland plateau has 5 Seychelles Magpie Robin territories, each of which is occupied by a dominant male and (usually) his partner female. Each territory's occupants are fed daily on a 50/50 mix of boiled chicken egg and dried insect powder. Approximately 25 nest boxes are scattered around the 5 lowland plateau territories (the number varies with individual boxes being removed or new boxes being installed). Nest box condition is monitored on the weekly nest box check and repairs or replacement work requirements determined from that. Nest boxes and Magpie Robin provision form a section of Part C (recommendations)


in this project report.

3.2.2.Native Flora Propagation

In October 2011 a native plant nursery was being established in the garden. There were already various native seedlings being grown in small grow bags scattered around the garden and Village. However, this was not part of the organised work programme and so watering and replanting was neglected. Maintenance and development of the new organised nursery is intended to become a routine part of the weekly work programme.

3.2.3. Invasive Animal Species Control

Aride is free from Rats and always has been. The principal control measure is to minimise the opportunities for Rats to land on the island. This is done by only allowing the island's own boats onshore. Visitors are transferred between the island boat and their vessels outside the island's 200 m exclusion zone and transfer on and off Aride done in the island boat. Only small personally carried bags and items are brought onto Aride by staff and visitors. Any large deliveries or supplies are unpacked first in a sealed 'rat room' to check for stowaway vermin, which if present can then be caught within the sealed room and killed. Barn Owl eradication is an ongoing sleeping programme. Perch traps are set around the garden and when an individual Barn Owl is found to frequent a specific location a police sniper may be brought to the island to kill the bird with an air rifle. Indian Mynahs are rarely seen on Aride and may represent either visitors from nearby islands or a small resident population. No eradication measures are employed for these birds, however.

3.2.4. Invasive Plant Species Control

In 2011 this was only done on an opportunistic basis if, for example, a Papaya seedling was encountered in the course of other duties and there was time and motivation to return with the necessary tools to remove it.


4. Monitoring & Research

4.1. Routine Monitoring Activities

4.1.1. Seabirds

Fairy Tern and White-Tailed Tropicbird nests are surveyed weekly (separate jobs) across the entire lowland plateau. The intention is to mark all nests discovered and re-check them weekly to determine success rate or the stage of failure. The Frigatebird colony count is done monthly from a boat driven round the north side of the island. Sooty Terns are monitored daily during October and Novemeber for the ratio of adults to juveniles in 100 birds counted flying eastwards along the beach past the boat shed (as an indicator of breeding success). Bridled Tern adult to juvenile ratios are monitored weekly through a count of adult and juveniles present at four Casuarina tree roosts along the beach (again, as an indicator of breeding success).

4.1.2. Landbirds

The Seychelles Magpie Robin territories are checked daily for the presence of each bird. This is combined with feeding, which habituates the birds to come to their territory's feeding station and facilitate observation that they are still alive and healthy. This is usually split between two people, one doing the eastern territories and one doing the western. The hill Magpie Robin territories are not checked during Sooty Tern fledging (September and October) and one person does all 5 lowland plateau territories. There is also a weekly check of nest boxes to identify and then monitor nesting attempts. No other landbirds are monitored.

4.1.3. Turtle-Related

Accessibility along the beach length for turtles (onshore, foreshore, interface, nesting plateau) is assessed weekly for obstacles and likelihood to block nesting attempts. The beach slope profile at fixed points is assessed monthly during the turtle nesting season and every 3 months during the rest of the year. Turtle patrols are walked along the beach length once a day as the turtle nesting season approaches and then 3 times daily during turtle nesting. Tracks and track width, nests or abandoned emergences, and tag numbers are recorded as applicable.

4.1.4. Vegetation

Permanent vegetation quadrats on the island have fallen into disuse. The first census island-wide census of Wright's Gardenia trees was carried out in 1987. This was repeated in 1989, 1995, 1999 and carried out last in 2005-6. It is presently aimed to establish a regular 5 year interval for the census, starting with an imminent census scheduled for November 2011. The Wright's Gardenia census locates and gives a permanent numbered tag to all saplings (25 to 174 cm height) and mature trees (175 cm height and over) found across the island.

4.1.5. Other Monitoring

Weather is recorded daily: wind force (Beaufort), 24 hour rainfall, wind direction, cloud movement direction, cloud cover (%, not oktas), minimum/maximum temperature, and well water level.

4.1.6. Workload of Monitoring Activities.

Fairy Tern nest survey: Weekly, 90 minutes, 2 people.White-Tailed Tropicbird nest survey: Weekly, 90 minutes, 2 people.Frigatebird colony count: Weekly, 60 minutes, 3 people.Sooty Tern fledgling success: Daily October and November, 30-150 minutes (until reach total 100 birds).Bridled Tern: Weekly, 30 minutes, 1 person.


Magpie Robin check &feed: Daily, 45 minutes, 2 people to share east, and west or 1 person if plateau only.Magpie Robin nest box check: Weekly, 60 minutes, 2 people.Magpie Robin nest check: Twice weekly, 45 minutes, 1-2 people.Turtle nest patrol: Daily from late September then 3-5 times per day after first nest), 30 minutes, 1 person.Beach access for turtles: Weekly, 60 minutes, 2 people.Beach profile: Every 3 months (every 1 month during the turtle nesting season), 60 minutes, 3 people.Weather records: Daily, 15 minutes, 1 person.

4.2. Research

4.2.1.Island Conservation Society (ICS) Staff Research

The Conservation Office, Licia Calabrese, began a project on Wedge-Tailed and Audobon's Shearwaters in mid-October 2011, beginning with population censuses. This project, funded by the Total Fondation, will last 3 years and may lead to a PhD submission. The grant will also provide money for an Assistant Conservation Officer to be employed on Aride in the near future.

4.2.2.Island Conservation Society (ICS) Volunteers & External Scientists

All volunteers spend approximately half their time on a project of their choosing, usually a small research research study. This has occasionally also been used by postgraduate students as fieldwork for Masters or PhD theses.

5. Other Activities & Island Management

5.1. Boat Operations

The boat is driven primarily by the boatman (also working as Ranger), although the Island Manager and other Rangers can take over as required.

5.1.1. Boat Launching for Visitor Landings

No boats except those of Aride are allowed to land on the island to minimise the risks of accidental rat introduction. Visitors moor their boats to one of the mooring buoys at the 200 m line offshore from the boat shed (although they often drop anchor, which is forbidden in the island's regulations). One of the island's inflatables will then be launched from the beach to collect the visitors from the boat. Boat launching and landing requires 4 to 6 people (in addition to the boat man) dependent on weather conditions. Three further people are ideally present to manage arrivals: one to remove possessions from dry bags and manage visitor life vests; the second to meet and greet visitors at the boat shed and direct them to the conservation centre and shop; and the third to process arrivals and tickets in the shop. The whole process therefore uses ideally 7 to 9 people and so occupies most or all of the island staff and volunteers.

5.1.2. Journeys to/from Praslin

1-2 trips: weekend leave

Friday afternoon boat to take staff to Praslin. If the boat man is staying on Praslin, the return leg is with the returning staff on Monday. If the Boatman is staying on Aride, the boat will come back to Aride and there will be a second trip to collect returning staff on Monday.

Additional trips: for shopping, rubbish, fuel & miscellaneous

These trips occur on an ad hoc basis throughout the week, fitted in around tourist arrivals and other work commitments. There are trips specifically to drop island rubbish off at Grande Anse, to fill carboys with fuel, for shopping, and for miscellaneous other jobs (depositing/collecting packages at the airport for delivery


to/from Mahé etc). There will be additional trips for staff/visitor arrival/departure if these cannot be combined with one of the routine trips. Additional trips will also be laid on in case of medical incidents or, for example, for staff to carry on to Mahe for ICS management meetings. Between September and November 2011 there were one or two return boat trips most working days and usually one return trip on Saturday or Sunday.

5.1.3. Other Boat Use

The only other usual use for the boat is for sea trips to the northern side of Aride for the monthly Frigatebird colony count. There are irregular and infrequent fishing trips to waters outside the Marine Protected Area to provide fish for staff.

5.1.4. Boat Maintenance

At present, boats and engines are serviced on Praslin at Grande Anse by an external company.

5.2. Facility & Infrastructure Maintenance

5.2.1. Power, Gas & Water

Staff and volunteers are on a rota for week-long responsibility for the electricity generator or the water pump. The person responsible for the generator turns it on and off when instructed by the Island Manager. The petrol-powered water pump (supplying non-potable mains water from the well near the marsh) is run daily after 5 pm to refill the water tank on the hill behind the Lodge, usually taking 20 minutes.

5.2.2. Path, Structures & Buildings

Island paths are usually raked weekly, taking one morning of the work schedule for all staff. Every day that the island has paying visitors, the boat shed and coastal path up to and including the area around the visitors' barbecue is also raked in the early morning.




