by Ria Olivier | Jul 18, 2023 | Announcement
Message form the editor, Elsa van Ginkel:
” February and March were tinted with a mixture of anticipation for the ship to arrive and that sad inevitable feeling that this might be the last time we set foot on this breath-taking island – a little sub-Antarctic gem we called home for the past 14 months. It was such an honour and a privilege to be able to contribute to such a large conservation initiative. We had to face many unforeseen challenges heads on, both as a team and as individuals. We made it through gale force winds and the unfortunate ice pellets of life that came our way during this year but we certainly found moments of utmost joy and these are the memories we will cherish for life. Our expedition has now come to an end and I wish all the M79 team members a safe journey back home and the best of luck for their future endeavours…”
In this final edition: a word from the team leader, Tshimangadzo Jufter Munyai.
An interview with the birders.
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Andile Ace Mdluli
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Samuel Peta
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Lucy Smyth (left)
A day in the life of a medical orderly, Mndeni Aaron Hlatshwayo.
Beautiful memorable shots, and much more…
Click here: Last M79 newsletter
Click here for the complete M79 newsletter collection on the ALSA Archive
Goodbye Marion 79 – we wish you well in your future endeavors. May the experience you had on Marion Island forever have a positive impact on your life.
Team Photo in the middle:
Top row (left to right): Banele Dosi (MIMMP Sealer), Samuel Peta (O & C Birder – DFFE), Sanele Action Mkhize (Diesel Mechanic), Siphesihle Faltein (Assistant Meteorological Technician – SAWS), Lucy Smyth (MAPRU/NMU Birder), Michael Ross (MIMMP Sealer).
Middle row (left to right): Monica Leitner (MIMMP Killer whaler/Sealer), Mndeni ‘Amani’ Hlatshwayo (Medical Orderly), Thendo Sikhwari (Senior Meteorological Technician – SAWS), Andile Ace Mdluli (O & C Birder – DFFE), Gladys Kemei (Communications Engineer and Deputy Team Leader), Tankiso H. Moso (SANSA Electronics Engineer and Science Team Leader), Ntlangemhlophe Sanele Sukude Nombekela (Chef), Mishumo Masithembi (Environmental Control Officer).
Bottom row (left to right): Gcobani Tshangana (Assistant Environmental Control Officer), Austin Acro Gumba (UKZN Astrophysicist), Tanganedzani Tshitavhe (Assistant Meteorological Technician – SAWS), Tshimangadzo Jufter Munyai (Base Engineer and Team Leader), Elsa van Ginkel (MFM Ecologist).
Insert (left): Abuyiselwe Nguna (Geomorphologist); Insert (right): Vhuawelo Simba (MFM Ecologist).
Ria Olivier, Antarctic Legacy of South Africa & Anche Louw, South African Polar Research Infrastructure, 18 July 2023.
by Ria Olivier | Aug 1, 2022 | Announcement, Marion Island, Marion Island Newsletters, Research
The first newsletter of Marion 79 is now available online!
Inside this issue meet the team members, page through their memories and read more about:
- Circle of Life
- Do a tour of the Base; the Butternut Hotel
- The little Chomper – Sub-Antarctic fur seal pups
- Take-over Memories
- The Magical Island – Diary of a Marion First-Timer
Message from the Editor Elsa Van Ginkel: “Marion has been treating us well these past few months, the team is slowly becoming a family and we are truly looking forward to the rest of our overwintering period. I hope that this first edition of The Wanderer will keep you entertained! Enjoy.”
And Co-editor Tankiso Moso: “It is indeed a blessing and an achievement to be here. It has also been a great time so far: learning the work, getting to know each other as a team and getting used to the M79ers family. It’s going to be a good year!”
Click here to view/download the newsletter and see great shots taken by team members:
Click here to view more Marion Newsletters on the Antarctic Legacy of South Africa Archive.
Ria Olivier, Antarctic Legacy of South Africa, 01 August 2022.
by Ria Olivier | May 18, 2023 | Announcement, Marion Island, Marion Island Newsletters, News, Overwintering Team, Research, SA Agulhas II, SANAP, SAPolarRI, SAPRI, sub-Antarctic, Team member, Team Photo
The 79th Marion Island overwintering team arrived on Marion Island on 21 April 2022.
