Bird Island Research Station

The Bird Island Research Station focuses on the long-term study of seabirds and seals in one of the world’s richest wildlife sites.

The station is located on a sub-Antarctic island off the northwest tip of South Georgia.

It has been continuously occupied since 1982, and accommodates up to 10 people in summer and four in winter.

Bird Island Research Station, during a summer station relief, with the Terror landing craft from RRS Sir David Attenborough

Seabirds and seals

Scientific research at the station centres on the population dynamics, feeding ecology, and reproductive performance of seabirds and seals.

The long-term datasets collected by scientists at Bird Island over decades underpin our understanding of the Southern Ocean ecosystem. Data from Bird Island is used by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) for conservation policy, across the Southern Ocean.

Researchers monitor species such as albatrosses, white-chinned petrels, and macaroni penguins, often using innovative electronic tagging systems. One such system, a “penguin gateway,” records tagged birds as they travel, providing data on their behaviour and survival rates.

Biosecurity

Bird Island is rat-free. Introducing rats would cause catastrophic population decline for the island’s large numbers of small burrowing birds such as petrels and prions. Consequently, the station has strict biosecurity measures and visitors are limited to protect its fragile ecosystem.

The station is resupplied twice a year by ship.

Wildlife

Antarctic Fur seal pups on Bird Island (Credit: Adam Bradley)

Gentoo penguins coming ashore at Bird Island.

Black-browed albatross in flight with British Antarctic Survey Bird Island Research Station in the background.

White chinned petrel (Credit: Caitlin Frankish)

Purpose

The BAS scientific research at Bird Island focuses on seabird and seal population dynamics, feeding ecology and reproductive performance.

Research

Population numbers, breeding success, diet and feeding grounds of seabirds and seals have been collected on Bird Island for decades. These long-term datasets are crucial to understanding the Southern Ocean ecosystem.

Much of this data is used by Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) Ecosystem Monitoring Programme. This aims to establish conservation policy and management to protect the current diversity of the southern oceans.

BAS conservation biology research on Bird Island includes monitoring white-chinned petrel, the most commonly reported bird species recorded as fisheries bycatch in the Southern Ocean.

Long-term monitoring of this species showed a decline in nest burrow occupancy of 28% between the 1970s and 1990s. In 2015, with funding from South Georgia fisheries licence fees, 13 chicks were satellite tagged and tracked in near real-time via the Argos system.

BAS biologists have also come up with innovative electronic tagging systems to monitor macaroni penguins, whose population has declined on South Georgia has declined by 70% since the 1980s.

At one colony on Bird Island Research Station, they developed and installed a ‘penguin gateway’. For 10 years, as tagged birds passed between the colony and the sea, the ‘gateway’ recorded the tag number and the time and direction of travel, providing vital information about their survival.

Annual reports including the Bird and Mammal report, Beach Litter Study, and Seal Disentanglements report have been prepared by Bird Island staff for many years.

Collaborative programs with UK universities and overseas establishments – including the University of Texas – have resulted in several scientists visiting Bird Island most field seasons, with BAS logistic support.

Other conservation visitors have included Dame Ellen MacArthur supporting Birdlife International’s Save the Albatross campaign, and scientists conducting bird counting surveys for the Government of South Georgia within the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP).

Before they can go ahead, any studies involving animals must satisfy an Ethics Review Committee.

1. Higher Predators – Long-Term Science

   Higher Predators carries out long-term science to measure changes in Antarctic ecosystems. The aim is to understand the processes that drive these changes.

   Read more of: Higher Predators – Long-Term Science

   

2. Southern Ocean Clouds

   Southern Ocean Clouds improves climate models by studying cloud processes over the Southern Ocean to reduce global prediction errors. 

   Read more of: Southern Ocean Clouds

   

3. Conservation and leadership in Southern Ocean ecosystems

   CONSEC explores how climate change and human activity are transforming the Southern Ocean, guiding global science and conservation.

   Read more of: Conservation and leadership in Southern Ocean ecosystems

   

4. Black-browed Albatross Juvenile Tracking

   The main aims of this study are to map the distribution of juvenile black-browed albatrosses and to assess the survival rate of juveniles in the critical months after they fledge.

   Read more of: Black-browed Albatross Juvenile Tracking

   

5. Bird Island Decarbonisation

   In order to decarbonise our remote Bird Island Research Station on the sub-Antarctic Island of South Georgia we will be installing a solar photovoltaic and energy storage system.

   Read more of: Bird Island Decarbonisation

   

6. Building data resources for managing the South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands Marine Protected Area

   This project ensures the protection and conservation of the region’s rich and diverse marine life, whilst allowing sustainable fisheries.

   Read more of: Building data resources for managing the South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands Marine Protected Area

   

7. Bycatch risk of wandering albatrosses from radar detection

   The overall objective of this project is to link habitat preference, at-sea activity patterns and detections from novel bird-borne radars to quantify interactions of tracked wandering albatrosses with legal and IUU fishing vessels.

   Read more of: Bycatch risk of wandering albatrosses from radar detection

   

8. Grey-headed Albatross Juvenile Tracking

   This project maps the movements and foraging areas of juvenile albatross in order to determine the overlap with fisheries, and assesses the survival rate of juveniles in the initial weeks and months after they fledge.

   Read more of: Grey-headed Albatross Juvenile Tracking

   

9. Impact of Plastic in the Polar Regions

   This project investigated plastic pollution across Arctic and Antarctic environments. Scientists collected water, ice, and sediment samples to quantify macro and microplastic pollution, track its sources, and assess its impact on polar wildlife.

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10. Long term monitoring of plastics

    This project monitors plastics and debris in Antarctic and sub-Antarctic ecosystems, tracking impacts on seabirds, marine mammals, and coastal environments.

    Read more of: Long term monitoring of plastics

    

11. South Georgia seabirds from space

    This project tests whether satellite imagery can be used to monitor breeding seabirds across the island group.

    Read more of: South Georgia seabirds from space

    

12. Spatial Segregation of Seabirds at South Georgia

    Tracking and monitoring of seabirds e.g. wandering albatrosses and white-chinned petrels at South Georgia to support conservation.

    Read more of: Spatial Segregation of Seabirds at South Georgia

    

13. Sustained Monitoring of Whales at South Georgia

    This project is creating a long-term framework for monitoring whale numbers and behaviour.

    Read more of: Sustained Monitoring of Whales at South Georgia

    

14. Towards Net Zero Carbon

    Our strategy and work streams to meet Net Zero goals

    Read more of: Towards Net Zero Carbon

    

15. Transformation

    Realising the benefits of the Antarctic Infrastructure Modernisation programme.

    Read more of: Transformation

    

16. Virtual Antarctica

    Virtual Antarctica … journey beyond

    Read more of: Virtual Antarctica

    

17. White-chinned Petrel Tracking

    13 satellite tags were attached to white-chinned petrel chicks prior to their departure from Bird Island. The birds were tracked in near real-time using the Argos system.

    Read more of: White-chinned Petrel Tracking

    

18. Wildlife from Space

    Many populations of wildlife are remote, inaccessible or difficult to monitor. The advent of sub-metre, Very-High-Resolution (VHR) satellite imagery has enabled us study these animals in a much more efficient way.

    Read more of: Wildlife from Space

    

19. Bird Island Research Station Modernisation

    The modernisation of Bird Island Research Station was successfully completed in June 2018 following a 17 week programme of works throughout the Antarctic summer.