PART D. ANALYSIS & RECOMMENDATIONS

Summary

Observations From Field Time on Aride Island

Field experience working across the various work programmes on the island and daily discussions with staff and volunteers, together with the Review I undertook for Part C of my project report, gave rise to various suggestions for improving management of Aride Island Nature Reserve. Preliminary analysis of existing monitoring data and of additional data I collected are also included for a number of issues.

About Me

I spent a total of 12 months on fieldwork in Seychelles between 1999 and 2001, including two visits to Aldabra, before my BSc Natural Sciences at Durham University. I then took the vocational MSc Conservation at University College London with a scholarship for academic excellence. Following field work with Mauritius Wildlife Foundation, I went on to complete my PhD at Manchester in 2008 and spent two years as a post-doctoral research associate at Oxford University working on carbon and climate change. I have published first author peer-reviewed research papers in ecology, plant physiology, geobiology and environmental politics. I have taught undergraduate ecology field courses in South Africa (animal behaviour) and Greece (aquatic ecology). I came out to Aride as a volunteer with ICS when the project I had been working on since 2010 for the UK's Carbon Trust was cut in a government spending review. Geography and nature have fascinated me all my life and I am a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.

Structure

A range of issues have been addressed (and suggested actions included) across conservation, island management and visitor experience areas. Key sections to highlight regard the Magpie Robin, turtle-related habitat management, general data issues and staff/volunteer development.



Table of Contents

PART D. ANALYSIS & RECOMMENDATIONS.....................................................................................38

Summary.............................................................................................................................................38Observations From Field Time on Aride Island..........................................................................38About Me...................................................................................................................................38Structure.....................................................................................................................................38


1. Seychelles Magpie Robins..............................................................................................................411.1. Nest Box Use by Magpie Robins.........................................................................................41

1.1.1. Which Nest Boxes Are Unused & Possible Reasons?.............................................411.1.2. Preliminary Analysis of Two Years' Nest Box Data................................................411.1.3. Discussion..............................................................................................................421.1.4. Suggested Actions..................................................................................................42

1.2. Nest Box Use by Bronze Geckos.........................................................................................421.2.1. Bronze Geckos Associated with Nest Boxes..........................................................421.2.2. Problematic Existing Gecko Presence Data............................................................421.2.3. Preliminary Survey of Nest Box Use by Bronze Geckos........................................431.2.4.Discussion...............................................................................................................431.2.5. Suggested Actions..................................................................................................43

1.3. Magpie Robin Feeding: Dried Insect Feed, Natural Invertebrates or None?........................441.3.1. The Feeding Debate................................................................................................441.3.2. Preliminary Observations on Feeding Preferences.................................................441.3.3. Discussion..............................................................................................................441.3.4. Suggested Actions..................................................................................................45

1.4. Data Issues for Magpie Robins on Aride.............................................................................451.4.1. Field Problems for Recording Individual Bird Presence.........................................451.4.2. Suggested Actions..................................................................................................451.4.2. Data Collation & Tracking Issues...........................................................................46

1.5. Encouraging Magpie Robins to Establish Hill Territories....................................................46

2. General Monitoring & Data Issues................................................................................................462.1 Data and observer issues.......................................................................................................46

2.1.1. General Need to Standardise Procedures................................................................462.1.2. Discussion..............................................................................................................472.1.3. Suggested Actions..................................................................................................47

2.2. Turtle-Related Monitoring & Habitat Management Issues..................................................482.2.1. Standardising Beach Access Parameters.................................................................482.2.2. Assessment of GPS Accuracy on Beach Access Surveys........................................482.2.3. Potential Habitat Management for Turtles..............................................................492.2.4. Suggested Actions..................................................................................................50

2.3. Some Bird-Related Monitoring Issues.................................................................................502.3.1. Fairy Tern & White-Tailed Tropicbird Nest Surveys..............................................502.3.2. White-Tailed Tropicbird Nesting Habitat................................................................512.3.3. Dead Bird (Pisonia Death) Quadrats.......................................................................512.3.4. Suggested Actions..................................................................................................52

2.4. Vegetation Monitoring & Issues..........................................................................................522.4.1. Fixed Vegetation Quadrats......................................................................................522.4.2. Beach Crest Vegetation...........................................................................................523.3.1. Pisonia....................................................................................................................53

3. Visitor Engagement, Volunteers & More......................................................................................533.1. Visitor Information..............................................................................................................53

3.1.1. Relating to the Visitor Information Boards Developed Here..................................533.1.2. Sooty Tern Education: Roadshow for Praslin?........................................................53


3.1.3. Further Public Engagement Opportunities..............................................................533.3. Potential Giant Tortoise Reintroduction...............................................................................54

3.3.1. Cost-Benefit Potential for a Giant Tortoise Population ..........................................543.3.2. Recommend Feasibility Study for Giant Tortoise Translocation.............................54

3.2. Volunteers............................................................................................................................543.2.1. Effective Use of Volunteers on Aride......................................................................543.2.2. Recruitment of Volunteers......................................................................................543.2.3. Volunteer Projects...................................................................................................543.2.4. Suggested Actions..................................................................................................55


1. Seychelles Magpie Robins

Preliminary comments were drafted and discussed with volunteers, staff, Dr Andreas Lopez-Sepulcre (whose PhD thesis was on the Seychelles Magpie Robin) and Anne-Sophie Bonnet-Lebrun.

1.1. Nest Box Use by Magpie Robins

1.1.1. Which Nest Boxes Are Unused & Possible Reasons?

From carrying out Magpie Robin nest box monitoring and from discussions with staff it was apparent that most of the nest boxes were not being used. Consensus was that some boxes were favourites whereas others were ignored. Discussion led to speculation that this might be related to various parameters of the nest box: compass aspect (north- or south-facing etc.); location in the territory relative to the core area; or what kind of tree the box was mounted to. The pair holding the Lodge territory) were not known to have ever used a nest box, instead only using natural cavities (someone suggested this could be because the male is from Cousin Island, which does not have nest boxes).

1.1.2. Preliminary Analysis of Two Years' Nest Box Data

The last two full years of nest record data (all nest records started in the 24 months from September 2009 to August 2011 inclusive) were analysed to identify which nest boxes were being used. Of 24 nest boxes, thirteen had never been used for a nesting attempt. All four nest boxes near territory boundaries (13, 20, 22, 16B) had never been used; no shared characteristic, however, was apparent for the remaining unused nest boxes (1, 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 16 and 5B).

Each territory uses only two nesting boxes (except the Lodge, whose pair use only natural cavities) and all with most attempts successful: Village (2, 18); Barringtonia (8, 9); Banyan (14, 11B); Memorial (16, 23). Failed attempts have been made in 3 additional boxes: 6 and 7 (both Barringtonia territory) and 17 (Village). Nest boxes 2 (Village) and 8 (Barringtonia) provided 9 of the 18 successful nesting attempts in the last 2 years.

It should be noted, however, that the previously unused nest box 20 had a nest being built in early October 2011 by the Barringtonia territory pair. This was suggested by the Conservation Officer (Licia Calabrese) to be because the Barringtonia and Banyan territories are both shifting eastwards following the splitting of the eastern plateau territory into separate Lodge and Village territories.

Nesting attempts using nest boxes had a higher success rate than nesting attempts using natural cavities or palm crowns. Insufficient data prevent statistical analysis for significance, however. It is also likely that the failure rate for cavity or palm nests is under-estimated because such nests are usually only identified after a sustained period of flights carry nesting material or of insects for chick feeding allow the nest to be located. This suggests that failures from abandoned nest building attempts or early chick mortality are less likely to be recorded than successful fledgings.

Nest attempt Success Egg failed Egg Nest Pullus

category to hatch predated abandoned predated

Nest box (n=28) 8 4 3 3 0

Cavity/palm (n=12) 5 2 1 3 1

Nest box (%) 64% 14% 11% 11% 0%

Cavity/palm (%) 42% 17% 8% 25% 8%


1.1.3. Discussion

That most nest boxes have been unused in this 2 year period is to be expected because it is normal for Magpie Robins to continue to use the same nest box unless there is predation or a change of female. Ignored nest boxes may be suitable but remain unused because the choice nest box is even better; they could, however, be unused due to poor maintenance and/or occupation by geckos.

Is important to provide an excess of nest boxes in good condition so that suitable nest boxes are available for selection by a new female or in case of abandonment of the existing first choice due to predation. I would suggest that the extra nest boxes (beyond the two used by each territory) be moved to new locations each year so that trial and error may identify new positions preferred to the existing nest box (in effect, natural selection to improve the nest box sites).

The consensus was also that nesting on the hill needs to be encouraged nesting by providing more nest boxes. I would also note that the few hillside nest boxes are provided only at the far west and far east ends of the island (where there are paths to the hilltop). Establishing nest boxes along the lower hillside of the central plateau may encourage territories (Banyan, Lodge) to spread up the slopes or encourage establishment of new adjacent hillside territories by juveniles as they are pushed out of these parental territories.

