News

News items posted here are shared to the project’s Facebook page, where related news from the Prince Edward Islands and from other islands with mouse issues and/or eradication efforts are also shared.

South Africa’s Oppenheimer Conference hears about saving Marion Island’s seabirds – the world’s most important bird conservation project

November 8th, 2023|0 Comments

Above picture:  Mark Anderson and Mavuso Msimang (seated) present their talk on the Mouse-Free Marion Project to this year’s Oppenheimer Conference The Mouse-Free Marion (MFM) Project, arguably the world’s currently most important bird conservation endeavour, [...]

The Mouse-Free Marion Project defers its baiting operation to review why two recent eradication attempts failed and ensure its planning is in line with lessons learned

September 20th, 2023|0 Comments

Above picture: A Wandering Albatross chick is perched on its mud and vegetation nest raised above a swampy coastal plain with Marion Island’s mountainous interior as a backdrop; photograph by Sean Evans Islands are biodiversity [...]

Leaping into spring on Marion Island

September 5th, 2023|0 Comments

Above picture:  Welcoming the new season in front of Crawford Bay on Marion Island’s south-east coast.  From left “birders” (ornithological researchers) Chris Jones, Mpumelelo Mabutyana, Michelle Risi and Kyle Maurer get airborne on their August [...]

Ten nations endorse the Mouse-Free Marion Project at an international meeting of the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels

June 27th, 2023|0 Comments

Above picture:  Delegates attending the Thirteenth Meeting of the ACAP Advisory Committee outside Queen Elizabeth House, Edinburgh, Scotland; photograph by Bree Forrer The Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP), which entered into [...]

Returning the cacophony to Hawadax

February 28th, 2023|0 Comments

Above Picture: Hawadax Island from the air, photograph by Graeme Gale Continuing a series on past, current and planned introduced mammal eradication projects on seabird islands around the world, Gregg Howald of Advanced Conservation Strategies [...]

From 2.5% to 67%! Improved breeding success of Black-winged Petrels after eradication of rodents on Lord Howe Island is good news for Marion Island’s beleaguered burrowing petrels

September 8th, 2022|0 Comments

Above picture:  Lord Howe Island, a World Heritage Site in the Tasman Sea.  Photograph by Ian Hutton Terence O’Dwyer (Conservation and Restoration Science, Department of Planning and Environment, New South Wales, Australia) and colleagues have [...]

An endorsement for the Mouse-Free Marion Project: a review paper shows an 88% success rate in island vertebrate eradications

August 23rd, 2022|0 Comments

Above Picture: A Grey-headed Albatross on Australia’s Macquarie Island, now free of introduced vertebrates, including House Mice, following successful eradication efforts. Photograph by Melanie Wells Dena Spatz (Senior Conservation Scientist, Pacific Rim Conservation, Honolulu, Hawaii, [...]

Avian Scavengers as Indicators of Recovery of an Island Biota – a new study aims to inform the Mouse-Free Marion Project

August 31st, 2021|0 Comments

Above picture: A Black-Faced Sheathbill tends its downy chick on Marion Island, photograph by Maëlle Connan Ecosystem processes are changing worldwide, including from the impacts of invasive species being exacerbated by climate change.  This is particularly obvious in the Southern Ocean where a [...]

Introducing Dr Alistair McInnes, Seabird Conservation Programme Manager at BirdLife South Africa

August 26th, 2021|Comments Off on Introducing Dr Alistair McInnes, Seabird Conservation Programme Manager at BirdLife South Africa

Above Picture:  Dr Alistair McInnes, birdwatching at the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden Alistair McInnes is currently the Seabird Conservation Programme Manager at BirdLife South Africa and a member of the Mouse-Free Marion Management Committee. [...]

Invasive mice attack an adult Northern Giant Petrel on Marion Island

August 19th, 2021|Comments Off on Invasive mice attack an adult Northern Giant Petrel on Marion Island

Above Picture:  A Northern Giant Petrel on Marion Island, photograph by Marienne de Villiers This post continues an occasional series that features the several scientific papers that give information on attacks by House Mice on [...]

Threatened albatrosses on Marion Island are being scalped by mice

August 13th, 2021|Comments Off on Threatened albatrosses on Marion Island are being scalped by mice

Above Picture: Scalped Grey-headed Albatross chicks, photograph by Ben Dilley General Introduction With this post the Mouse-Free Marion website commences an occasional series that features the several scientific papers that give information on attacks by [...]