    Read more of: Bird Island Research Station Modernisation

    

1. 2023 in 10 stories from British Antarctic Survey

   Every year at British Antarctic Survey is a huge team effort. What we do couldn’t happen without every one our talented staff – whether they are doing the legwork of […]

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2. Life on a subantarctic island: installing a new renewable energy system at Bird Island Research Station

   British Antarctic Survey aims to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2040 and decarbonise our polar research stations by 2030.  A key part of this project is to end the reliance on conventional […]

   Read more of: Life on a subantarctic island: installing a new renewable energy system at Bird Island Research Station

   

3. BLOG: Diversity and inclusion in the workplace and beyond

   Jon Ager joined British Antarctic Survey as Director of the UK Antarctic Infrastructure Modernisation Programme in 2019, after serving for almost 35 years in the Royal Air Force and aerospace […]

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4. Wandering albatross tracking at Bird Island

   Alexandra Dodds is albatross zoological field assistant at the British Antarctic Survey Bird Island Research Station in South Georgia. The team have been working hard over the austral winter, conducting […]

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5. Isolated winter fieldwork on Bird Island

   Albatross zoological field assistant Alexandra Dodds shares experiences of the isolated winter fieldwork at British Antarctic Survey (BAS) Bird Island Research Station in South Georgia. The team are conducting important […]

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6. Guest blog: arriving at Bird Island

   One misty day last week (November 2017), the RRS James Clark Ross arrived at Bird Island in the Southern Atlantic Ocean. On board was Daan Aldenberg, from BAM International, partner […]

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7. Guest blog. RRS Sir David Attenborough: The story so far

   Paul Fox, Senior Responsible Officer for RRS Sir David Attenborough, has written a guest blog for a behind-the-scenes look at NERC’s commission of a new polar research ship for Britain and the associated Antarctic infrastructure modernisation programme.

   Read more of: Guest blog. RRS Sir David Attenborough: The story so far

   

8. ANTARCTIC BLOG: Typical week at Bird Island Station

   Tim Morley, Zoological Field Assistant at Bird Island, shares a typical week at Bird Island Research Station as he prepares for midwinter…. With many of our species finishing breeding for […]

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9. Search and Rescue on Bird Island

   Bird Island Research Station has a small staff team; no more than 10 in summer and just four over winter. We have no doctor on station though all staff receives […]

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10. ANTARCTIC BLOG: Exploring an island abundant with wildlife

    Bird Island has undergone several changes since the last diary entry in November. The summer breeding season is in full swing, and in some cases is starting to quieten down […]

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11. ANTARCTIC BLOG: Breeding season begins on Bird Island

    October is another busy month for bird work, with the feathered residents of Bird Island all returning and starting to breed. Almost all of the Northern giant petrels are now […]

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12. ANTARCTIC BLOG: Busy month for leopard seal sightings!

    Leopard seal peak The penultimate month of the lep round has been by far the most exciting. September has been the busiest month yet for leopard seal sightings. It has […]

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13. ANTARCTIC BLOG: Leopard seals, wanderer chicks and…superheroes?!

    When I last wrote a web diary, back in April, it was at the end of the summer season and the first few intrepid weeks of winter. It’s hard to […]

    Read more of: ANTARCTIC BLOG: Leopard seals, wanderer chicks and…superheroes?!

    

14. ANTARCTIC BLOG: Life on Bird Island

    Located at the Western end of South Georgia, Bird Island sits directly in the path of approaching weather, and is often enveloped in cloud and mist. My 3 year old […]

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15. ANTARCTIC BLOG: Wild Life!

    Birds Lucy has been busy at the colonies checking black brow albatross and grey headed albatross nests for failures and fledglings. The black browed albatross chicks have all gone now, […]

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16. Bird Island Diary – April 2015

    April has been an extraordinarily busy month both work-wise and base-wise. It’s also been a month of change as we have gone from 10 people down to just 4, reflecting […]

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17. Bird Island Diary – March 2015

    March on Bird Island feels very like autumn; the days are getting noticeably shorter, more mornings are greeting us with ice and snow, and the summer residents are preparing to […]

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18. Bird Island Diary – February 2015

    February has been a pleasant and productive month for the humans and animals of Bird Island. The beaches have quietened down enough for us to get out and about along […]

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19. Bird Island Diary – January 2015

    After a fantastically festive celebration of Christmas & New Year, Bird Island is carrying on with its busy summer season. The saving grace of this very busy period was the […]

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20. Bird Island Diary – November 2014

    November’s been a busy month on Bird Island as there’s no longer any denying that summer has arrived. On the first of November I started my daily visits to the […]

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21. Bird Island Diary – October 2014

    October Diary day is here, and I’m very sorry to have to say this will be my final entry as the Bird Island base technician. I have both seen and […]

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22. Bird Island Diary – September 2014

    September started with a celebration – Jerry’s birthday on the 1st! It is hard to keep secrets and plan surprises on a small base where everyone knows what everyone else […]

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23. Bird Island Diary – August 2014

    Film Festival The first weekend of the month brought us the eagerly anticipated Antarctic 48-hour film festival. This annual event brings together all the bases on the continent and islands […]

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24. Bird Island Diary – July 2014

    The winter months have picked up pace now and July flew by on Bird Island. We’ve been blessed with temperatures that have hovered at or below freezing, transforming the island […]

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25. Bird Island Diary – December 2014

    The first day of December was a memorable one for me: after nearly 3 long weeks of sailing the Southern Ocean on the James Clark Ross, I finally made it […]

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26. Bird Island Diary – June 2014

    June began with the monthly Albatross census on and around the whole of the island. Great to have everyone helping out to have the experience of getting up close to […]

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27. Bird Island Diary – May 2014

    May began, as most months begin on Bird Island, with a census of all the wandering albatross nests on the island. Everyone helps out with the wanderer census as the […]

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28. Bird Island Diary – April 2014

    April on Bird Island feels like a real transition from summer to winter. The changes in the weather and the wildlife are gradual, but looking back to the start of […]

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29. Bird Island Diary – March 2014

    The RRS Ernest Shackleton arrived on the 6th of March for last call. This marked the end of the summer season and the beginning of winter. While this year’s winterers […]

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30. Bird Island Diary – February 2014

    The main event of the month was the BBC arriving aboard the Hans Hansson, to film for the children’s nature show ‘Deadly 60’. Steve Backshall arrived with a team of […]

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31. Bird Island Diary – January 2014

    After seeing in the New Year at the end of the jetty, the first day of 2014 dawned bright and sunny. Adam, Cian, Hannah, Steph, and I decided to make […]

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32. Bird Island Diary — December 2013

    December was a busy month for the team with the base’s new additions, Adam, Jess, Cian and Rob, getting happily settled into the Bird island way of life. Early December […]

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33. Bird Island Diary — November 2013

    It is now November, and spring is in the air on Bird Island. Seal puppies are appearing at an ever-increasing rate, the penguins and albatrosses are jealously guarding their eggs […]

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34. Bird Island Diary — October 2013

    I have been challenged to write something different for this month’s web diary, and rather than being completely biased and simply writing a long-winded essay on how great seals are […]

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35. Bird Island Diary — September 2013

    The month of September has seen big changes to the amount of wildlife on the island especially the avian species. It is now most definitely spring. From the 1st September […]

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36. Bird Island Diary — August 2013

    One season ends, a new one begins August on Bird Island makes the transition from one season to the next. With the few exceptions talked about below the place is […]

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37. Bird Island Diary — July 2013

    With the island looking very sparse in terms of animals the month began in the usual way with all of us out conducting the Wandering Albatross chick census. There were […]