1.1.4. Suggested Actions

Any changes in nest box provision must of course first be agreed within ICS and within the Seychelles Magpie Robin Recovery Team (SMART) committee.

Relocate unused nest boxes within the territory. New locations may identify positions preferable to the birds than the nest boxes currently in use.

Replacement of nest boxes containing old and abandoned nests. This should be made a routine part of the weekly nest box monitoring routine to ensure nest box provision is clean and free for new nesting attempts. Maintaining unused nest boxes in good clean conditions will mean they ate available for use in case one of the normally used nest boxes is abandoned due to predation and an alternative sort. Old nests sit in nest boxes with decaying organic matter encouraging ant infestations and possibly discouraging subsequent nesting attempts. Old or abandoned nests noted during the weekly nest box check could be replaced immediately following completion of the rounds by returning with a ladder and fresh nest box(es). Removed old nest boxes can then be cleaned up properly when the work schedule allows and stored ready for future reuse. Care should be taken, however, by staff to check the monitoring data properly to ensure active nests are not removed.

1.2. Nest Box Use by Bronze Geckos

1.2.1. Bronze Geckos Associated with Nest Boxes

Observations during weekly nest box checks suggested that most nest boxes had an associated Bronze Gecko presence. It was apparent that nest boxes with active Magpie Robin nests never had gecko eggs present and vice-versa. This suggested, particularly because geckos are known to predate Magpie Robin eggs, that Bronze Gecko presence may inhibit use by Magpie Robins. Less likely would be the converse – that geckos are scared away from nest boxes in use by the birds.

1.2.2. Problematic Existing Gecko Presence Data

Analysis of past data on gecko presence, however, was problematic because of differences in approach between observers and evident under-recording. Some staff only note 'gecko' if the gecko remains inside the nest box when the lid is lifted; others also note gecko if the see one run out of the box; others note 'gecko' if one inside the box, runs out or is seen on the outside of the box. In all cases the presence of geckos was under-recorded due to a combination of: (1) not paying attention for gecko presence; (2) geckos often being not obvious. Looking for geckos is not generally considered more than a secondary observation and staff


generally had no interest in why the presence of geckos was part of the nest box check. Geckos are often not immediately obvious due to a combination of camouflage, rapid movement, and a tendency to escape round the back of the nest box.

1.2.3. Preliminary Survey of Nest Box Use by Bronze Geckos

Special attention was paid to observe gecko presence during 4 consecutive weekly Magpie Robin nest box checks. After the first week the presence of gecko eggs inside nest boxes was also recorded. On the fourth and final week a distinction was also made between geckos, on first observation, that were inside the nest box (or leaving the entrance) and those that were resting on the outside.

Geckos were recorded on 56 % of nest box checks (n=88) and gecko eggs were found in 30 % of nest box checks (n=66). Twelve of the 23 nest boxes checked on the 11 th October had a gecko present: of these, 7 were inside the nest box and 6 outside. Twenty one of the 23 nest boxes surveyed had a gecko present on at least one of the 4 checks; 9 nest boxes had gecko eggs present on one or more of the three weekly checks that also recorded egg presence. A gecko was present (presumably guarding) on 84 % of occasions when gecko eggs were present.

Adult geckos were also observed to firmly guard the entrance of nest boxes with young geckos inside. If the observer approaches a nest box with gecko eggs inside the adult readily flees. If live young were present inside the nest box, however the adult would remain stationary at the nest box entrance even when the observer approached to (and remained) immediately below the nest box.

Sample Gecko Eggs Present Gecko Present 11-Oct gecko:

28-Sep 3-Oct 11-Oct 19-Sep 28-Sep 3-Oct 11-Oct inside outside

# boxes 6 7 6 11 15 9 12 7 6

% boxes 30% 33% 27% 52% 75% 43% 55 % 32% 27%

1.2.4.Discussion

It is apparent from the data that use of nest boxes by Bronze Geckos is extensive. Geckos were evidently guarding nest boxes when they containing live young and their presence was noted on 16 out of the 19 occasions when gecko eggs were present (84 %). Geckos presence is likely to be under-recorded because they are difficult to spot, so there may well have been unobserved geckos present on the 3 remaining occasions.


Any changes in nest box provision must of course first be agreed within ICS and within the SMART committee.

Weekly replacement of nest boxes containing gecko eggs. Nest boxes with gecko eggs present should be taken down and immediately replaced with a new and clean nest box. This would remove the associated guarding gecko and free the location for potential Magpie Robin use. The gecko eggs should be removed and the nest box cleaned ready for reuse. This could be incorporated into the weekly nest box check, with nest boxes being replaced from a stock of clean nest boxes when gecko eggs are found. At present the eggs are left and the successful rearing of young encourages repetition of this nesting behaviour by the Bronze Gecko. Effective predation of gecko eggs by staff on a weekly basis would discourage geckos from using nest boxes for egg laying.

Blocking the space between nest boxes and host tree trunk. Geckos were often found sheltering in the space between the nest box and the tree to which is was attached, suggesting a useful response to discourage the association of geckos and nest boxes might be something to block this gap.


1.3. Magpie Robin Feeding: Dried Insect Feed, Natural Invertebrates or None?

1.3.1. The Feeding Debate

Current practice has feeding of the Magpie Robins included in the daily monitoring schedule. Feeding serves two purposes in providing nutrition to help sustain the birds and in motivating the birds to come to their relevant feeding table for sighting by the observer. The artificial feed provided is boiled chicken egg broken up and mixed with dried insect powder. This practice has been questioned on the basis that it exposes the population to the risk of a contaminated feed batch harming or even killing all birds. It is suggested too that supplemental feeding is not necessary now that the population is well established.

Magpie Robins are, however, eager to be fed in some way. Common practice when encountering Magpie Robins on the paths is to clear a small area of leaf litter and, especially, rotting wood to expose invertebrates underneath that the birds then feed on. The Magpie Robins have learnt that approaching passing people and following them will often lead to this area clearing for invertebrates and easy food. An alternative to artificial feed (with attendant risks of accidental contamination or poisoning) would be to 'feed' the Magpie Robins on the daily check by this area clearing for invertebrates. This would retain the incentive for the birds to come to the observer on the daily monitoring check.

1.3.2. Preliminary Observations on Feeding Preferences

Feeding preference for artificial feed or leaf litter invertebrates was tested in a casual and simple way at various feeding tables during intermittent Magpie Robin daily monitoring patrols over the course of two weeks in October 2011. Artificial feed was first put out on the feeding table as usual for the birds to approach and start feeding. A small area (50-100 cm square) was then cleared under adjacent rotting logs and leaf litter to expose invertebrates. Magpie Robin behaviour in response was then observed. On all occasions (n>20) the adult birds immediately stopped feeding on the artificial feed at the table and flew down to the cleared ground area to begin feeding on exposed invertebrates.

Interestingly, when a juvenile had been present (but kept away from the feeding table by the dominating adults) they were then able to go to the now vacant feeding table and feed on the artificial feed. Clearing a further area of ground saw the adult(s) move back and forth between the cleared areas – but the adults would keep the juvenile(s) away. Three or more cleared areas, with spacing of a few metres between them, then allowed juveniles to feed on exposed invertebrates without being driven away by the adult(s). The juvenile(s), however, would sometimes continue to eat the artificial feed and ignore the cleared ground areas.

1.3.3. Discussion

Andreas Lopez-Sepulcre, however, suggests that feeding on the plateau might exacerbate habitat inequality between the plateau and hill, discouraging birds from settling the poorer hill habitat. Increasing habitat heterogeneity such as plateau versus hill differences in food availability may increase conflict between birds and reduce overall fecundity (Lopez-Sepulcre et al. 2010 Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B, 277: 3477-82). Plateau feeding moreover may discourage birds from settling on the hill if feeding does not take place there too. In that case, it may be worth developing a programme to gradually extend feeding up on to the hill from the edges of the existing plateau territories to tempt birds to colonise new (hillside) ground.

Artificial feeding at the single point of the feeding table would indeed logically appear to increase conflict within a territory because the aggressive male excludes the female (unless they have a feeding chick) and their juveniles from feeding. The female can only feed after the male and the juveniles can only feed if food remains after both parents have finished. Clearing multiple areas of leaf litter to expose invertebrates with a separation of several metres allows multiple birds to feed at the same time and therefore avoids this conflict; also increasing food availability for female and juvenile birds.

Research to model impacts of artificial feeding on habitat heterogeneity and its predicted impacts in territorial conflicts on the plateau is the subject of a current project on Aride by Masters student Anne-Sophie Bonnet-Lebrun.



Any changes in feeding regime must be introduced gradually and must of course first be agreed within ICS and within the SMART committee.

