Above picture:  Lindsay and Graham Wells in Cierva Cove on the west coast of Graham Land, Antarctica, in January 2017; photograph by Dale R. Morris

Keen bird photographer, Graham Wells, along with his wife, Lindsay, have supported the Mouse-Free Marion (MFM) Project by sponsoring 25 hectares.  Graham has written to MFM News saying that they reside in Pringle Bay in South Africa’s Western Cape, after spending 32 years in Johannesburg.  “I am a retired Chemical Engineer, after a 38-year career at AECI and Sasol.  At AECI, I worked for Geoff McIlleron who is a noted birdwatcher and photographer.  Geoff’s enthusiasm about bird photography emboldened me and so a hobby, shared by my wife, Lindsay, was born.  We have been able to travel to many of the local game parks and reserves, including in Botswana and Namibia, and to date have a ‘Roberts’ bird collection of 632 photographs.”

A South Georgia Pipit inspires a sponsorship; photograph by Graham Wells

Graham continues to say “In December 2016 we fulfilled a life-long dream to visit Antarctica, which also took us to South Georgia and the Falkland Islands.  On South Georgia we saw and photographed the endemic South Georgia Pipit Anthus antarcticus, which earlier had been threatened by a rat infestation, resulting from the whaling days.  Being ground nesters, the pipits were easy prey.  A successful rodent eradication programme was undertaken by way of aerial baiting, as is proposed for Marion Island for the island’s House Mice.  The excitement and privilege of spotting what was a rarity on South Georgia inspired us to participate in the Mouse-Free Marion Project.”

He explains that they were part of Flock to Marion 2022 voyage when the MFM Project was promoted, leading to them making their 25-ha sponsorship.  Graham ends by saying “We wish the Mouse-Free Marion Project every success and trust that it will be fully funded by like-minded birders and institutions!”

The MFM Project Team thanks Graham and Lindsay Wells for their generous support and echoes their appeal for continued funding.

John Cooper, News Correspondent, Mouse-Free Marion Project, 7 May 2024

***************************************************************************

Grey-headed Albatrosses gather on a Marion Island cliff top; photograph and poster design by Michelle Risi

 

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.