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38. Bird Island Diary — May 2013

    May has been an exciting month on Bird Island. One morning we received an emergency call alerting us to a potential tsunami heading for South Georgia due to hit in […]

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39. Bird Island Diary — April 2013

    April has been a month of very noticeable changes. For the majority of species it has marked the end of the breeding season and their departure from the Bird Island. […]

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40. Bird Island Diary — February 2013

    Much like every month on Bird Island, February has hurtled by in a bit of a blur, and we now find ourselves with little over a week until the final […]

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41. Bird Island Diary — January 2013

    We saw in the New Year Bird Island style with an excellent meal followed by a fancy dress evening in Doctor Strange’s laboratory. Since then the team has been busy […]

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42. Bird Island Diary — December 2012

    The unseasonably warm and dry December has allowed plenty of long, enjoyable days outside for the new field assistants to try and learn all they can from the 2012 wintering […]

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43. Bird Island Diary — November 2012

    The inhabitants of Bird Island have been having quite an eventful time since Jon wrote our last diary entry. One of the most significant events has been the arrival of […]

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44. Bird Island Diary — October 2012

    When I last spoke to you, back in June, the theme of my entry was of animals leaving the island for the winter, so it seems apt that I now […]

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45. Bird Island Diary — September 2012

    Well spring seems to have officially sprung here on Bird Island. We celebrated the spring equinox on September 22nd by making cider with the remnants of our apples (I use […]

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46. Bird Island Diary — August 2012

    The first weekend of August was a busy one on Bird Island, as it was the date of this year’s Antarctic 48-hour Film Festival. The Film Festival has been running […]

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47. Bird Island Diary — July 2012

    With the island looking very sparse in terms of animals the month began in the same usual way with the all island wandering albatross chick census, and I am pleased […]

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48. Bird Island Diary – June 2012

    June is the time when island and its inhabitants get fully settled into the winter; the majority of the summer breeding animals have now left, and our little island is […]

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49. Bird Island Diary – May 2012

    I cannot believe it’s been over a month since the four of us were stood at the end of the jetty waving goodbye as the JCR sailed away for the […]

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50. Bird Island Diary – April 2012

    The beginning of April on Bird Island saw the successful completion of the building projects which were started last month. In particular, the rusty and decrepit old jetty was gradually […]

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51. Bird Island Diary – March 2012

    With the arrival of the Technical Team on the FPV Pharos early this month, work started in earnest on the all the various building projects: the repair of the gantry […]

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52. Bird Island Diary – February 2012

    After a busy start last month, the intensity of science activities has increased significantly as the fur seal pups, mollymawk, gentoo and macaroni penguin chicks have matured and there have […]

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53. Bird Island Diary — January 2012

    After a truly memorable New Year, it was back to work for all of us on Bird Island. Gradually, the landscape around base began to change as the territorial male […]

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54. Bird Island Diary — December 2011

    As always with Bird Island, nature changes constantly between the various species, and, the weather tends to stay the same! It can go from snow to sun through hail and […]

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55. Bird Island Diary — November 2011

    Over the last couple of months, it has been a period of transition at Bird Island as we have transitioned from the Overwintering team to the full Summer team. In […]

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56. Bird Island Diary — September 2011

    The final Wanderer chick survey for the season kick-started September. The vast majority of chicks survived the constant batterings handed out by the squalls and blizzards that regularly accompany life […]

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57. Bird Island Diary — August 2011

    The weather has had the biggest impact on life at Bird Island this month. Southerly winds kept the temperature well below freezing causing the streams around base freeze into beautiful […]

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58. Bird Island Diary — June 2011

    June on Bird Island is dominated by the Midwinter Celebrations. Midwinter is celebrated at research stations throughout Antarctica, as it represents the turning point in the long, dark winter months […]

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59. Bird Island Diary — May 2011

    Life on Bird Island was made a little more interesting with the onset of an unforeseen blizzard which impacted smack-bang in the middle of the monthly Wanderer chick survey. The […]

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60. Bird Island Diary — April 2011

    The whole base (all 4 of us!) turned out on the 1st of April to conduct the Wandering Albatross chick census. The aim is to provide information on the number […]

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61. Bird Island Diary — March 2011

    March is a month of change on Bird Island. It is the transition month between summer and winter. This is my last month on Bird Island, after 2.5 years here, […]

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62. Bird Island Diary — January 2011

    The new year took us all by surprise here at Bird Island. Not only did it come around very fast but it also reduced the number on station quite significantly. […]

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63. Bird Island Diary — December 2010

    For 13 months, I have been living and working at Bird Island, and now yet another Christmas is quickly dawning on us. For me this will be my fourth Antarctic […]

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64. Bird Island Diary — November 2010

    Welcome to Bird Island When I told people that I was going to live on a tiny island in the sub-Antarctic for two and a half years, most of them […]

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65. Bird Island Diary — October 2010

    This month the diary is mainly penned by the “new arrival”. I arrived in late September heralding the start of spring (but somebody forgot to tell the weather man). A […]

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66. Bird Island Diary — September 2010

    A year on Bird Island can be compared to that of the school year back in the UK. The academic year starts off in September, and continues all the way […]

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67. Bird Island Diary — August 2010

    August. The month that marks the mad scramble to the finish line — the end of winter. Or maybe it marks the mad scramble to the starting line — the […]

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68. Bird Island Diary — July 2010

    This month I thought I would have a bit of a change from the usual diary entries. So: A day in the life of a Bird Island Techie. 0700 One […]

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69. Bird Island Diary — June 2010

    by Claudia Mischler, Albatross Field Assistant June here on the little island was a fantastic month. We finally got a nice thick snow layer shortly before mid-winter. The white stuff […]

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70. Bird Island Diary — May 2010

    May is the month of transition between summer and winter on Bird Island. The last of the summer staff left Mid April, so by May we were starting to get […]

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71. Bird Island Diary — April 2010

    April began as April begins every year on Bird Island, with the Wandering Albatross egg/chick survey. Wandering Albatross begin laying their eggs during December and the final egg is laid […]

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72. Bird Island Diary — March 2010

    The month started with two days of gentoo penguin chick counts across the island; this involved most of the folks on the research station heading out to all the breeding […]

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73. Bird Island Diary — February 2010

    February began with the whole island Wandering albatross census. This year we only have 697 active nests, which is sadly the lowest number on record. Very strong winds during January […]

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74. Bird Island Diary — January 2010

    Well, 2010 has commenced, and for the third year in a row I have been in the Antarctica to see the New Year in. New Years Eve started with all […]

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75. Bird Island Diary — December 2009

    December tends to be the month when everyone thinks of Christmas and a time to kick back and spend time with family and friends. But down here on the little […]

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76. Bird Island Diary — November 2009

    It is my first visit to Bird Island and I have heard nothing but glowing comments about this place. I was worried that this would lead me to disappointment but […]

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77. Bird Island Diary — October 2009

    October is ‘peak season’ for the flying-bird fieldwork team on Bird Island. Both Derren and Stacey have spent long days in the field monitoring the arrival of the black-browed and […]

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78. Bird Island Diary — September 2009

    September is a busy time on Bird Island, a time of transition from the quiet times of winter, both for work and wildlife, to the start of the summer breeding […]

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79. Bird Island Diary — August 2009

    This month we have been treated to some gorgeous weather, which is such a rare treat on Bird Island. We have had full days of blue skies and sunshine and […]

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80. Bird Island Diary — July 2009

    Wildlife: July started in a rather lazy way, as we all recovered from the hectic midwinter celebrations of the week before. On the 1st, we were lucky enough to find […]

