by Ria Olivier | Jan 29, 2024 | Ecology, Invasion Biology, Jobs, Marion Island, Mice Eradication, Overwintering Team, SANAP, sub-Antarctic, Team member
Vacancy for Mouse-Free Marion (MFM) Project Research Assistant on Marion Island (March 2024 – May 2025)
BirdLife South Africa, via the Mouse-Free Marion (MFM) Non-Profit Company (NPC), is offering an opportunity to a suitably qualified candidate to spend a year on Marion Island to continue monitoring studies designed to support the ongoing planning for the mouse-eradication operation. The position will include collecting field data on mice, continuing the monitoring of weather parameters, undertaking further field trials relating to the bait and, in collaboration with the University of Pretoria, contributing to the collection of baseline data on invertebrates and plants.
To read more about the Mouse Free Marion project – Click here
CLOSING DATE 12 FEBRUARY 2024
Read more about Marion Island and Overwintering Teams on the SANAP website
Key Responsibilities on Marion Island and Basic Academic Requirements, Experience, and Skills are is listed in the advertisement.
At least a B.Sc. (Hons) degree in conservation biology, ecology, or a related field.
Experience of field work in rugged terrain is required.
Please e-mail your application to Dr Isabel Human, at isabel.human@birdlife.org.za see relevant documents to be included in advertisement
South African applicants will receive priority. Please note that appointments will be contingent on availability of ship berths and funding.
For queries contact Dr. Sue Tonin, the Mouse-Free Marion Assistant Project Manager, at sue.tonin@birdlife.org.za
by Ria Olivier | Jan 25, 2024 | Ecology, Invasion Biology, Jobs, Marion Island, Mice Eradication, Overwintering Team, SANAP, sub-Antarctic, Team member
Vacancy for field researcher on Marion Island (March 2024 – May 2025) –
Mouse impacts on invertebrates and plants
The Department of Plant and Soil Sciences at the University of Pretoria is offering one suitably qualified candidate an opportunity to spend a year on Marion Island to measure various aspects of the impact of the house mouse on the diversity and function of the terrestrial ecosystems of Marion Island. This work will entail collecting baseline data, mostly on invertebrates and plants.
CLOSING DATE 4 FEBRUARY 2024
Read more about Marion Island and Overwintering Teams on the SANAP website
REQUIREMENTS (full list available in advertisement
Minimum BSc (Hons) degree in an ecological field.
Experience of field work in rugged terrain is required.
Excellent organisational skills, attention to detail, meticulous observation, note-taking
and record-keeping abilities.
Experience of invertebrate and/or plant surveys.
Computer literacy with experience in data management, statistical analysis (at least
one undergraduate statistics course) and report writing are required.
Applicants should submit their applications here.
South African applicants will receive priority. Please note that appointments will be contingent on availability of ship berths and funding.
For queries contact Prof Greve (michelle.greve@up.ac.za) via email.
by Ria Olivier | Jan 23, 2024 | Announcement, Jobs, Marion Island, Overwintering Team, SANAP
Join the 81 Marion Island Overwintering Team!
The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) is looking for a suitable candidate as communications engineer to join the 2024/2025 Marion Island team.
The team will depart (on the research and supply vessel, S.A. Agulhas II) to the sub-Antarctic Marion Island in April 2024 and return in May 2025. Click Here for the Marion Newsletter “The Wanderer” to read more about the overwintering team members experiences and activities. (Latest newsletter) More information available on SANAP website.
Position to be filled: Communications Engineer/Technician
APPLICATION DEADLINE: 5 February 2024
Click on the here to apply.
by Ria Olivier | Nov 27, 2023 | Announcement, Jobs, Marion Island, News, Overwintering Team, Prince Edward Islands, Research, SA Polar Research Infrastructure, SANAP, SAPolarRI, SAPRI, Science, Southern Ocean, Stations, sub-Antarctic
Applications open for:
- Overwintering Birder
- Overwintering Killer Whaler
- Overwintering Sealer (2x positions)
The National Research Foundation (NRF) supports and promotes research and human capital development through funding, the provision of National Research Facilities and science outreach platforms and programmes to the broader community in all fields of science and technology, including natural sciences, engineering, social sciences and humanities.
The South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON) is a research platform funded by the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) and managed by the National Research Foundation (NRF) since 2002. SAEON is mandated to observe and research ecosystems on land, in coastal regions and the oceans to understand how those systems function and might change over time and space when influenced by socio-economic driving forces including climate change. We deliver our data online and offer tools, services and advice for informed environmental policy-making.
SAEON Egagasini Node, based in Cape Town, Western Cape, requires the services of suitably qualified individuals to be responsible for collecting field data on birds and mammals, to be used for conservation and academic purposes as part of the South African Polar Research Infrastructure (SAPRI). The birder will be contributing to the project ‘On-island impacts of climate change on the Southern Ocean’s iconic seabirds’ run by the FitzPatrick Institute (University of Cape Town).
The Marion Island research station is managed and administered by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE).
Apply before: 07 December 2023
Click here!
Anche Louw, South African Polar Research Infrastructure, 27 November 2023
by Ria Olivier | Nov 9, 2023 | Gough Island, Meteorology, Overwintering Team, Research, South Atlantic
More about the South African Weather Service team on the recent Gough Island takeover expedition.