Introducing Robyn Adams, Communications Officer and Project Assistant for the Mouse-Free-Marion Project

August 10th, 2021|Comments Off on Introducing Robyn Adams, Communications Officer and Project Assistant for the Mouse-Free-Marion Project

Above Picture: Robyn Adams, enjoying the Langebaan Lagoon, West Coast National Park In this “Meet the Team” post, we formally introduce Robyn Adams, who recently took up the role of Communications Officer and Project Assistant [...]

Introducing Mark Anderson, Chair of the MFM Management Committee

August 4th, 2021|Comments Off on Introducing Mark Anderson, Chair of the MFM Management Committee

Above Picture: BirdLife South Africa’s CEO, Mark Anderson, chairs the Mouse-Free Marion Management Committee In a “Meet the Team” series of occasional posts, the Mouse-Free Marion (MFM) website aims to introduce key role players who [...]

Ex Marion Overwinterer Jacha Potgieter raises 45 hectares of sponsorships towards eradicating the island’s mice

July 29th, 2021|Comments Off on Ex Marion Overwinterer Jacha Potgieter raises 45 hectares of sponsorships towards eradicating the island’s mice

Above Picture: Jacha Potgieter poses with his sculpture of an Amsterdam Albatross that he made from waste plastic collected from beaches in Wales Back in April, with the essential help of the Antarctic Legacy of [...]

Project Manager Anton Wolfaardt gives a virtual talk on eradicating Marion Island’s mice to the Witwatersrand Bird Club

July 27th, 2021|Comments Off on Project Manager Anton Wolfaardt gives a virtual talk on eradicating Marion Island’s mice to the Witwatersrand Bird Club

Above Picture: Saving Marion Island’s Seabirds, a talk to the Wits Bird Club by Anton Wolfaardt Mouse-Free Marion (MFM) has previously reported on the support provided to the project by four of the 41 bird [...]

The first 100-hectare sponsorship came from Taiwan, not South Africa – featuring Lucia Liu Severinghaus

July 23rd, 2021|Comments Off on The first 100-hectare sponsorship came from Taiwan, not South Africa – featuring Lucia Liu Severinghaus

Above Picture: Lucia Liu Severinghaus, Australia, 2018 To date, only four persons have joined the prestigious ‘Wandering Albatross Club’ by sponsoring 100 hectares or more towards the planned eradication in 2023 of introduced House Mice [...]

The Mouse-Free Marion Project is looking for a Campaign Manager

July 12th, 2021|Comments Off on The Mouse-Free Marion Project is looking for a Campaign Manager

The Mouse-Free Marion project is gaining increasing momentum, as we work towards an eradication operation in the austral winter of 2023. There remains a lot to do between now and then, not least the need [...]

Marine ornithologists and conservationists around the world are supporting the Mouse-Free Marion Project

July 9th, 2021|Comments Off on Marine ornithologists and conservationists around the world are supporting the Mouse-Free Marion Project

Above picture:  Jaimie Cleeland bands a breeding Tristan Albatross on Gough Island To date, 813 sponsors have funded 2260 hectares towards the eradication of Marion Island’s albatross-killing mice with donations exceeding two and a quarter [...]

South Africa’s Environment Minister launches second national report on invasive species

July 6th, 2021|Comments Off on South Africa’s Environment Minister launches second national report on invasive species

Above Picture - Barbara Creecy, Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment launches the Invasives Report The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Ms Barbara Creecy, officially released South Africa’s second national report on [...]

Mouse-Free Marion Project Manager returns from Gough Island

June 29th, 2021|Comments Off on Mouse-Free Marion Project Manager returns from Gough Island

On 13 June 2021, South Africa's research and supply ship, the S.A. Agulhas II, returned to Cape Town following a charter voyage to Gough Island. The purpose of the voyage was to deploy the Gough [...]

Four of BirdLife South Africa’s 41 affiliated bird clubs have supported the Mouse-Free Marion Project

June 24th, 2021|Comments Off on Four of BirdLife South Africa’s 41 affiliated bird clubs have supported the Mouse-Free Marion Project

Four of BirdLife South Africa’s 41 affiliated bird clubs have supported the Mouse-Free Marion Project; two of them challenge the remaining clubs to do likewise Above picture:  Not just birders; Lakes Bird Club members on [...]

The Mouse-Free Marion Project needs admin help

June 21st, 2021|Comments Off on The Mouse-Free Marion Project needs admin help

Above picture: Days numbered? An introduced House Mouse on Marion Island, photograph by Stefan Schoombie BirdLife South Africa and the South African Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) are collaborating on the Mouse-Free [...]

