One of these maps displayed on the 2025 Flock voyage will have 25 albatross stickers, one for each of the 25 hectares Mark Perry sponsored while aboard, photograph by John Cooper
Mark Perry is a keen conservationist who considers birding as a rewarding and enjoyable hobby. He resides in Balgowan in the South African Province of KwaZulu-Natal. In January this year he was one of the many birders who accompanied the Flock to Marion AGAIN! 2025 voyage to Marion Island. He writes of his experience “what a wonderful trip that will remain in the memory for ever.”
While aboard Mark generously sponsored the Saving Marion Island’s Seabirds: The Mouse-Free Marion (MFM) Project with 25 hectares towards ridding the island of its introduced House Mice. MFM News got in touch with Mark to offer thanks; in replying he enquired of progress with the project. The MFM Project Manager, Dr Anton Wolfaardt replied to Mark:
“Thank you for your continued interest in and support for the MFM Project. We truly appreciate your engagement and understand how, from the outside, progress may not always be visible.
In reality, a great deal of work is underway behind the scenes. This is an exceptionally complex and challenging project, logistically, scientifically, and administratively. While fundraising is a critical component, it is only one of several key workstreams. Others include intensive research and planning (particularly in light of the recent eradication failures on Gough Island and Midway Atoll) and navigating a range of highly detailed regulatory approvals that are essential for a project of this scale.”
Anton continued “We are taking a very deliberate, risk-managed “belt and braces” approach, methodical rather than rushed, to ensure that every aspect is addressed thoroughly before proceeding with the baiting operation. This careful preparation is vital to give the project the highest possible chance of success.
Please be assured that significant progress is being made, even if much of it happens out of sight. We look forward to sharing more updates as we move toward this landmark conservation operation.”
In response to Anton, Mark expressed his best wishes going forward. It is good to have supporters of the MFM Project who appreciate the complexities of eradicating House Mice over 30 000 hectares in a single operation – a task that has never been attempted at such a scale.
John Cooper, News Correspondent, Mouse-Free Marion Project, 18 November 2025
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Heading home: all the birders, including Mark Perry, aboard the MSC Musica during the Flock to Marion AGAIN! 2025 voyage, photograph by Cassie Carstens
The Mouse-Free Marion Project is a registered non-profit company (No. 2020/922433/08) in South Africa, established to eradicate the invasive albatross-killing mice on Marion Island in the Southern Ocean. The project was initiated by BirdLife South Africa and the South African Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment. Upon successful completion, the project will restore the critical breeding habitat of over two million seabirds, many globally threatened, and improve the island’s resilience to a warming climate. For more information or to support the project please visit mousefreemarion.org.