They are back in Cape Town, after spending 386 days on the island and 6 nights on the S.A. Agulhas II for the journey home.
If you want to know more about the work this team did on the island, check out their newsletters (click on the link below).
Marion79 Newsletters
The featured image is the team’s official team photo and displayed on the wall inside the sub-Antarctic Marion Island research station.
Team Photo:
Top row (L-R): Banele Dosi (MIMMP Sealer), Samuel Peta (O & C Birder – DFFE), Sanele Action Mkhize (Diesel Mechanic), Siphesihle Faltein (Assistant Meteorological Technician – SAWS), Lucy Smyth (MAPRU/NMU Birder), Michael Ross (MIMMP Sealer).
Middle row (L-R): Monica Leitner (MIMMP Killer whaler/Sealer), Mndeni ‘Amani’ Hlatshwayo (Medical Orderly), Thendo Sikhwari (Senior Meteorological Technician – SAWS), Andile Ace Mdluli (O & C Birder – DFFE), Gladys Kemei (Communications Engineer and Deputy Team Leader), Tankiso H. Moso (SANSA Electronics Engineer and Science Team Leader), Ntlangemhlophe Sanele Sukude Nombekela (Chef), Mishumo Masithembi (Environmental Control Officer).
Bottom row (L-R): Gcobani Tshangana (Assistant Environmental Control Officer), Austin Acro Gumba (UKZN Astrophysicist), Tanganedzani Tshitavhe (Assistant Meteorological Technician – SAWS), Tshimangadzo Jufter Munyai (Base Engineer and Team Leader), Elsa van Ginkel (MFM Ecologist).
Inserts (left): Abuyiselwe Nguna (Geomorphologist); (right): Vhuawelo Simba (MFM Ecologist). These team members were evacuated from the island in July 2022, due to injuries obtained.
MAPRU/NMU – Marine Apex Predator Research Unit / Nelson Mandela University; MFM – The Mouse-free Marion Project; MIMMP – Marion Island Marine Mammal Programme; DFFE – Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment; O & C Birder – Oceans and Coasts Birder; SANSA – South African National Space Agency; SAWS – South African Weather Service; UKZN – University of KwaZulu-Natal.
Images taken on arrival – 18 May 2023
Featured image credit: Tshimangadzo Jufter Munyai (Base Engineer and Team Leader).
Arrival images credit: South African Polar Research Infrastructure research coordinators.
Anche Louw, South African Polar Research Infrastructure (SAPRI DPS Node), 18 May 2023
by Ria Olivier | Jun 2, 2022 | Marion Island, News, Overwintering Team, SA Agulhas II, Southern Ocean, Stations, sub-Antarctic, Team Photo
The 79th Marion Island Overwintering Team has arrived on the island 6 weeks ago. After a very busy take-over, where each team member was introduced to their new roles on the island, they are now settled in and ready for their sub-Antarctic overwintering expedition. Marion79 consist of 21 team members – check them out below.
Message from the Team Leader, Jufter Munyai:
“The Marion79 team is ready to look after the South African station on Marion Island, some will be conducting scientific fieldwork, whereas others have obligations in and around the station”.
Want to know more about the Marion Island 2022 take-over? Click here
We wish the team a successful expedition. See you back in Cape Town, in May 2023.
79th Marion Island Overwintering Team
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Jufter Munyai (Base Engineer & Team Leader, DFFE)
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Andile Mdluli (Ornithology Field Assistant, OC)
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Austin Gumba (Astrophysics Field Assistant, UKZN)
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Banele Dosi (Mammalogy Field Assistant, UP)
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Elsa van Ginkel (Field Assistant, Mouse Free Marion)
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Gcobani Tshangana (Assistant Environment Control Officer, DFFE)
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Gladys Chelimo Kemei (Communications Engineer & Deputy Team Leader, DFFE)
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Lucy Smyth (Ornithology Field Assistant, NMU)
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Mishumo Masithembi (Environment Control Officer, DFFE)
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Michael Ross (Mammalogy Field Assistant, UP)
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Mndeni Hlatshwayo (Medical Orderly, DFFE)
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Monica Leitner (Mammalogy Field Assistant, UP)
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Samuel Peta (Ornithology Field Assistant, OC)
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Sanele Mkhize (Diesel Mechanic, DFFE)
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Sanele Nombekela (Chef, DFFE)
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Siphesihle Faltein (Assistant Meteorology Technician, SAWS)
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Tshivathe Tanganedzani (Assistant Meteorology Technician, SAWS)
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Thendo Sikhwari (Senior Meteorology Technician, SAWS)
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Tankiso Moso (Engineer, SANSA)
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Abuyiselwe Nguna (Geomorphology Field Assistant, UFH) – Medevac July 2022
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Vhuawelo Simba (Field Assistant, Mouse Free Marion) – Medevac July 2022
Featured Image: Marion79 onboard the S.A. Agulhas II, about to depart to Marion Island on Sunday, 17 April 2022. Image supplied by Jufter Munyai (Team Leader).
