By Peter Ryan, onboard scientist, expert in general ornithology, seabird-fishery interactions, evolutionary ecology, marine debris, solid waste management, biology of oceanic islands. Leg 2, Scott to Mount Siple Blue Whale fever struck the ship after we left Scott Island on the afternoon of 6 February. Instead of taking the direct […]

By Peter Ryan, onboard scientist, expert in general ornithology, seabird-fishery interactions, evolutionary ecology, marine debris, solid waste management, biology of oceanic islands. Leg 2, Day 4. Today dawned calm and crisp; having crossed the Antarctic Polar Front in the night, the water was about 3°C and the air little warmer. […]

By Peter Ryan, onboard scientist, expert in general ornithology, seabird-fishery interactions, evolutionary ecology, marine debris, solid waste management, biology of oceanic islands. Leg 2, Day 3. Another fairly quiet day approaching the polar front. More seabird species were seen, including five albatrosses and two storm petrels: Short-tailed Shearwater 107 Mottled […]

By Peter Ryan, onboard scientist, expert in general ornithology, seabird-fishery interactions, evolutionary ecology, marine debris, solid waste management, biology of oceanic islands. Leg 2, Day 2. Today started innocuously enough with near calm seas and heavy rain as a frontal system passed over the ship. By mid-morning, however, the wind […]

By Peter Ryan, onboard scientist, expert in general ornithology, seabird-fishery interactions, evolutionary ecology, marine debris, solid waste management, biology of oceanic islands. Leg 2, Day 1. Welcome to all the leg 2 newbies. This blog summarises each day’s sightings. By departing Hobart at midnight, we missed all the coastal seabirds, […]

 By Peter Ryan, onboard scientist, expert in general ornithology, seabird-fishery interactions, evolutionary ecology, marine debris, solid waste management, biology of oceanic islands.   Leg 1, Day 29. We had high expectations for our last full day at sea, but the ship slowed as we neared Tasmania, so we didn’t cross […]

ACE birders’ blog – Leg 1, Day 28 By Peter Ryan, onboard scientist, expert in general ornithology, seabird-fishery interactions, evolutionary ecology, marine debris, solid waste management, biology of oceanic islands. Leg 1, Day 28. Four weeks at sea have flown by, and today the ACE birding team celebrated 5000 km […]