Feeding via multiple log and leaf piles to reduce conflict. Area clearing for invertebrates could first be institutionalised as the daily 'feed' instead of artificial chicken egg and dried insect powder, with log piles created around the feeding stations. From behavioural observations, black cockroaches (species unknown) are the favoured food taken from cleared leaf litter. Soft Pisonia wood is ideal for Magpie Robin feeding log piles; it rots quickly and, being soft, is easy to break open and expose invertebrates. Hardwood planks (Casuarina, Takamaka) were also noted as a productive refuge for cockroaches, in particular for drier areas of ground that otherwise have few invertebrates exposed when leaf litter is cleared. Rotting leaf piles from Indian Almond and Ficus trees appear very productive invertebrate 'banks' that are easy to prepare and easy to shift aside to reveal food items.

Further log piles around paths. Secondly, area clearing for invertebrates could be made a routine action when followed by Magpie Robins anywhere on the island. This would be particularly advantageous to the juveniles that have to wait for adults to finish feeding before they can feed.

Consider the analagous role giant tortoises may play. The role of exposing invertebrates by disturbing leaf litter in Magpie Robin nutrition should be considered as part of potential future giant tortoise translocation. On Cousin Island, Magpie Robins follow tortoises around to feed on the invertebrates they expose whilst moving through and disturbing the leaf litter.

1.4. Data Issues for Magpie Robins on Aride

1.4.1. Field Problems for Recording Individual Bird Presence

The daily Magpie Robin walk around monitoring revealed a few issues leading to errors in data recording. As discussed below in the section on 'General Monitoring and Data Issues', data were often not written on the recording form during the walk because the observer had not taken the recording form with them. Sometimes the data had been written down in a notebook to transcribe later; but on other occasions of querying blank spaces for previous days I was told that the 'data' would be written down later from memory. This did not usually occur until several days later and sometimes was not done at all . Data reliability is questionable therefore because of obvious memory errors in remembering which of 25-plus birds were seen and where, not to mention missing further notes that would normally be recorded on the form.

The daily presence of Magpie Robins was recorded on a data form listed the territories and within those territories the birds known from there. Presence of each individual bird was recorded simply by a X. Individual birds, however, were frequently seen in different territories and the data form dfoes not allow this to be recorded. Usually a note would be written in the margins but there was no way of noting in the collated data that, for example, bird Y was found in territory A (rather than B). The daily presence monitoring is also recorded on separate recording sheets for the west (Barringtonia, Banyan, Memorial, Hill West) and east (Village, Lodge, Hill East) sides of the island. This had the unintended implication that, if an 'east' bird was seen in the west (and vice-versa), that bird could not be recorded on the data sheet. Again, a note would be written in the margins but, again, there was no way to incorporate these data into the collated data files.


Revise data form to include all birds and to record territory spotted in. All birds could be listed (perhaps in order of colour rings) on a single data sheet so they can be recorded whether seen in east or west. Recording which territory a bird was observed in could be easily accommodated just by using a letter to symbolise the territory it was seen in (for example, 'V' for Village or 'L' for Lodge) instead of the ubiquitous 'X' used at present.


1.4.2. Data Collation & Tracking Issues

There are a number of problems apparent from collecting Magpie Robin data on Aride. Anne-Sophie Bonnet-Lebrun, undertaking her Masters project on Aride Magpie Robins during November 2011, has encountered problems with finding data and data discrepancies or ambiguities. Monthly report information, for example, often conflicts with the raw data files. Changes to territory names and which birds are ascribed to each territory have also made it difficult to establish continuity for records. Anne-Sophie is collating the Aride from 2004 to present into an organised data set, which will consist of three spreadsheet files:

• individual bird life histories• breeding records and nesting attempts• record of territories and how they change, dominant pairs and subordinates

Once the data are organised into a rational format it will be straightforward for Aride staff to continue to use this system and add data monthly as collected. This is important to avoid data becoming confused and lost. Further recommendations to come from Anne-Sophie regarding these issues should also be considered in due course.

1.5. Encouraging Magpie Robins to Establish Hill Territories

The overarching theme to emerge from Magpie Robin discussions was the need to encourage birds to move up from the plateau and establish hillside territories. A programme to gradually edge feeding points and nest box locations up onto the hillside from the plateau would work towards this purpose. In this regard, it is important for the path network of the island to be restored so that staff can have reliable access to the hillside. New paths could also be created up from the plateau at regularly spaced intervals so that a heterogeneity of hillside habitat (and potential associated conflict) along the breadth of the plateau was avoided. These new paths could start short and terminate with dead ends at the limit of feeding and nest box provision; they could be extended as feeding areas were moved further up.

Left: Adult Magpie Robins prefer leaf litter invertebrates, leaving a juvenile to take the artificial feed. Right: Bronze Gecko guarding entrance to Magpie Robin nest box containing young gecko

2. General Monitoring & Data Issues

2.1 Data and observer issues

2.1.1. General Need to Standardise Procedures

From discussions and shared field time it was apparent that there are some important data quality issues:

(1) different understandings of what a parameter referred to: for example, where nearshore and foreshore beach zones begin and end

(2) different interpretations of the same observation leading to different data being recorded: for


example, with misunderstanding of chick stage definitions

(3) when observation of a parameter is not possible, it was routine to guess what it 'should be'

(4) data forms being filled in from memory after the event (regularly days or weeks later)

(5) different procedures in monitoring affecting subsequent data: for example, dead birds being removed or not from dead bird (Pisonia death) quadrats so they may or may not be counted more than once

2.1.2. Discussion

Parameters for monitoring (e.g. tidal zone, turtle obstacles, GPS positions, chick stages, nest box status) are being assessed according to different interpretations and recorded in different ways by different people. This seems due to staff having learnt differently on different islands and suggests that a common training programme across the ICS network of islands is necessary. As an initial remedial step, uniform and unambiguous definitions of what is being observed and how it should be recorded might be incorporated into data recording forms. Importantly, work towards changing recording sheets and data parameters needs the consensus of different people (experts, rangers, conservation officers and others) and must bear in mind the need for backward compatibility with existing data so that long-term monitoring datasets are maintained.

Staff should also be trained in the importance of recording data as it is collected. It was regularly seen that observations or data were not written down immediately. For example, the daily Magpie Robin walk around check for presence of individual birds (alongside feeding) would occasionally not be written down as carried out (and not written in until the next day or several days later) because the observer had not taken the recording form with them. This could be because the Magpie Robin monitoring was following on from a different task and it was not considered worth returning to the office to collect the form. When I queried blank days on data sheets suggesting previous days monitoring had been missed I was usually told that the 'data' would be written down later from memory, although occasionally the data had been written down in a notebook to transcribe later. This has obvious implications for assessing the reliability of this data.

A further problem was noted of staff not being able to observe a given parameter but making a guess as to what it might be anyway. One example would be guessing where a turtle might have emerged from the sea to dig a nest discovered after a high tide. The turtle may have emerged even 50 metres down the beach and walked along until it discovered a passable interface yet, if tracks have been wiped out by the high tide, the assumption was made that the turtle 'probably' emerged from the sea directly in front of the nest.

Problems are also caused by the absence of a system to manage data files. There is no common folder for 'turtles' or for 'Magpie Robins', for example. Files relating to the same species are therefore scattered across a whole range of individuals' folders and named in idiosyncratic ways that make it very difficult to identify where important data and reports are.


Improve data recording fidelity. Data recording could be improved through training and explanation of why we are doing various monitoring activities to contextualise what is important. For rangers, engaging them in a particular monitoring programme from data collection and database entry to basic analysis could help generate enthusiasm for quality data. It may help to make one person responsible for each monitoring programme and ensuring other staff adhere to the standards they oversee. This person could also be responsible for ensuring that scheduled monitoring is in fact carried out - as it is, specific activities such as the Magpie Robin daily check are often overlooked at weekends because it is assumed that someone else will look after it.

Institutionalise oversight of data recording quality. Perhaps the Conservation Officer could come along every 3 months with each person on each monitoring routine to see how it is being done and to give some refresher training.

Central data form & parameter definition management. This would need to be managed through the Head Office to ensure standardised forms are used across all the ICS islands.

Protocol for computer file naming and organisation. All files should be stored on a central designated


island computer, with back up copies taken monthly and stored on one or more alternative computers (including library files sent to Head Office). A simple format for file naming across ICS islands might be “[island]_[species]_[year]_[detail].suffix”; for example, the 2011 Magpie Robin nest box check file for Aride would be named “Aride_SMR_2011_NestBoxRawData.doc”.

2.2. Turtle-Related Monitoring & Habitat Management Issues

Turtles issues were primarily discussed with Ian Bullock and benefited from further conversations with Gill Lewis, Licia Calabrese, Jeanne Mortimer and island staff.