Anche Louw, Antarctic Legacy of South Africa, 02 June 2022
by Ria Olivier | May 10, 2023 | Current Event, Marion Island, News, Overwintering Team, Prince Edward Islands, Research, SANAP, SAPRI, Science, Southern Ocean, Stations, sub-Antarctic, Team member
| TEAM | MAPRU | Affiliation |
| Project Name | Avian scavengers & seabirds |
| Principal Investigator | Dr Maëlle Connan | MAPRU, Nelson Mandela University |
| Co-Investigator | Prof Peter Ryan | Fitzpatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town |
| M79 Field Assistant | Lucy Smyth | MAPRU, Nelson Mandela University |
| M80 Field Assistant | Christopher Jones | MAPRU, Nelson Mandela University |
| M80 Field Assistant | Michelle Risi | MAPRU, Nelson Mandela University and the South African Polar Research Infrastructure (SAPRI) |
This team is studying seabirds at Marion Island and has two projects for the period 2021-2023:
1) Avian scavenger project focusing mostly on Black-faced Sheathbill, Kelp Gull and Brown Skua as well as some of their prey.
2) FitzPatrick long-term monitoring of Wandering Albatross, Grey-headed Albatross and Northern Giant Petrel.
More about the avian scavenger project:
This project started in 2021. It is tightly linked to the Mouse-Free Marion project.
Our aim is two fold: 1) we fill identified scientific gaps at the bird level that are crucial for best planning of the mouse eradication and development of appropriate mitigation measures. We are mostly focusing on three species of avian scavengers: Black-faced Sheathbill, Kelp Gull and Brown Skua and some of their prey. 2) we propose to use the three scavengers as indicators of recovery of the terrestrial ecosystem post-eradication by establishing baselines for the scavenger guild and their prey against which the impact of a successful mouse eradication can be measured in years to come.
More about the FitzPatrick long-term monitoring project:
The FitzPatrick long-term monitoring of Wandering and Grey-headed albatrosses and Northern Giant Petrel started in the early 1980s and has continued ever since. This individual-based monitoring of threatened species allows us to study the threats they face at sea (e.g. fisheries) and on land (e.g. mice) in order to act and decrease these threats and improve the conservation status. The species’ long-term monitoring is crucial as it allows us to decipher abnormal years from long-term trends.
More about the fieldwork:
The two projects above involve for example extensive counts of birds, lots of hiking, observations of bird behavior and record keeping of the activity of known individuals year after year.
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Black-faced Sheathbill count on the West Coast of Marion Island.
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M80 MAPRU Field Assistants: Christopher Jones and Michelle Risi. Image taken on board the S.A. Agulhas II, on the day of departure to Marion Island.
What are your plans for this takeover:
During the takeover, we will be debriefing the year of Lucy Smyth who has worked on the island for our projects since April 2022. We will also train Chris and Michelle for the year ahead in all aspects, from field work to data entry and back-ups.
Follow MAPRU:
Follow PFIAO:
Text by Dr Maëlle Connan.
Images supplied by Christopher Jones.
Featured image: The MAPRU takeover 2023 team. L-R: Dr Maëlle Connan (PI), Lucy Smyth (M79 MAPRU Field Assistant), Michelle Risi (M80 MAPRU Field Assistant) and Christopher Jones (M80 MAPRU Field Assistant). Image taken on the Western side of the island.
Anche Louw, South African Polar Research Infrastructure (SAPRI DPS Node), 10 May 2023
