A special place... The Isles of Scilly are one of only two places in England where Manx Shearwaters breed
Under threat...The Isles of Scilly hold 3,000 fewer pairs of breeding seabirds than 25 years ago
A small but steady population boom on Molokai is giving environmentalists a reason to cheer.
The Wedge-tailed shearwater, Molokai, Hawaii is making a comeback. This past October, volunteers gently banded 122 wedge-tailed shearwater chicks in a single day at The Nature Conservancy’s Mo’omomi Preserve on Molokai.
Shoreline development and predation by non-native species like rodents, cats, mongoose and dogs have deprived them of their natural coastal nesting grounds.
Staff began implementing year-round monitoring and protection strategies. Predator monitoring and control efforts now prevent feral cats, rats and mongoose from preying on eggs, chicks and adults. Trails have been re-routed away from nesting areas to minimize human disturbance and the risk of crushed burrows.
The Nature Conservancy will be banding new chicks again in April, and environmentalists are excited to see the population numbers soar.