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81. Bird Island Diary — June 2009

    As the island and its inhabitants settle further into winters icy grip (well, more slush than ice I’m afraid!) the last of the summer breeding birds vacates the island, leaving […]

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82. Bird Island Diary — May 2009

    May is considered to be the month of change at Bird Island, between the mild summer and the Antarctic winter… and it is at Bird Island that those changes on […]

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83. Bird Island Diary — April 2009

    The month of April had an interesting but late start for me on Bird Island, arriving back from a two-week stay (or as some less sympathetic base members have called […]

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84. Bird Island Diary — March 2009

    Last month on Bird Island… After a little more than two years on this amazing island, sharing my daily life with great people and thousands of penguins, albatrosses, petrels and […]

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85. Bird Island Diary — February 2009

    February is high summer on Bird Island. Although the days have started to get shorter, for the last two years February has brought some fine, settled days, perfect for exploring […]

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86. Bird Island Diary — January 2009

    The first day of the New Year was dedicated to the clearing of fuzzy heads and a gentle introduction to the world with a walk across the meadows and back […]

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87. Bird Island Diary — December 2008

    December was a busy month on Bird Island. With the breeding season in full swing, the field assistants were out at all hours monitoring, counting, checking, tagging and weighing various […]

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88. Bird Island Diary — November 2008

    Beasts of England For much of early November, Bird Island was covered in fog. Going out across the island to do the day’s work, familiar landmarks like Tonk and La […]

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89. Bird Island Diary — October 2008

    The month started out with Ewan, Felice and I assisting the BBC Frozen Planet Team for a few days. This was a welcome change from our regular work and a […]

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90. Bird Island Diary — September 2008

    Like the previous months, September started with the all island wandering chick census; the last one of the winter but also the last one for this year; the chicks are […]

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91. Bird Island Diary — July 2008

    Just over a year ago, I was graduating from university. Following four years studying Marine and Environmental Biology at St Andrews, and with a lifelong interest in marine mammals, I […]

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92. Bird Island Diary — June 2008

    June has been a busy month on the little rock. After Mays comings and goings we finally settled into winter with just the four of us. Despite the base accommodating […]

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93. Bird Island Diary — May 2008

    May at Bird Island, first month of the winter… After a busy and long summer, May has been the first month without any ship calls with just the four winterers […]

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94. Bird Island Diary — April 2008

    April is a month of transition on Bird Island. For many of the animals that call this place home during the summer, April is the month that sees them depart […]

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95. Bird Island Diary — March 2008

    Well this could be an emotional diary entry, as it covers my last full month on the magical wee rock, which has been my home since November 2005, before I […]

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96. Bird Island Diary — February 2008

    Being still in the midst of wildlife breeding season February is always a busy month at Bird Island keeping the zoological field assistants at a hectic pace. The young in […]

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97. Bird Island Diary — January 2008

    All our own celebrations aside for the turn of the year, life pretty much carried on as normal here at BI. The multitude of wildlife never broke stride from their […]

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98. Bird Island Diary — December 2007

    December at Bird Island is a busy time, filled with new life. With pups and chicks as far as the eye can see, the sounds and smells are rich and […]

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99. Bird Island Diary — November 2007

    This month’s diary entry will have the distinctive mark of a new arrival on Bird Island: his head filled with the overwhelming sights and sounds of this amazing place – […]

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100. Bird Island Diary — October 2007

     Well, it falls to me to write the newsletter this month as I’m the newbie on the island. Bringing the boys winter to an abrupt end; Andy, Chris, Jaume and […]

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101. Bird Island Diary — September 2007

     Well the 1st of September marks the beginning of spring in the Southern Hemisphere and we have definitely seen the change of the season here at Bird Island in more […]

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102. Bird Island Diary — August 2007

     By Rob Dunn Wintering Technician Welcome to the August diary from Bird Island. We have been enjoying the snow-covered hills that have now been around for a while. I remember […]

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103. Bird Island Diary — July 2007

     Welcome back to BIRD ISLAND July diary, right in the middle of the winter. July has been the coldest month since the winter started but not only, it’s been also […]

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104. Bird Island Diary — June 2007

     June is a very important month in the BI calendar. With the last ships of summer having left us long ago, all of the seals and most of the albatrosses […]

     Read more of: Bird Island Diary — June 2007

     

105. Bird Island Diary — May 2007

     Welcome to a summary of what has been happening down here at Bird Island during the merry, merry month of May! While you all back in the Northern Hemisphere may […]

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106. Bird Island Diary — April 2007

     April Diary Hello from Bird Island. It was great to finally arrive after doing a stint at Halley this summer, and a brief stay at Signy. I thought I would […]

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107. Bird Island Diary — March 2007

     Bird Island, March Dairy On 7th of March 17h00, I just came back from Big Mac (macaroni penguin colony) when Ali our Base Commander was calling the Base on the […]

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108. Bird Island Diary — January 2007

     January – gone already – I cant believe it. This month is dedicated to the South Georgia Pipit – the most remarkable bird in the southern ocean in my opinion. […]

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109. Bird Island Diary — December 2006

     BIRD ISLAND DIARY – DECEMBER I feel as if it is my duty to warn you that this edition of the Bird Island Diary is being written by an American, […]

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110. Bird Island Diary — November 2006

     November Newsletter – by Iain Staniland “Ah Remember remember the month of NovemberAlbatross penguins and pups” Anon. Well something like that anyway. This month I get the chance to write […]

     Read more of: Bird Island Diary — November 2006

     

111. Bird Island Diary — October 2006

     October has been a month of new arrivals, and some farewells on both the animal and human side of things. This month has also seen the winter period, when there […]

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112. Bird Island Diary — September 2006

     Sunshine and snow on Bird Island September has to be my favourite month of the winter. The days are getting significantly longer and the weather is just the best – […]

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113. Bird Island Diary — July 2006

     With the Antarctic Darts Championship under our belts, midwinter done and dusted and no imminent birthday celebrations, July was always going to be a quieter month. I thought I would […]

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114. Bird Island Diary – June 2006

     It’s been all go on all fronts down here at Bird Island over the last month, this is going to be bit of an epic so would advise getting a […]

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115. Bird Island Diary – May 2006

     Finally a month alone, and what a great month it has been! The base is now well and truly complete – the beginning of the month saw Matt (with help […]

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116. Bird Island Diary – April 2006

     What a month it has been. The first day of April bought the start of this year’s Wandering Albatross chick census, with the eight members of base all taking to […]

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117. Bird Island Diary – March 2006

     And the end of another summer on Bird Island has arrived. The penguins have fledged, the albatross chicks are growing up fast with their adult feathers showing through under the […]

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118. Bird Island Diary – February 2006

     Aaahhh, and relax. The Bird Island Redevelopment Project drew to a satisfied close on the 3rd February, with the removal of the building and demolition waste from the beach. We […]

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119. Bird Island Diary – January 2006

     January was heralded by the obligatory hangovers, which were soon forgotten by getting back to work on seals, seabirds, IT, and multiple base tasks. The seal team closed the SSB […]

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120. Bird Island Diary – December 2005

     What a month! December, usually a month of joyous celebration has lived up to this reputation admirably on Bird Island. The RRS James Clark Ross now long gone, it was […]

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121. Bird Island Diary – November 2005

     Another month of comings and goings As mentioned at the end of last month, on the 29th, the Morrisons boys turned up, along with our resident base commander Vicky Auld, […]

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122. Bird Island Diary – October 2005