2.2.1. Standardising Beach Access Parameters

There was confusion about what beach access parameters referred to and how to rate the accessibility of shore sections for turtles. This was resolved when Jeanne Mortimer visited on November 2 nd 2011 and talked through the survey and other turtle-related issues with us over a 3 hour workshop.

Through a past misunderstanding the island protocol had been established with the beach access needing to be done at low tide. Finding a one hour window around low tide for the beach access survey caused timetabling difficulties in clashing with other work programme needs. This was corrected by Jeanne Mortimer: beach accessibility can be assessed at any time as long as the observer is aware of the approximate low tide line and thus able to distinguish foreshore from offshore.

More important was the associated error of assessing the offshore according to the accessibility for turtles at low tide. Offshore accessibility should, however, be based on how accessible it is for a turtle over the full low to high tide range. This has led to much harsher ratings of offshore accessibility to date than should have been recorded.

Correct offshore ratings 1 (no obstacles), 2 (minor obstacles), 3 (major obstacles) and 4 (impossible) described by Jeanne Mortimer:

1 = turtle can access easily at low tide2 = turtle can access easily at high tide; but low tide would be difficult3 = turtle access at high tide would be difficult4 = turtle access at high tide would be impossible

Incorrect offshore ratings 1 (no obstacles), 2 (minor obstacles), 3 (major obstacles) and 4 (impossible) that we had been using on Aride:

1 = no obstacles for turtle to access at low tide2 = minor obstacles for turtle to access at low tide3 = difficult for turtle to access at low tide4 = impossible for turtle to access at low tide

Jeanne Mortimer's turtle talk through was of great value for standardising the varying interpretations of staff on the beach access survey and for correcting various other turtle-related errors and misunderstandings.

2.2.2. Assessment of GPS Accuracy on Beach Access Surveys

GPS measurements on repeated beach access surveys did not seem to accord well with perceived distances. GPS accuracy was typically displayed on the Geko 201 device as being 10 to 20 m. In order to gauge the accuracy of section distances recorded by GPS it was decided to use GPS and a 30 m tape measure in parallel. The western 490 m of the beach consisted of 25 sections with an average length measured by tape of 19.9 m (range 3 to 47 m). GPS section measurements had a mean error of ± 4 m (percentage error for individual sections averaged ± 27 %). In field comparison of practicality found that both GPS and tape measurements took similar time to observe. The inaccuracy of GPS distance measurements over this range of distances suggests that more accurate data could be recorded with no increase in effort by using tape measurements of distance.


2.2.3. Potential Habitat Management for Turtles

It was apparent from walking the beach that most of the length of the beach crest was heavily vegetated and/or had erosion cliffs worn in, which would limit turtle access. Erosion cliffs are transient features that appear and disappear as sand shifts along the beach. Vegetation, however, is a more stable feature and one that could be considered for habitat management action.

Closer analysis during October 2011 of the beach between an east end point demarcated by turtle pole 1B and the far west end of the beach (distance 731 m) examined parameters beach accessibility for turtles. The far west end of the beach is a 21 m section of rock cliff, leaving 710 m of beach crest for potential turtle nesting habitat. Erosion cliffs along 268 m of the beach crest interface (38 %) made access difficult or impossible for turtles, although this proportion is expected to vary notably with monsoon changes and storm events. Dense vegetation on the plateau and/or interface made turtle nesting difficult (rating 3) along 79 % of the beach crest length, leaving only 147 m accessible with minimal obstacles. These figures suggest that dense beach crest vegetation renders most of the Aride beach crest as difficult for turtle nesting.

Present beach crest management strategy appears to have the single objective of increasing vegetation density on the beach crest (specifically with Scaevola planting) in order to safeguard the shoreline from erosion. Recent years have seen considerable encroachment onto the plateau of the shoreline, with perhaps 4 m being lost in front of the Visitors' shelter, for example. However, the future effects of further increasing vegetation density along the beach crest should also be considered.

Whilst a greater vegetation density is desirable to protect the beach crest from sea erosion, it might be possible to clear limited patches of interface vegetation (perhaps 1 to 2 m) to act as 'gates' through which turtles may pass to access the plateau behind without increasing beach crest vulnerability to erosion. Behind these 'gates' small glades could also be cleared of dead wood and ground vegetation to allow sufficient area for turtle nesting.

Ian Bullock and myself explored the potential for such turtle habitat management along the beach crest at the east end of the beach. We selected three locations at which turtle access was difficult due to density of vegetation at the interface and/or on the plateau: by turtle marker post 1B; east of the visitors' shelter; and west of the visitors shelter. The workload for two people was approximately 15 minutes work at each location, including photography. Turtle 'gates' (1.5 to 2 m width) were cleared by cutting through the vegetation and glades (3 to 6 m diameter) cleared by removing dead wood, coconut leaves and obstructing vegetation. Photographs showing each location before (left) and after (right) are shown below. Monitoring these locations over the coming year for turtle nesting activity and for signs of localised beach crest erosion due to vegetation thinning would be informative for future discussions on this issue.


Ian Bullock with turtle 'gates' and glades


Revise beach access data forms & issue explicit definitions. To maintain standards, it would be useful if specific definitions were given for each of the offshore, foreshore, interface and plateau parameters.

Use tape measure for beach access distances. Recording of GPS coordinates could complement this and help for integrating beach transects with turtle nest locations (recorded by GPS); but using a tape measure is the only practical approach to get accurate data for section distances on the scale involved.

Turtle monitoring workshops. This could perhaps be done by Jeanne Mortimer on island visits or, with sufficient training, run by a central ICS staff member visiting the various ICS islands. Greater help in learning how to assess turtle ease of access ratings.

Turtle nesting habitat creation. Most of the Aride beach crest is already difficult for turtles to access due to dense vegetation. The beach crest will continue to become less accessible as vegetation density increases with natural growth and additional plantings aimed at securing against beach erosion. Habitat management to mitigate the negative impact on turtle accessibility should be considered. Specifically, we should explore limited and targeted thinning of vegetation barriers at narrow points to create turtles 'gates' through beach crest vegetation and nesting glades beyond them (monitoring for increased susceptibility to beach erosion).

2.3. Some Bird-Related Monitoring Issues

2.3.1. Fairy Tern & White-Tailed Tropicbird Nest Surveys

These nest surveys are done with a winding walk across the lowland plateau, marking new nests amongst the


forest as encountered and checking on already marked nests. Nests are labelled with the discovery month and numbered in series starting with '1' for the first nest of that month, so that nests along the walk do not follow any order in nomenclature. An approximation of the variable winding route is walked each week to aim for nest locations solely by memory and nests are written into a blank notebook (along with notes on their contents) in the order they are encountered. These factors combine to make it easy to miss nests along the survey and also for data tracking in the subsequent spreadsheet that is maintained. A major problem with the current system is that, being based on memory, it relies essentially on having the same individual carry out the survey each week. It is essential to have first-hand knowledge of where the nests are or the observer will never find them. Before annual leave is due for the observer a second person will accompany them for one or more surveys to get at least a partial knowledge of the nest locations; but this is far from ideal.

Data reproducibility and precision would be improved by using a more repeatable and organised system. Such a system was used in the past for the White-Tailed Tropicbird, based on a series of fixed nest site survey points. As White-Tailed Tropicbirds only nest in specific positions (usually old hollow bases of old coconut tree stumps on the plateau or rock crevices on the hillside), a certain number of nest sites (perhaps 50) could be selected and labelled along a transect. The transect would then be checked weekly for the presence of nests at these sites and the progress of nests at these known nest sites only monitored. This would allow a clearly defined transect to be established for staff to learn. Standardised sampling points would furthermore avoid the variability of the current system (constantly changing sampling locations) and improve trend analysis.

Fairy Terns cannot be monitored using an equivalent system (because they do not use a limited number of specific nest sites) but more reproducible monitoring was, again, achieved in the past by using the plateau paths as a defined non-linear transect. Only Fairy Tern nests observable form the path were monitored, their location perpendicular to the path by noted with a marker by the side of the path. Walking the paths is an easily reproducible transect and path edge markers identifying a nest at an approximate distance perpendicular to the path would be comprehensible to any observer. Defining a distance limit from the path for monitoring nests (for example, only include nests within 5 m of the path confirmed with a tape measure) would increase rigour and also allow some estimate to be made of habitat area monitored.

2.3.2. White-Tailed Tropicbird Nesting Habitat

White-Tailed Tropicbirds nest largely in the cavities left from old coconut tree stumps, along with rock crevices on the hillside. The log piles across the plateau (initiated by Peter and Harriet Carty to encourage invertebrates) also provide choice nests. In October 2011 there were lots of Takamaka hardwood logs around the plateau from trees cut down after suffering from wilt disease. These could further cut into smaller lengths and used to create long-lasting log piles for White-Tailed Tropicbird nest sites.