BirdLife South Africa co-sponsors a Wandering Albatross infographic to mark World Albatross Day on 19 June

June 19th, 2021|Comments Off on BirdLife South Africa co-sponsors a Wandering Albatross infographic to mark World Albatross Day on 19 June

Above picture: The Wandering Albatross Infographic co-sponsored by ACAP and BirdLife South Africa An infographic depicting the globally Vulnerable Wandering Albatross Diomedea exulans has been produced to celebrate the second ever World Albatross Day on [...]

“We stand on the shoulders of giants”.  A feasibility study to rid New Zealand’s Auckland Island of its introduced cats, pigs and mice will inform the Mouse-Free Marion Project

June 11th, 2021|Comments Off on “We stand on the shoulders of giants”.  A feasibility study to rid New Zealand’s Auckland Island of its introduced cats, pigs and mice will inform the Mouse-Free Marion Project

Above Picture – Licking its lips.  A feral cat feeds on the corpse of a White-capped Albatross chick on Auckland Island, photograph by Stephen Bradley Marion is not the only island in the Southern Ocean [...]

Macquarie Island stalwart Keith Springer appointed Mouse-Free Marion’s Operations Manager

June 4th, 2021|Comments Off on Macquarie Island stalwart Keith Springer appointed Mouse-Free Marion’s Operations Manager

Above Picture - Moving to safety from a landing helicopter.  Keith Springer cradles an Antipodean Albatross chick on Antipodes Island Following the interviewing of shortlisted candidates last month for the position of Operations Manager, the [...]

Mouse-free Marion reaches a milestone with 2012 hectares sponsored – but still a long way to go

May 7th, 2021|Comments Off on Mouse-free Marion reaches a milestone with 2012 hectares sponsored – but still a long way to go

Each exposed rectangle represents 100 hectares of Marion Island funded The “Sponsor a Hectare” campaign of the Saving Marion Island's Seabirds Mouse-free Marion Project has reached its first milestone: over 2012 hectares have now been [...]

Albatross conservation researcher Nigel Brothers makes a birthday donation in his grand-daughter’s name.

May 1st, 2021|Comments Off on Albatross conservation researcher Nigel Brothers makes a birthday donation in his grand-daughter’s name.

Thanks Grandad!  Rosie Brothers proudly holds her “Sponsor a Hectare” certificate of appreciation received from the Mouse-free Marion Project for her 10th birthday At the last meeting of Albatross and Petrel Agreement’s Population [...]

Mouse-Free Marion Project Sponsor a Hectare Team Challenge

April 20th, 2021|Comments Off on Mouse-Free Marion Project Sponsor a Hectare Team Challenge

Above Picture - 39th Marion Island Team; Graham Clarke is centre, back At 29 000 hectares Marion will be by far the largest island at which a mouse eradication attempt will be made.  Not surprisingly, it [...]

The project to save Marion Island’s seabirds receives a massive boost from Dr Frederik Paulsen and Ferring Pharmaceuticals

April 15th, 2021|Comments Off on The project to save Marion Island’s seabirds receives a massive boost from Dr Frederik Paulsen and Ferring Pharmaceuticals

At 29,000 hectares, Marion Island will be the largest island by far on which an attempt will be made to eradicate mice in a single exercise. Consequently, the logistical, planning and funding demands for the [...]

The Mouse-Free Marion Project is hiring

April 10th, 2021|Comments Off on The Mouse-Free Marion Project is hiring

The Mouse-Free Marion project is gaining increasing momentum, as we work towards an eradication operation in the austral winter of 2023. There remains a lot to do between now and then, and the project is [...]

Albatross and Petrel Agreement stalwart sponsors 25 hectares towards eradicating Marion Island’s albatross-killing mice

April 1st, 2021|Comments Off on Albatross and Petrel Agreement stalwart sponsors 25 hectares towards eradicating Marion Island’s albatross-killing mice

Above Picture - Mark Tasker, annual Wandering Albatross count, Prion Island, 2012 Mark Tasker, who resides in Scotland, is a retired Head of Marine Advice at the UK’s Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) and a [...]

It takes a pandemic to kick-start a project

September 14th, 2020|Comments Off on It takes a pandemic to kick-start a project

Marion Island, the larger of the two Prince Edward Islands, could be referred to as the jewel in South Africa’s island crown.  Home to some 28 species of breeding seabirds, the fate of these species [...]