     Bird frenzy October is always the transition month on Bird Island. Its begins with skiing, short-ish days, clear beaches with leopard seals and elephant seals matching fur-seal numbers, skies only […]

     Read more of: Bird Island Diary – October 2005

     

123. Bird Island Diary – August 2005

     A fun and frantic month Hello and welcome to Bird Island’s August web page! Well, it has been another fun-filled and frantic month. We have had a few extremes of […]

     Read more of: Bird Island Diary – August 2005

     

124. Bird Island Diary – July 2005

     Snow, sun and skis July has sped by, bringing with it snow and ice and some great sunny days too enabling the skis to come out and some time to […]

     Read more of: Bird Island Diary – July 2005

     

125. Bird Island Diary – June 2005

     The builders leave June has been one heck of a big month on Bird Island. The race to the finishing line for the new building, colder weather, midwinter celebrations, final […]

     Read more of: Bird Island Diary – June 2005

     

126. Bird Island Diary – May 2005

     Tommo arrives Well hello from Bird Island, I have just arrived on this wondrous isle this month, so as the new boy, it is my duty to write this newletter, […]

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127. Bird Island Diary – April 2005

     Some final thoughts Some final thoughts before returning home… After 906 days living on what might equate to some as little more than a wind swept rock in the middle […]

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128. Bird Island Diary – March 2005

     A doctor writes The duty of writing this month’s newsletter has fallen to me- Jenny, the base doctor. I have been at Bird Island research station for the last two […]

     Read more of: Bird Island Diary – March 2005

     

129. Bird Island Diary – January 2005

     A quiet month…. sort of The January diary for Bird Island is written by Isaac Forster and is available in pdf format by clicking the link below. Bird Island January […]

     Read more of: Bird Island Diary – January 2005

     

130. Bird Island Diary – December 2004

     A new Base Commander Happy New Year to all readers, especially those nearest and dearest to the Bird Island team. December passed in a flash. Here we are in the […]

     Read more of: Bird Island Diary – December 2004

     

131. Bird Island Diary – November 2004

     A tech writes The November diary for Bird Island is written by Paul Cousens and is available in pdf format by clicking the link below. Bird Island Diary – November […]

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132. Bird Island Diary – October 2004

     Birds, seals and more birds The October diary for Bird Island is written by Iain Staniland and is available in pdf format by clicking the link below. Bird Island Diary […]

     Read more of: Bird Island Diary – October 2004

     

133. Bird Island Diary – September 2004

     Spring The Bird Island Castaways unchanged after 5 months of isolation….. September is the beginning of spring on Bird Island; many of the migratory birds are beginning to return, a […]

     Read more of: Bird Island Diary – September 2004

     

134. Bird Island Diary – August 2004

     One moonlit night The August diary for Bird Island is written by Chris Green and is available in pdf format by clicking the link below. Bird Island Diary – August […]

     Read more of: Bird Island Diary – August 2004

     

135. Bird Island Diary – July 2004

     A month of respite The July diary for Bird Island is written by Isaac Forster and is available in pdf format by clicking the link below. Bird Island Diary – […]

     Read more of: Bird Island Diary – July 2004

     

136. Bird Island Diary – June 2004

     Midwinter The June diary for Bird Island is written by Sarah Robinson and is available in pdf format by clicking the link below. Bird Island Diary – June 2004 (pdf […]

     Read more of: Bird Island Diary – June 2004

     

137. Bird Island Diary – May 2004

     Alex arrives The May diary for Bird Island is written by Alex Cottle and is available in pdf format by clicking the link below. Bird Island Diary – May 2004 […]

     Read more of: Bird Island Diary – May 2004

     

138. Bird Island Diary – April 2004

     Goodbye to Ben and Nic The April diary for Bird Island is written by Chris Green and is available in pdf format by clicking the link below. Bird Island Diary […]

     Read more of: Bird Island Diary – April 2004

     

139. Bird Island Diary – March 2004

     Where did all the time go? The March diary for Bird Island is written by Ben Phalan and is available in pdf format by clicking the link below. Bird Island […]

     Read more of: Bird Island Diary – March 2004

     

140. Bird Island Diary – February 2004

     Picnics and chicks When you are stuck on an island, size 5km by 1km in the South Atlantic most requirements have a habit of being postponed all too frequently. Necessities […]

     Read more of: Bird Island Diary – February 2004

     

141. Bird Island Diary – January 2004

     Sushi & smoothies Considering the fact that you trip over seals the minute you walk out of the door, you would have thought that ten scats a week is not […]

     Read more of: Bird Island Diary – January 2004

     

142. Bird Island Diary – December 2003

     The Bird Island Flying Times December’s Bird Island newsletter could be called the The Bird Island Times, or, to be more precise, the The Bird Island Flying Times, given the […]

     Read more of: Bird Island Diary – December 2003

     

143. Bird Island Diary – November 2003

     Bird Island Dorchester November has been a month of endless variety on Bird Island from both science and base life aspects. The most visible change has been the emergence of […]

     Read more of: Bird Island Diary – November 2003

     

144. Bird Island Diary – October 2003

     Birds and big noses October has seen the skies above the island come alive with birds, the beaches with elephant and fur seals, and the steep rocky slopes with Macaroni […]

     Read more of: Bird Island Diary – October 2003

     

145. Bird Island Diary – September 2003

     Skiing and pirates!?! I am going to start with a big `HELLO` to all my family and friends at home or abroad. This month has absolutely flown by. It has […]

     Read more of: Bird Island Diary – September 2003

     

146. Bird Island Diary – August 2003

     Cakes and messages in bottles As I am sitting in my room trying to write this newsletter, an adult male fur seal, having returned from an oceanic trip, is lying […]

     Read more of: Bird Island Diary – August 2003

     

147. Bird Island Diary – July 2003

     A varied month This month we lost a friend and kindred spirit when Kirsty Brown was killed by a leopard seal at Rothera. The sudden loss of someone so young […]

     Read more of: Bird Island Diary – July 2003

     

148. Bird Island Diary – June 2003

     Midwinter The true South Georgia winter weather has now firmly established itself on this wee island in the Southern Ocean. As I write, ensconced within the shelter of base, the […]

     Read more of: Bird Island Diary – June 2003

     

149. Bird Island Diary – May 2003

     Counting birds We spent the first couple of days of May on Bird Island, counting birds believe it or not! The first day was reserved, as is customary on every […]

     Read more of: Bird Island Diary – May 2003

     

150. Bird Island Diary – April 2003

     Comings and goings April has been a month of comings and goings. We have seen the arrival of winter snow and ice, and of the first of our most impressive […]

     Read more of: Bird Island Diary – April 2003

     

151. Bird Island Diary – March 2003

     A last word from Jane After 2½ years here this has been my last full month on Bird Island. I’ll be leaving in April, almost 30 months to the day […]

     Read more of: Bird Island Diary – March 2003

     

152. Bird Island Diary – February 2003

     WANTED – seals, penguins and albatrosses WANTED!! Have you seen this pup, penguin, whale, moth or worm? No sorry we haven’t but we’ll ask our mates! Come on chaps I’m […]

     Read more of: Bird Island Diary – February 2003

     

153. Bird Island Diary – December 2002

     Christmas and new arrivals December is traditionally one of the busiest months here at Bird Island and this year was no exception, both at work and at play. The month […]

     Read more of: Bird Island Diary – December 2002

     

154. Bird Island Diary – November 2002

     Practice emergencies and a real birthday November usually marks the beginning of summer for Bird Island. However, the winter has stubbornly refused to depart and every time we thought the […]