2.3.3. Dead Bird (Pisonia Death) Quadrats

Pisonia fruiting events are associated with numbers of alive and dead birds found entangled with Pisonia seeds. A number of 25 m by 25 m quadrats were established on Aride earlier in 2011 by a postgraduate student investigating the association of mortality with Pisonia entanglement. Monitoring of two plateau quadrats and two hillside quadrats has been continued as a weekly island monitoring activity since May 2011 (hillside quadrats are not monitored during Sooty Tern breeding, however, to avoid disturbance).

Data problems, however, were apparent from two causes. Firstly, there was much confusion evident in where the corners of the quadrats were marked – the red-white markers for the quadrats are identical (except for marker written numbers) to those for the island grid system. This led to highly variable areas being checked until the quadrats were remeasured and remarked in October using a clearer system. More importantly, monitoring did not appear to be carried out according to the correct procedure. Dead birds were not being removed from the quadrats after counting and so the same corpses were being repeatedly counted week by week. This was discussed with staff and the Conservation Officer, with agreement that dead birds probably should be removed, but dead birds continued to be left in. With none of the corpses being removed, weekly death counts for each plateau quadrat were 7 to 10 in the second half of September 2011. The mostly advanced decay states of the corpses, however, suggested that there were very few or no deaths actually


occurring in the quadrats during this period; and that the weekly 'death counts' of 6-8 birds being communicated were erroneous and misleading data.

All dead birds were therefore removed from the plateau quadrats when counted on September 28 th and quadrats done for the following month on the basis of removing dead birds as counted so that corpses are not counted repeatedly. No dead birds were found in either of the quadrats for the following two weeks. One of the quadrats then had a single dead Lesser Noddy chick on October 19 th a single dead (which was removed) and the same quadrat had two further dead Lesser Noddy chicks on October 26 th. The second quadrat had no dead birds discovered in the whole of October 2011. Only 3 birds in total were therefore discovered during October when corpses were being removed; compared to a count of nearly 40 birds for the second half of September alone when corpses were left in. This indicates that, as would be expected, not removing corpses leads to a substantial overestimate of bird mortality. Efforts should be made to ascertain if corpses have sometimes or usually been removed between May and September as multiple counting of corpses across subsequent weeks exaggerates apparent mortality rates; this will then lead to reassessment of the results.


Past monitoring systems appear to have been changed in recent years to less than satisfactory new systems. Returning to systems more like those used in the past would not only improve standards but would improve comparability of data collected today with long-term datasets collected through the 1980s and 1990s. Changes to the monitoring programmes should be discussed within the ICS Scientific Committee.

Return to the defined transects for White-Tailed Tropicbirds and Fairy Terns. Past monitoring used defined transects for White-Tailed Tropicbirds (permanently marked series of 100 nests monitored for activity) and Fairy Terns (nests within a certain distance on either side of the island plateau paths). Returnibg to this system would be better than the current ad hoc system of noting any nests observed in meandering walk along the plateau and would allow new data collected to be compared more appropriately to existing 1980s and 1990s datasets.

Hardwood log piles for White-Tailed Tropicbird nest sites. White-Tailed Tropicbirds nest in enclosed small spaces such as the hollows of old coconut stumps, spaces between log piles and even in spaces under coconut fronds. As such sites are limited we could use existing stocks of hardwood logs to create additional log piles enclosing suitable spaces for nesting.

Ensure corpses are removed from Pisonia bird death quadrats after counting. Removal was not being done during September 2011 and corpses were therefore being repeatedly counted across subsequent weeks, exaggerating mortality. For reliable data it is necessary to ensure all staff know to remove corpses once counted.

2.4. Vegetation Monitoring & Issues

2.4.1. Fixed Vegetation Quadrats

Vegetation monitoring (permanent circular quadrats fixed around a central point) are intended to be monitored every 5 years. However, this time interval in conjunction with staff turnover threatens continuity of awareness and methods – and 'starting from scratch' each time means that it becomes a major undertaking for concentration and planning. I would suggest annual practice or a limited vegetation survey is fixed into the annual calendar for the SE monsoon non-tourist period to keep skills current.

2.4.2. Beach Crest Vegetation

Gill Lewis and Anselm Barra have begun some work surveying the beach crest vegetation usings transects inland from the start of the beach crest (defined as the first rooted vegetation) to the path (or an arbitrary 10 m if there is no path at that point). Parameters recorded include % ground cover by bare sand/earth, rock or leaf litter and % are coverage by key plant species. This is important work to develop for monitoring of beach crest changes, with particular regard to the threat of beach erosion and to the habitat suitability for turtle nesting.


3.3.1. Pisonia

I understand that bird mortality rates associated with Pisonia are being examined and that in connection with this there are ongoing discussions as to whether to cut back large expanses of Pisonia habitat. For conservation objectives, however, the value of the Pisonia forest in itself needs to be considered – it is a globally threatened habitat that is being lost elsewhere and should be considered a conservation asset in its own right.

Despite the association of (especially) dead Lesser Noddies with Pisonia entanglement, there are a number of issues that should be considered in deciding upon intervention and Pisonia clearance. In what proportion of cases does a dead Lesser Noddy entangled in Pisonia mean that Pisonia was the ultimate cause of death (i.e. the bird was otherwise healthy)? Conversely, what proportion of entanglement cases are a bird that was already dying due to starvation (i.e. the bird was dying and stumbling around on the ground and that is why it became entangled in Pisonia)? Pisonia, however, is also an important asset for the Lesser Noddy because it provides a key nesting resource – hosting nests and providing soft leaves that are readily formed into nests. The great majority of Lesser Noddies choose to nest in Pisonia.

Cutting back Pisonia may reduce the number of birds found entangled in the seeds – but it is likely to also reduce the breeding success before fledging because of reduced nesting resources. More research into the potential trade-off that Pisonia cut back is likely to have in reducing the number of chicks raised versus reducing the number killed by Pisonia is needed.

3. Visitor Engagement, Volunteers & More

3.1. Visitor Information

3.1.1. Relating to the Visitor Information Boards Developed Here

Convert into leaflets, including the stylised guide narrative. Leaflet versions could be given to guests to take with them on the tour and, if they like, for taking home afterwards. Leaflets could also be distributed to hotels to inspire guests to sign up for visits to Aride.

Web versions. Visitor Information boards, alongside the stylised guide narrative, could be adapted as web pages for the ArideIsland.com website or made available as a downloadable slideshow.

3.1.2. Sooty Tern Education: Roadshow for Praslin?

The idea of a Sooty tern roadshow came up in discussions. Perhaps the Aride team could aim to visit every schoolchild on Praslin (and possibly La Digue) in a rolling programme of school visits to stress the vulnerability of the Aride Sooty Tern colony to poachers from Praslin. Engaging the children is a good way to bring about the long-term cultural change needed to reduce the demand for Sooty Tern eggs from these communities – and to exert pressure on egg-eating (or egg-poaching) parents from disapproving children.

The Sooty Tern story should be personalised, movies and pretty pictures can be shown, and the life story of individual Sooty Terns (e.g. give one bird whose history is known) projected to bring children to think of the birds as 'people'.

3.1.3. Further Public Engagement Opportunities

• Develop and enhance the experience for existing boat visitors• Explore potential small helicopter groups (2-4 people)• Form links with schools and civil groups• Pursue international engagement with birdwatching clubs etc.


3.3. Potential Giant Tortoise Reintroduction

3.3.1. Cost-Benefit Potential for a Giant Tortoise Population

Depends on conservation aims for Aride. Restore a typical pre-human Seychelles granitic island ecology? Giant tortoises are integral.

Also objectives re: landbirds. Magpie Robins follow around giant tortoises on Cousin to feed on invertebrates exposed from the leaf litter as a tortoises ploughs through. But what about effects on ground-nesting birds on Aride? On Cousin, consensus is that they do not pose a problem. But, in detail, what effects to they have on Shearwater burrows for example?

3.3.2. Recommend Feasibility Study for Giant Tortoise Translocation

Given the potential advantages for conservation objectives and for raising profile and revenue, a detailed feasibility study should be carried out on the potential for Giant Tortoise translocation to Aride. Aspects would include projections on: initial tortoise population to be transferred, anticipated population growth, potential impacts on ground-nesting birds, costs associated, logistics of translocation, sourcing of tortoises, follow-up study requirements, profile and revenue-raising potential. A long-term monitoring study of giant tortoises and associated ecology (effects on plants and birds) would then be expected to follow for the next 10 to 20 years – and the labour hours and workload (plus staff experience and training requirements) budgeted for (time and money). Giant tortoise translocation would be a major undertaking but one that should be considered.