L-R: James Joubert Burns, Velelo Mazele, Samkelisiwe Thwala, Khuliso Collen Maphaha, Fulufhelo Brenda Khobo and Kelcey Maewashe.
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has been part of the South African National Antarctic Programme (SANAP) from the beginning, when the first team was appointed to stay on Gough Island. The metkassies (meteorological overwintering team members) continue to contribute to a long history of data collection on Gough Island. This includes an automatic weather station that measures temperature, wind speed and direction, humidity, and pressure.
What can the new overwintering team on the island look forward to?
The metkassies when on shift do visual observations which includes cloud height and type, horizontal visibility, precipitation type, weather present and past and sea temperature. Formal observation is done every hour from 06:00GMT until 15:00GMT and then every 3 hours during night shift. This is done every day of the week.
| TEAM | South African Weather Service (SAWS) |
| Project Name | Atmospheric and Ocean interaction studies |
| Principal Investigator | Dr. Jonas Mphepya |
Takeover Team Leader
| Samkelisiwe Thwala |
| Takeover Technical Support Member | Velelo Mazele |
| Senior Meteorological Technician (Gough68) | Khuliso Collen Maphaha |
| Assistant Meteorological Technician (Gough68) | Mphumzi Brooklyn Zilindile |
| Assistant Meteorological Technician (Gough68) | Tshililo Kharivha |
| Senior Meteorological Technician (Gough69) | Kelcey Maewashe |
| Assistant Meteorological Technician (Gough69) | James Joubert Burns |
| Assistant Meteorological Technician (Gough69) | Fulufhelo Brenda Khobo |
Check out the SAWS Marine Portal
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Project information supplied by SAWS. Images supplied by Mbulaheni Kelcey Maewashe and James Burns (G69 team members).
Anche Louw, South African Polar Research Infrastructure, 09 November 2023.
by Ria Olivier | Oct 12, 2023 | Environment, Gough Island, Invasion Biology, Mice Eradication, News, Overwintering Team, Research, Science, Take-Over Operations
The Gough Island Restoration Programme
Situated in the South Atlantic Ocean, positioned equidistantly between South Africa and South America, lies a highly significant breeding ground for seabirds known as Gough Island. This remote island serves as the breeding habitat for 24 distinct avian species, many of which are found nowhere else on the planet. Regrettably, the avian inhabitants now share their home with an invasive species, specifically the house mouse. These non-native mice, introduced to the island by human activity, are causing severe harm to the island’s native wildlife, including plants and animals that have thrived there for millennia. The mice’s voracious appetite leads to the consumption of over two million seabird eggs and chicks annually, driving certain species perilously close to extinction.
In an effort to safeguard the birds, the Gough Island Restoration Programme was launched with the aim of eradicating the mice. In 2021, the Gough Island Restoration Programme attempted to eradicate mice from the island in one of the most challenging and logistically complex island eradications ever ventured.
Although the endeavor did not achieve complete success, it significantly reduced the mouse population, providing a respite for the birds. During this period, the avian inhabitants managed to successfully raise numerous chicks.
Scientists continue to monitor the birds and gather valuable information that will hopefully aid in future endeavors to eliminate the mice entirely. Part of this takeover and the overwintering field team’s work programme will relate to follow-up activities to further underpin efforts to restore Gough Island.
| Team | The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) |
| Project Name | The Gough Island Restoration Programme |
| Principal Investigator | Dr Antje Steinfurth |
Field Team Leader
(Gough68 & Gough69) | Dr Lucy Dorman |
| Field Officer (Gough68) | Ms Rebekah Goodwill |
| Field Officer (Gough69) | Ms Hannah Greetham |
More about the work on the island for this takeover:
“During takeover our team is carrying out a census of Tristan Albatrosses and Southern Giant Petrels across the whole island, the so-called round island survey. At this time of year, the Southern Giant Petrels are starting to breed while the Tristan Albatross chicks are about to fledge. The number of fledged Albatross chicks will then be compared to numbers of breeding pairs that were counted at the beginning of the year and so breeding success for this Critically Endangered bird can be calculated (more than 99% of the global population breed exclusively on Gough Island). The round island survey also provides the team with the opportunity to monitor the abundance and distribution of the two landbird species, the Gough Bunting and the Gough moorhen.
This takeover the team will also be taking some soil samples from the upland parts of the island. This is to help monitor the ecosystem in the wake of the mouse eradication attempt”.
The RSPB Gough Island Restoration Programme takeover team (L-R): Hannah Greetham, Antje Steinfurth, Lucy Dorman and Rebekah Goodwill.
The RSPB overwintering team members’ work:
They will focus on Gough’s bird life, monitoring the breeding success of species, providing estimates of their populations and survival and documenting the impacts of House Mice.
For more information visit about The Gough Island Restoration Programme, click on the link below.
The Gough Island Restoration ProgrammeThis project is funded by: The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB).
Project information and images supplied by Dr Antje Steinfurth.
Anche Louw, South African Polar Research Infrastructure, 12 October 2023.
Vacancy for field researcher on Marion Island (March 2024 – May 2025) –
The Department of Plant and Soil Sciences at the University of Pretoria is offering one suitably qualified candidate an opportunity to spend a year on Marion Island to measure various aspects of the impact of the house mouse on the diversity and function of the terrestrial ecosystems of Marion Island. This work will entail collecting baseline data, mostly on invertebrates and plants.
Join the 81 Marion Island Overwintering Team!