     Read more of: Bird Island Diary – November 2002

     

155. Bird Island Diary – October 2002

     New faces As I am writing these few lines at the end of this October month, spring or summer have yet to arrive. The island is still coated in snow, […]

     Read more of: Bird Island Diary – October 2002

     

156. Bird Island Diary – September 2002

     Spring is in the air Welcome once again to another month at Bird Island. September seems to have brought a considerable amount of change. With winter rapidly heading towards its […]

     Read more of: Bird Island Diary – September 2002

     

157. Bird Island Diary – August 2002

     More sketches I can hardly believe that August has already come and gone. It still feels like it should be sometime back around July. Time has flown, as Bird Island […]

     Read more of: Bird Island Diary – August 2002

     

158. Bird Island Diary — July 2002

     Sledging and Sketches Hello and welcome to another month in the life of the Bird Island winterers – Jane, Ben, Nick and Matt. This is my second winter and second […]

     Read more of: Bird Island Diary — July 2002

     

159. Bird Island Diary — June 2002

     Midwinter Welcome to Bird Island, we are now well into winter, and more and more leopard seals are hauling out on the beaches around base. Yesterday, we had four: two […]

     Read more of: Bird Island Diary — June 2002

     

160. Bird Island Diary — May 2002

     Snow and winter visitors Last month we brought you pictures of blue skies, green hills, and a rather summery-looking Bird Island. Some of you have been wondering if we are […]

     Read more of: Bird Island Diary — May 2002

     

161. Bird Island Diary — April 2002

     Last Call as winter begins Welcome to Winter on Bird Island – at last! It has been a very interesting and unusual month here. The last newsletter ended with “under […]

     Read more of: Bird Island Diary — April 2002

     

162. Bird Island Diary — March 2002

     The end of the season approaches Bonjour à tous et à toutes, The start of March was punctuated by departures and arrivals. As RRS Ernest Shackleton sailed past, we knew […]

     Read more of: Bird Island Diary — March 2002

     

163. Bird Island Diary — February 2002

     A busy month on Bird Island February is almost over – and this may be my last ever visit to Bird Island, at least that’s the reason the others here […]

     Read more of: Bird Island Diary — February 2002

     

164. Bird Island Diary — January 2002

     A New Year begins Welcome to another instalment of the life and times of Bird Island and its inhabitants, human and animal. Our newsletter this month actually begins in late […]

     Read more of: Bird Island Diary — January 2002

     

165. Bird Island Diary — December 2001

     Fur Seals and Festivities Everyone that I had met before my visit to Bird Island told me that I would love this tiny isolated island and it’s wildlife. A visiting […]

     Read more of: Bird Island Diary — December 2001

     

166. Bird Island Diary — November 2001

     First Impressions The peaceful isolation of Bird Island was almost shattered with the arrival of the James Clark Ross (JCR) on the 2nd. But as it turned out the shattering […]

     Read more of: Bird Island Diary — November 2001

     

167. Bird Island Diary — October 2001

     Summer Personnel Arrive The island silence of waves and birdcall was shattered by the cacophony caused by fuel barrels being rolled up a steel walkway, and numerous people marvelling at […]

     Read more of: Bird Island Diary — October 2001

     

168. Bird Island Diary — September 2001

     Visitors come to Bird Island With only one month of winter left, September is most definitely a time when winterers concentrate lots of their spare energies on enjoying many of […]

     Read more of: Bird Island Diary — September 2001

     

169. Bird Island Diary — August 2001

     Preparing for Summer, Sledging and a Birthday Hello again from the Bird Island Trio! Here we are in the middle of winter with deep snow and freezing weather. Oh no, […]

     Read more of: Bird Island Diary — August 2001

     

170. Bird Island Diary — July 2001

     Hot Chillies, Fine Wines and Frozen Toilets! “Go on,I dare you to eat a whole chilli.” And so the month started with the utterance of these fateful words. Sure, the […]

     Read more of: Bird Island Diary — July 2001

     

171. Bird Island Diary — June 2001

     Midwinter games June sees us in deepest winter here at Bird Island now. The nights are at their longest, but luckily since we are in sub-Antarctica and relatively far north […]

     Read more of: Bird Island Diary — June 2001

     

172. Bird Island Diary — May 2001

     Seals amid the winter’s snow May saw the onset of true blue winter weather, and the much awaited arrival of the leopard seals (leps), two of these toothy beasts hauled […]

     Read more of: Bird Island Diary — May 2001

     

173. Bird Island Diary — April 2001

     What the builders did to us Hello everyone from the inhabitants of the smallest BAS base. We have been in winter mode for one month now, and already we have […]

     Read more of: Bird Island Diary — April 2001

     

174. Bird Island Diary — March 2001

     The beakers versus the builders Hello everybody. This is going to be the builder’s version of events for March. Simon Berry is your host for this exciting and funny newsletter. […]

     Read more of: Bird Island Diary — March 2001

     

175. Bird Island Diary — February 2001

     What we did to the builders The shortest month is now over and has been full of a variety of events. It has also been frustrating at times and with […]

     Read more of: Bird Island Diary — February 2001

     

176. Bird Island Diary — January 2001

     A time of rapid change So what’s been happening this month? Unfortunately for you all, it’s my turn to try and provide a witty commentary on the exciting events of […]

     Read more of: Bird Island Diary — January 2001

     

177. Bird Island Diary — December 2000

     Seals with video cameras and seasonal festivities Bird Island Diary When we were asked who would write the December newsletter, we were told in the same breath that as the […]

     Read more of: Bird Island Diary — December 2000

     

178. Bird Island Diary — November 2000

     Relief, visitors and the wildlife proliferates Bird Island Diary As the newest member on the station I have the honour (!) of writing the newsletter at the end of my […]

     Read more of: Bird Island Diary — November 2000

     

179. Bird Island Diary — October 2000 (vagrants)

     Bird Island vagrants Bird Island Diary Keith Reid (BAS, Cambridge) adds the following on the Bird Island October-vagrants. Chiloe Wigeon (Anas sibilatrix): This drake was recorded in Freshwater Bay, Bird […]

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180. Bird Island Diary — October 2000 (new arrivals)

     New arrivals at Bird Island Bird Island Diary New arrivals at Bird Island mark the transition from winter to summer activities. Where would the human community of Bird Island be […]

     Read more of: Bird Island Diary — October 2000 (new arrivals)

     

181. Bird Island Diary — September 2000

     The birds, the unrelenting wind, and a 19th century calm Bird Island Diary With winter and her easy pace almost through, September is a month of great transformation on Bird […]

     Read more of: Bird Island Diary — September 2000

     

182. Bird Island Diary — August 2000

     An Introduction to Bird Island Bird Island Diary Wildlife on Bird Island: At this time of year the wildlife is nothing compared to the summer. Presently there are seals mostly […]

     Read more of: Bird Island Diary — August 2000

     

1. Celebrating the festive season in Antarctica

   Researchers, engineers and support staff at British Antarctic Survey’s (BAS) five UK research stations and aboard the UK’s polar research ship RRS Sir David Attenborough mark the festive season at […]

   Read more of: Celebrating the festive season in Antarctica

   

2. Renewables milestone reached in Antarctica

   The British Antarctic Survey has installed and activated two solar photovoltaic and energy storage systems in Antarctica as part of our commitment to reach net zero by 2040.  

