Like the rest of Seychelles, we have been experiencing some unusually stormy May weather this year, but this does not seem to have put the magpie robins off, and we have recently seen a flurry of breeding activity.

We now have birds breeding in each of Aride’s six territories, ranging from birds busily nest-building, to incubating newly-laid eggs, to pairs successfully fledging young. We are lucky enough to have three brand new chicks, one still in the nest up on the hill, and two which have just emerged and can be seen hopping about on branches around the plateau, calling to their parents for food. 

As well as these newcomers, we still have some of the same old magpie robin characters on the island.  Female yellow-yellow is one of the oldest birds and has raised an amazing 11 chicks since she hatched in 2001. Her partner sky blue-sky blue is now the only surviving male from the successful translocation project from Fregate island nearly 10 years ago, and has fathered 13 chicks. 

With only around 20 birds on Aride, and 200 worldwide, every egg and chick is precious and is carefully monitored by island staff. All the territories are visited daily, with a small amount of supplementary food provided for the birds.
 
Every robin that is seen, and any interesting behaviour, is noted down and compiled each month, giving Island Conservation Society staff an excellent picture of how the population is changing over time.

This, along with similar monitoring programmes being carried out by our conservation partners on Cousin, Cousine and Fregate, means that hopes are high for the future of this fantastic species.

As an Aride island volunteer, my three-month placement is nearly over, and soon I will be leaving Seychelles behind. I am so pleased to have had the privilege of working on the magpie robin project here.

I have been a small part of one of the most famous conservation success stories in the world, which I first learned about as a zoology undergraduate back in Scotland. I am sure I will not be the last person to fall for these fantastic birds.

If you would like to help conserve the Seychelles magpie robin by sponsoring one of our birds here on Aride, please call 321600 or 719778, or email aride@seychelles.net. Or come and visit the island to meet the birds themselves. Tours of the island by our experienced rangers are free for Seychellois and make a great day out! 

by Rebecca Johnson