3.2. Volunteers

3.2.1. Effective Use of Volunteers on Aride

Volunteers could be better engaged in the work programme and in the work team of the island by formally involving a ranger with each volunteer's project. This would help bring new skills and approaches to rangers and allow volunteer work to have a greater impact on ongoing and future nature reserve work. Weekly talks by volunteers on experiences elsewhere and skills beyond those being used on Aride would be useful in both exposing staff to new ideas and allowing volunteers' skills to be appreciated. Effort could also be made to find out from volunteers their professional experience and to what extent they might take over jobs done by the Conservation Officer and Island Manager (thus helping with workload issues). This would also help volunteers feel more valued.

3.2.2. Recruitment of Volunteers

There is a large potential talent pool of highly motivated students in universities worldwide who can contribute to research objectives on Aride through MSc projects. I would suggest a formal ICS programme to engage with university postgraduate courses to recruit potential MSc project students early on in their course. In the UK this would be in October to November for a fieldwork period the following April onwards. A concise information pack could be produced for distribution to course directors (for example, the vocational MSc Conservation at University College London) to make high potential students aware of the possibilities for fieldwork on Aride. Students may volunteer to gain relevant experience after completing their studies or may use a volunteer period for fieldwork towards a Masters' thesis.

3.2.3. Volunteer Projects

Volunteer projects could be used in a more targeted way to meet island conservation objectives. At present, a list of approximately 25 suggested project titles is available to consider. It would be good to have a more limited number of projects elaborated in more detail (giving brief background, aims and objectives, methods and how the outputs would be used) specifically aimed at meeting priority conservation objectives on Aride.



Engage rangers with volunteer projects. Formally attach a ranger to each volunteer project to share skills with rangers and to increase the impact of a volunteer's presence.

Engage volunteers in Conservation Officer workload. Use existing professional experience of volunteers to take over Conservation Officer and Island Manager tasks as appropriate. This would help with workload issues and also help volunteers feel valued.

Information pack to recruit MSc students to volunteer for thesis fieldwork. Engaging with postgraduate conservation courses worldwide would help tap a large pool of high potential volunteers who might come here for thesis fieldwork or even as general volunteers to gain experience after completing their studies.

Produce detailed project synopses to offer volunteers aimed at priority conservation objectives. Detailed project outlines (background, aims and objectives, methods, how the outputs would be used) would help draw volunteers to conservation priorities on Aride more than just giving a list of titles.




ANNUAL REPORT 2011 APPENDIX

This project was based on a comprehensive review of Aride Island Nature Reserve leading to the following outcomes:

(1) Series of Visitor Information boards and other resources for public engagement and visitors

(2) Introductory review for staff and volunteers of island history, biodiversity, environmental management, routine monitoring, research and other activities

(3) Recommendations and comments on management activities and strategies, including collection of relevant preliminary data and analysis of certain existing datasets

(4) Concise key outcomes formatted to include as an appendix in the 2011 annual report

This appendix consists of: a brief overview to the Visitor Information board project (with one example board image); a storyline for the Aride Island guided tour; and selected recommendations regarding Magpie Robins and turtles.

For any questions or for an copy of the full report please contact me via email: [email protected]


VISITOR INFORMATION BOARDS

Visitor Information boards are designed to A0 size in PowerPoint but can be scaled to A1 or A2 depending on optimum sizing for production and installation. Each board consists of 6 photographs and 4 key pieces of information given in separate boxes for English, French, German and Italian translations. Ten subjects for Visitor Information boards were identified and PDF files for completed designs left with ICS. These are ready for printing and installation on the island at predefined locations on basic frames if approved by ICS management.

Completed Visitor Information board designs have also been printed in colour on A4 paper and laminated for display in the Conservation Centre. A similar set on laminated A4 could also be mounted to a frame for display at the boat shed on tourist days. It is recommended that the Visitor Information boards be made available on the Aride Island website ArideIsland.com for interested persons to view.

Example Visitor Information board: Number 4, Seabird Colonies & Visitors

GUIDED TOUR STORYLINE


The character of the visitor audience varies from those disinterested in nature only wanting to have a look around the island to those on organised birdwatching tours. The tour guide (Aride Island ranger or volunteer) therefore needs to vary the quantity and quality of information communicated; but would ideally be able to


provide the detailed level of commentary that the keenest visitors would appreciate.

A model storyline that can be used as a reference source to provide that level of detail is provided here, with guidance to where and when during the tour individual aspects of the story are usefully employed. The ordering would vary depending on the route taken and further anecdotes, along with specific points of interest as encountered, would of course improve this stock narrative.

Conservation Centre for General Introduction

Welcome to Aride Island, the northernmost of the granitic islands of Seychelles. Aride is roughly half a km wide north to south and 1.5 km in length east to west; the south coast beach you landed on is around 800 m long, although that changes with seasonal sand movements. Aride was a coconut plantation up until the late 1960s and became a nature reserve from the 1970s, thanks to its purchase for nature conservation by Christopher Cadbury of the old chocolate-making family. Today it is one of the most important nature reserves in the world because of its bird populations.

Seabirds are the prime nature interest on Aride. Numbers fluctuate somewhat throughout the year; but we have a peak population during the south-east monsoon of roughly one and three-quarter million seabirds, all ranging across the seas to fish, bringing that food and energy supplies gained back to Aride. That ocean feeding catchment means that Aride supports an amazingly high density of life. In an average 10 m by 10 m square, there are 170 seabirds and 30 lizards.

Today, we'll be walking around the lowland plateau of Aride. Tucked beneath the rocky hills that dominate the island, the plateau was formed from sedimentation and the infilling of a shallow lagoon. We'll explore a small part of the hilltop at the western end, going up to a dramatic viewpoint on the hilltop (unless it's Sooty Terns are breeding on the hilltops, in which case we will only go a short distance up the hillside to the start of the colony).

Walking towards the Lodge

Inland from the village you will see the beautiful wooden lodge, built in the traditional creole style, that was the old coconut plantation manager's house. From his verandah, he could keep a watchful eye on the labourers down here in the village.

By the coast

The surf crashing onto the beach is regularly fierce – we only have visitors landing on calm days for everyone's safety. This has helped to keep Aride free from rats by reducing the ability for people to land boats on the island and the opportunities for stowaway rats to land with those boats. The boat shed faces the only location, because of reefs and submerged rocks, where it is possible to beach boats safely. That determined the historical location of the village here.

Lizards

Aride has the highest density of lizards anywhere on Earth – boosted by a combination of the food brought in by the seabirds, including the invertebrate population feeding on the detritus, and the absence of rats. Two similar lizard species dominate – the larger Wright's Skink, the found only on seabird islands, and the smaller Seychelles Skink that you will see readily on Praslin and Mahe, We also have the nocturnal bronze gecko, the green day gecko and a burrowing skink that lives underneath the leaf litter.

Terns: Sooty Terns & Bridled Terns

Terns dominate the island. As well as the Sooty Tern, there are large populations of Lesser Noddy, Common Noddy and Fairy Tern; with small populations of Bridled Tern and Roseate Tern.

The most abundant seabird on Aride, with a peak colony size of 750,000 birds during the August breeding season peak, is the Sooty Tern. Present on the island from March to October, the Sooty Tern nests here, uniquely, on the hilltop. All other known Sooty Tern nesting sites are on flat low-lying land. Sooty Terns have disaggregated breeding over the period from March to November – some pairs will have successfully raised a fledged chick before other pairs have even laid their first egg.


Sooty Tern eggs are sadly a target for poachers on Aride, so we have to maintain careful patrols. Sooty Terns lay a single egg. If they lose this, they will usually make a second attempt. If the second egg is taken too the birds may even extend to a third attempt, depending on timing and energy. This laying of further eggs is sometimes misunderstand as meaning that taking the first egg causes no harm – however, nests of second and third laid eggs are almost always unsuccessful.

The Bridled Tern, with a colony of some 200 birds, looks similar to the Sooty Tern but the white bar on the face extends beyond the eye. The dark feathers are also distinctly brown in comparison to the black of the Sooty Tern. Sooty Terns are larger than the Lesser Noddy and Bridled Terns are smaller, making it easy to distinguish the species when seen together with Lesser Noddies. Bridled Tern breeding, in contrast to that of the Sooty Tern, is highly synchronous.

Poachers also take birds, particularly the Wedge-Tailed Shearwater ('Fouke Dezil' in Creole), for meat. It is a horrific sight for staff to find piles of wings that have literally been torn off live birds that are then stuffed, still living, into sacks for transport back to Praslin by poachers.