   Read more of: Renewables milestone reached in Antarctica

   

3. Spare a thought for those spending Christmas in Antarctica

   ritish Antarctic Survey (BAS) staff working on the frozen continent are preparing to celebrate the festive season in style. Nearly 300 researchers, engineers, crew and support staff, located across five research stations and on board the RRS Sir David Attenborough, are guaranteed a white Christmas complete with snow, ice and penguins.

   Read more of: Spare a thought for those spending Christmas in Antarctica

   

4. Antarctica’s sea ice could impact seabirds’ food supply

   Antarctica’s rapidly receding sea ice could have a negative impact on the food supply of seabirds that breed hundreds of miles away from the continent.

   Read more of: Antarctica’s sea ice could impact seabirds’ food supply

   

5. British Antarctic Survey’s Antarctic field season wraps up

   The 2023/4 Antarctic field season has wound up and the last of the summer teams are aboard the RRS Sir David Attenborough and heading for home.

   Read more of: British Antarctic Survey’s Antarctic field season wraps up

   

6. Penguins test positive for Avian Flu on South Georgia

   Penguins on the sub-Antarctic Islands of South Georgia have tested positive for Avian flu. This is the first time the virus has been detected in gentoo and king penguin populations on the islands.

   Read more of: Penguins test positive for Avian Flu on South Georgia

   

7. Avian flu now detected in albatrosses on South Georgia

   Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) continues to affect the wildlife on the subantarctic islands of South Georgia. The latest results from samples taken from the islands reveal that the disease has now been detected in the wandering albatross.

   Read more of: Avian flu now detected in albatrosses on South Georgia

   

8. Avian flu continues to affect wildlife on South Georgia

   Testing for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) continues on the subantarctic island of South Georgia since it was detected in October 2023. The latest results from samples taken from the islands reveal that the disease has now been detected in elephant and fur seals.

   Read more of: Avian flu continues to affect wildlife on South Georgia

   

9. Additional cases of Avian Flu confirmed on South Georgia

   Last month, October 2023, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) was confirmed on Bird Island, South Georgia in the brown skua populations.

   Read more of: Additional cases of Avian Flu confirmed on South Georgia

   

10. Scientists track the epic flight of fledged albatross

    Scientists are tracking a group of young black-browed albatross, who have begun their first epic journeys across the Southern Ocean. In April 2023, 26 young black-browed albatross on Bird Island […]

    Read more of: Scientists track the epic flight of fledged albatross

    

11. British Antarctic Survey completes Antarctic field season

    The 2022/23 Antarctic field season has ended, marking the conclusion of another successful year of scientific exploration in one of the world’s most remote and challenging environments. This field season, […]

    Read more of: British Antarctic Survey completes Antarctic field season

    

12. Celebrating Polar Pride Day 2022

    Today (18 November) British Antarctic Survey (BAS) joins global celebrations to mark LGBTQIA+ STEM DAY and Polar Pride Day. Polar Pride is a celebration of the contribution of LGBTQIA+ people in polar research […]

    Read more of: Celebrating Polar Pride Day 2022

    

13. British Antarctic Survey’s 2022-2023 field season begins

    Our Antarctic field season has begun, with a challenging and ambitious range of projects to be delivered at five British Antarctic Survey (BAS) research stations and across the wider continent. […]

    Read more of: British Antarctic Survey’s 2022-2023 field season begins

    

14. Islands given protected status

    Today, Tuesday 5 July, the Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI) announced the designation of the entire landmass of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands […]

    Read more of: Islands given protected status

    

15. BAS’ 2021-2022 field season has ended

    The British Antarctic Survey (BAS) field season has finished for another year.   RRS Sir David Attenborough departed Rothera Research Station for the final time earlier in May and is […]

    Read more of: BAS’ 2021-2022 field season has ended

    

16. Job opportunities in Antarctica

    Looking for a new challenge? British Antarctic Survey has launched its latest recruitment campaign for a wide range of jobs in Antarctica for the 2022/23 Antarctic season. Antarctica is the […]

    Read more of: Job opportunities in Antarctica

    

17. Opportunities for Antarctic research – Apply now

    Applications to carry out small-scale research projects in the Antarctic in the 2022/23 season are invited from UK-based researchers. The Collaborative Antarctic Science Scheme (CASS) provides opportunities for scientists in […]

    Read more of: Opportunities for Antarctic research – Apply now

    

18. Celebrating Christmas in Antarctica 2021

    2021 has been a rollercoaster year for British Antarctic Survey, operating research stations in the Antarctic and the sub-Antarctic through the Covid-19 pandemic, while our new polar research vessel, the […]

    Read more of: Celebrating Christmas in Antarctica 2021

    

19. British Antarctic Survey’s 2021-2022 field season is underway

    Science and support teams from British Antarctic Survey (BAS) are gearing up for the start of the Antarctic summer field season. All five of our research stations will be open […]

    Read more of: British Antarctic Survey’s 2021-2022 field season is underway

    

20. Antarctic seabird faces declining populations

    Data collected from a long-term study by British Antarctic Survey (BAS) scientists shows declining populations of an already relatively rare Antarctic seabird, the South Georgia shag.  Published in the journal […]

    Read more of: Antarctic seabird faces declining populations

    

21. Celebrating Midwinter in Antarctica

    British Antarctic Survey (BAS) is celebrating Midwinter’s Day (Monday 21 June) as staff in three British Antarctic Territory Research Stations mark the shortest and darkest day of the year on the frozen continent. The tradition began in […]

    Read more of: Celebrating Midwinter in Antarctica

    

22. Penguins benefit from extended maritime zone

    Gentoo penguins are benefiting from a newly enlarged no-fishing zone (known as a No-Take Zone NTZ) around the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia following British Antarctic Survey (BAS) tracking research […]

    Read more of: Penguins benefit from extended maritime zone

    

23. Festive Greetings from BAS!

    Staff at British Antarctic Survey (BAS) ships and research stations prepare to celebrate the festive season. It’s been a year like no other, with extraordinary arrangements made to keep facilities […]

    Read more of: Festive Greetings from BAS!

    

24. Wind beneath their wings – study finds albatrosses fine-tuned to wind conditions

    A new study of albatrosses has found that wind plays a bigger role in their decision to take flight than previously thought, and due to their differences in body size, […]

    Read more of: Wind beneath their wings – study finds albatrosses fine-tuned to wind conditions

    

25. Plastic Pollution reaching Antarctica

    Food wrapping, fishing gear and plastic waste continue to reach the Antarctic. Two new studies into how plastic debris is reaching sub-Antarctic islands are published in the journal Environment International. […]

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26. End of Antarctic field season 2020 – repatriation

    Exceptional plans to repatriate our people at the end of the Antarctic summer field season

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27. Festive Greetings from Antarctica

    As you make the last preparations for the festive period, spare a thought for those who will be working away in Antarctica for British Antarctic Survey. Over 300 staff, scientists […]

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28. Antarctica. BBC blockbuster Seven Worlds, One Planet

    Antarctica – BBC NHU blockbuster

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29. Antarctic krill population contracts southward as polar oceans warm

    The population of Antarctic krill, the favourite food of many whales, penguins, fish and seals, shifted southward during a recent period of warming in their key habitat, new research shows. […]

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30. New funding uses seabirds as sentinels of South Atlantic

    British Antarctic Survey scientist Professor Richard Phillips has been awarded funding to use newly developed radar-detecting tags to track the interactions between wandering albatrosses and fishing vessels in the South […]

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31. Scientists join policy makers to discuss conservation

    BAS marine researchers join nearly 300 international delegates at the annual meeting of the Convention on the Conservation or Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) beginning in Hobart today. For the […]