Fairy Terns; Noddies

The iconic Fairy Tern breeds year-round on Aride. The Fairy Tern does not make a nest as such, instead laying and balancing its single egg in a depression on a branch or at the fork between branches. Juvenile Fairy Terns have light brown mottling on their feathers, which distinguishes them from the pure white adults. The chick is a little ball of white fluff. Being so white, Fairy Terns are particularly vulnerable to the night-hunting Barn Owl. The remaining two tern species breeding on Aride are the similar Lesser Noddy (340,000 birds) and the Brown Noddy (16,000 birds). The Brown Noddy, considerably less abundant than the Lesser Noddy on Aride, is ironically known also as the Common Noddy. Noddies breed during the SE monsoon months and are difficult to distinguish unless seen side by side – the Lesser Noddy being smaller and having a distinctly more slender bill. The pale cap of the Common Noddy is also prominent at the front and sharply delineated, unlike the whole-head and merging pale cap of the Lesser Noddy

Frigatebirds; Shearwaters; Tropicbirds

The famous Frigatebird colony of Aride is on the inaccessible cliffs of the north side. You can often see them flying above the island – they are unusual seabirds in that their feathers are not waterproof, meaning that flocks take to the air whenever rain approaches. This also means that Frigates cannot dive into the sea to fish and can only take flying fish and squid right at surface – or instead engage in piracy, harassing smaller birds until they disgorge their catch which is then seized in the air.

We have both Greater and Lesser Frigatebirds on Aride, with the Lesser more numerous, and most of the birds are juveniles – recognisable by their all-white heads. Greater and Lesser Frigatebirds can be distinguished by sight of their armpits in flight with some difficulty. The Lesser Frigatebird has white armpits, whereas the Greater Frigatebird has all-dark armpits.

Aride similarly has two species of Shearwater, which both nest in burrows. The Audobon's Shearwater is larger, around 45 cm in length, and has white underparts as both adult and chick. The Wedge-Tailed Shearwater is all-dark and smaller, around 30 cm length. The Audobon's Shearwater nests year-round, with no seasonality. The Wedge-Tailed Shearwater also nests year-round but with a strong seasonal bias, most burrows being prospected from August to September and most chicks fledging December to February.

The White-Tailed Tropicbird is white with dark bands and has a distinct large yellow beak. Its ong streaming white tail that gives it the Creole name 'Payanke', which comes from the French 'Paille-en-Queue that literally means 'straw-tailed'. White-Tailed Tropicbirds nest year-round in hollows. On the lowland plateau these are usually the base of old coconut trees and on the hill, where there are less coconut stumps, these are usually rock crevices. Aride's remaining seabird species is the Red-Tailed Tropicbird, which is rarely seen because there are only 3 to 6 pairs at a time on Aride. This few nests are on the far north side of the island away from the inhabited and accessible lowland plateau.

Magpie Robins; Fodies; Warblers

Our flagship landbird is the Seychelles Magpie Robin. It is a robin-like member of the thrush family that gets


its name from the magpie-like appearance of its white wing patches on a dark background. The Magpie Robin looks black at first glance but actually has a very dark blue sheen. The current population of over 25 birds was established on Aride in 2002 after several reintroduction attempts. A male and female pair control a territory of 200 to 250 m2 and may have up to four nesting attempts per year. Fledglings stay with the parents as juveniles but are then chased away to find their own territory when they reach adulthood. Individual birds are identified by the coloured rings. We usually refer to each bird with the left leg colour combination as its name, for example 'violet-green' or 'blue-blue'.

As we walk around the island you will notice large numbers of small brown sparrow-like birds fluttering around, which are the Seychelles Fody and the Seychelles Warbler. The Seychelles Fody is more numerous and its behaviour more sparrow-like, skipping along the ground and pestering humans for food. It has a short stubby bill compared to the Seychelles Warbler's long narrow bill. The Seychelles Warbler is usually seen darting through the undergrowth picking insects off vegetation and is more timid than the Seychelles Fody.

Sunbirds; Blue Pigeons; Moorhen; Turtle Doves

Our remaining endemic landbirds are the Seychelles Sunbird and the Seychelles Blue Pigeon. The Sunbird is small and grey, with the male developing an iridescent blue on its throat and head in breeding plumage. Small and active, they have a curved bill and feed on nectar. The Seychelles Blue Pigeon interestingly recolonised Aride naturally, the birds probably flying over from Praslin. The Common Moorhen is mainly found around the marsh and is a territorial bird with distinct large yellow feet, groups of which are often seen fighting in vicious territorial disputes. The hard red shield on the front of the head is a formidable weapon. We are also likely to see familiar Turtle Doves and Barred Ground Doves. The Barn Owl is a formidable predator that kills especially Fairy Terns and one that we are trying to eradicate from Aride.

Banyan Tree & Generator Shed

This very large Banyan Tree or 'Indian Almond' is very popular for visitor photographs. Also note the dangling vines that evoke images of Tarzan swinging through the jungle. Next to the Banyan is our generatir shed, the generator providing power to the houses in the evenings.

Wright's Gardenia; Night-Flowering Cucumber

A small tree with gorgeous smelling white flowers, Wright's Gardenia is the flagship plant on Aride. This tree is found naturally only on Aride and the healthy population has increased and spread across the island, like other tree species, since the ending of the coconut plantation monoculture. Wright's Gardenia gets its Creole name 'Bwa Citron' from the appearance of the immature green fruit, which resemble a lime or lemon before they mature and turn brown.

Like the Wright's Gardenia, the Night-Flowering Cucumber or 'Peponium' is found only on Aride Island. A member of the cucumber family, this climbing plant has pale yellow flowers open at dusk as night begins and close up when daylight approaches. It climbs on trees using these curly tendrils. A similar species of the same genus exists in East Africa. We do have another climbing plant with similar curly tendrils but different leaves and pink flowers – this is the invasive 'Gro Pwa' or 'Big Pea', a member of the pea family.

Christopher Cadbury Memorial

This memorial stone thanks Christopher Cadbury of the old chocolate-making family for his vital role transforming Aride to the wonder that is today. Not only did he purchase the island initially, he was also highly active in driving forward its progression and management and established an endowment fund to continue to support Aride in perpetuity. Today Aride is one of the most important nature reserves in the world because of its bird populations.

Plateau Marsh & Black Mud Terrapins

The lowland plateau marsh you see behind the beach crest and the Village is the only permanent freshwater on Aride. You can also see the overflow drainage ditch that we have to prevent flooding of the Village in times of heavy rain. We have plans to translocate the Seychelles Black Mud Terrapin to the marsh here from


existing populations on La Digue and Praslin. In preparation for this we have dug out a number of deeper ponds within the marsh to ensure good pools of water remain even during extended dry periods.

Barbecue & Visitor Shelter; Beach Erosion

Here we end the tour at the visitor shelter where you will now be joining your tour operators for the barbecue. The previous shelter was actually maybe 4 metres closer to sea but was lost to beach erosion, a warning of one of the longer term threats to the ecology of the low land plateau, particularly with projected levels of sea level rise. You're welcome to enjoy the beach and snorkel – but please take care of the currents, which can be strong and dangerous.

Other: 'Mini Coconut' Bwa Sousouris Seed

(Visitors might pick up one of these seeds and ask if this is a 'mini coconut'). That is actually the seed of the Fruitbat Tree, 'Bwa Sousouris' in Creole. The fibrous seed is enclosed in a pale yellow fruit when it falls from the tree; and it isn't related to the coconut.

RECOMMENDATIONS: MAGPIE ROBINS

Any changes in nest box provision must of course first be agreed within ICS and within the Seychelles Magpie Robin Recovery Team (SMART) committee.

Relocate unused nest boxes within the territory. New locations may identify positions preferable to the birds than the nest boxes currently in use.

Replacement of nest boxes containing old and abandoned nests. This should be made a routine part of the weekly nest box monitoring routine to ensure nest box provision is clean and free for new nesting attempts.

Weekly replacement of nest boxes containing gecko eggs. Nest boxes with gecko eggs present should be taken down and immediately replaced with a new and clean nest box. Effective predation of gecko eggs by staff on a weekly basis would discourage geckos from using nest boxes for egg laying.

Log and leaf piles around paths. Soft Pisonia wood, hardwood planks and rotting leaf piles all provide productive refuges for cockroaches and other invertebrates; they become an easy location for feeding Magpie Robins simply by pushing them aside and exposing the invertebrates underneath. Area clearing for invertebrates could be made a routine action when encountering Magpie Robins anywhere on the island to help boost food supply.

Consider the analagous role giant tortoises may play. The role of exposing invertebrates by disturbing leaf litter in Magpie Robin nutrition should be considered as part of potential future giant tortoise translocation. On Cousin Island, Magpie Robins follow tortoises around to feed on the invertebrates they expose whilst moving through and disturbing the leaf litter.

Revise data form to include all birds and to record territory spotted in. All birds could be listed (perhaps in order of colour rings) on a single data sheet the territory in which a bird was observed noted by using a letter to symbolise the territory it was seen in (for example, 'V' for Village or 'L' for Lodge). This would allow clear recording irrespective of whether a bird was seen in its home territory or not.


Documents

Aride Island Nature Reserve, Seychelles · 2019. 12. 5. · Aride Island Nature Reserve, Seychelles: Visitor Information & Island Overview September to November 2011 Dr Adam Moolna