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32. BBC Blockbuster Blue Planet II returns

    Blue Planet II – the nature documentary that explores the deepest and darkest realms of the world’s oceans – is back on the BBC some 16 years after it was […]

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33. New study reveals what penguins eat

    The longest and most comprehensive study to date of what penguins eat is published this month. The study, published in the journal Marine Biology, examines the diets of gentoo penguins […]

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34. Conservation plans to protect the albatross

    The UK Overseas Territory of South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands is this week launching an ambitious conservation effort to help protect the albatross. South Georgia is a globally important […]

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35. Construction partner announced

    Construction expert BAM has been chosen to partner with British Antarctic Survey (BAS) to modernise UK Antarctic and other research facilities, enabling British scientists to continue delivering world class research […]

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36. Sounds of Christmas from Bird Island

    Dr Lucy Quinn is zoological field assistant at the British Antarctic Survey research station on Bird Island, South Georgia – a job which involves daily expeditions come rain or shine […]

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37. New field season begins

    As spring returns to the southern hemisphere British Antarctic Survey (BAS) has started another research season which will take them over land, sea and ice in search of answers to […]

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38. Ramboll named technical adviser to BAS

    Technical advisor appointment

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39. Review of threats to seabirds

    A review of breeding distributions, population trends, threats and key priorities for conservation actions on land and at sea for the 29 species covered by the Agreement on the Conservation […]

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40. Albatrosses use different regions when on migration

    A new study of the movements of sub-Antarctic albatrosses tracked from two remote islands some 5,000 km apart, shows that although the birds from each breeding site take similar routes around the Southern Ocean, they forage in different areas for the majority of the time. The results are published this month in the Nature journal Scientific Reports.

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41. PRESS RELEASE: Cool Antarctic jobs

    British Antarctic Survey (BAS) is recruiting now. The smooth operation and maintenance of our research stations depends on skilled technical support teams. Check out our latest vacancies!

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42. NEWS STORY: Polar Medal awards

    Two British Antarctic Survey (BAS) personnel, and one former member of staff, have been awarded the Polar Medal. The announcement was made today (Fri. 8th Jan 2016) in the London […]

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43. NEWS STORY: Assessing seabird communities

    Antarctic seabird community structure remains unaffected by changes in food availability A new study of sub-Antarctic seabirds shows that their community structure (how they co-exist and share resources) is unaffected […]

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44. NEWS STORY: Bird tracking aids seabird research

    Bird tracking technology reveals future climate may affect seabird feeding behaviour A two year study of shags on the Isle of May National Nature Reserve in Scotland reveals that when […]

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45. PRESS RELEASE: Scent matters to fur seals

    Antarctic fur seals have unique ‘scent profile’ to recognise their pups Researchers studying Antarctic fur seals have discovered their scent has a unique ‘profile’ which enables them to recognise their […]

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46. NEWS STORY: New study uncovers how petrels co-exist

    New study uncovers how petrels in sub-Antarctic co-exist during the winter For the first time, scientists understand more clearly how birds living on the remote sub-Antarctic island of Bird Island […]

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47. NEWS STORY: Antarctic fur seals monitored

    New study tracks feeding behaviour of Antarctic fur seals in winter During the Antarctic Summer female fur seals feed in the waters around their breeding breaches. In winter, when their […]

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48. NEWS STORY: Research stations mark Earth Hour

    WWF’s Earth Hour is a global annual event where hundreds of millions of people switch off their lights for one hour to show they care about the planet.

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49. NEWS STORY: Age does not wither

    Does age matter? Maybe not if you’re a wandering albatross A new study of the wandering albatrosses breeding on the sub-antarctic island of Bird Island (off South Georgia) reveals that […]

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50. NEWS STORY: Christmas in Antarctica

    British Antarctic Survey staff prepare to celebrate Christmas far away from home As you make the last preparations for the festive period, spare a thought for those who will be […]

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51. PRESS RELEASE: Fur seal genetics and climate change

    Genetic study shows major impact of climate change on Antarctic fur seals Genetic analysis of Antarctic fur seals, alongside decades of in-depth monitoring,* has provided unique insights into the effect […]

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52. NEWS STORY: Midwinter’s Day in Antarctica

    Midwinter’s Day celebrations take place at Antarctic Research Stations Staff at the British Antarctic Survey are celebrating Midwinter’s Day in Antarctica. In a tradition which began in the days of […]

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53. BLOG: Bird Island Station Leader

    We caught up with Bird Island Research Station Leader Adam Bradley who was living and working on the island when the BBC crew came to film Deadly Pole to Pole. […]

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54. NEWS STORY: Bird Island on CBBC

    Deadly Pole to Pole at Bird Island Tune in to CBBC today at 5:25pm to see adventurer Steve Backshall on Bird Island as part of the BBC’s Deadly Pole to […]

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55. PRESS RELEASE: Penguins monitored with tags

    Electronic tags provide 10 years worth of penguin data A team of scientists, led by researchers from the British Antarctic Survey, has used tiny electronic tags to study the decline […]

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56. NEWS STORY: Greetings from Antarctica

    Christmas messages from Antarctic staff Many British Antarctic Survey scientists and support staff will be spending this Christmas thousands of miles from home on the frozen continent. BAS has five […]

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57. NEWS STORY: Staff head into deep Antarctica

    British Antarctic Survey field season is underway On the eve of the centenary year of Ernest Shackleton’s Endurance Expedition the ship which bears his name is playing a crucial role […]

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58. NEWS STORY: Age no barrier for albatrosses

    Saving the best for last – wandering albatrosses” last push for successful parenting Romanticised in poetry, the wandering albatross is famed for its enormous wing-span and long life. The bird […]

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59. PRESS RELEASE: Breeding habits of albatrosses

    Antarctic albatross displays shift in breeding habits A new study of the wandering albatross – one of the largest birds on Earth – has shown that some of the birds […]

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60. Antarctic field season kicks off for Centennial Year

    On the eve of the centenary of Sir Robert Falcon Scott’s expedition to the Antarctic, the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) 20011/12 field season is underway. The start of the season […]

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61. Frozen Planet: Autumn arrives

    This week on Frozen Planet (BBC1 Wednesday 16 November at 21.00, repeated Sunday at 16.10) the programme explores autumn in the polar regions. As life cools down in the Antarctic, […]

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62. Frozen Planet: Summer in Antarctica

    This week on Frozen Planet (BBC1 Wednesday 9 November at 21.00, repeated Sunday at 16.10) the programme explores Summer in the Polar Regions. As life thrives in the Antarctic, viewers […]

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63. This week on Frozen Planet

    This week on Frozen Planet (BBC1 Wednesday 2 November at 21.00, repeated Sunday at 16.10) the programme explores Spring in the Polar Regions and how life begins the race to […]

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64. BBC Frozen Planet: the Poles like you’ve never seen them before…

    Series starts Wednesday 26 October, BBC1 at 9.00pm, repeated on Sundays at 4.10pm. Embark on the trip of a lifetime, as the award-winning BBC team behind Planet Earth takes you […]

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65. Midwinter’s Day Celebrations

    Staff at the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) celebrate Midwinter’s Day today. Celebrated as the Summer Solstice in the northern hemisphere, Midwinter’s day is the shortest and darkest day for the […]

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66. PRESS RELEASE: Albatrosses feed with whales

    Albatross camera reveals fascinating feeding interaction with killer whale Scientists from British Antarctic Survey, National Institute of Polar Research (NIPR), Tokyo, and Hokkaido University, Japan, have recorded the first observations […]

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