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Category Archives: Islands

Governor-Generals visit to the Auckland Islands

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Thursday 12 February, 2015

For immediate release

Press release Governor-Generals visit to the Auckland Islands

The Governor-General, Lt Gen The Rt Hon Sir Jerry Mateparae leaves on Friday for a five-night visit to the Auckland Islands.

The Governor-General will be hosted by The Sir Peter Blake Trust, the New Zealand Antarctic Research Institute, the Department of Conservation, NIWA and the University of Otago. Weather permitting, he will visit the proposed Blake Station site at Smith Harbour and tour Enderby Island to see albatross, penguins, sea-lions and the Auckland Islands famous megaherbs. It is hoped the programme can also include visits to heritage sites, including the location of Second World War coast-watchers huts, a helicopter tour of the islands, and participation in scientific research activities.

The Auckland Islands are part of New Zealands subantarctic islands, and are considered to be one of the few relatively pristine groups of islands in the world. The subantarctic islands became a World Heritage Area in 1998. Visitors must observe strict quarantine procedures to ensure that no potential pest species are inadvertently introduced. The islands have a challenging climate, with high rainfall, strong winds and a mean summer temperature of 7 degrees.

The Governor-General arrives in the Auckland Islands on Friday 13 February and will return to the mainland onWednesday 18 February.

Scoop Media

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Governor-Generals visit to the Auckland Islands

A new species of hummingbird?

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The Bahama Woodstar is a hummingbird found in the Bahamas, and comprises two subspecies. One of these, Calliphlox evelynae evelynae, is found throughout the islands of the Bahamas, and especially in the northern islands. The other, Calliphlox evelynae lyrura ("lyrura" for lyre-tailed, referring to the forked tail of males that resembles a classical lyre harp), is found only among the southern Inaguan islands of the Bahama Archipelago.

A research team, including biologist Christopher J. Clark at the University of California, Riverside, now argues in a research paper published in this month's issue of The Auk that the two subspecies should be recognized as two distinct species.

"The two subspecies were originally described as separate species, partly on the basis of small differences in the tail feathers between them, but were then classified in 1945 as subspecies of the Bahama Woodstar," explained Clark, an assistant professor of biology. "It's time now to call these two distinct species of hummingbirds."

Both Calliphlox evelynae evelynae and Calliphlox evelynae lyrura produce mechanical sounds with their tails during courtship displays. The researchers recorded the pops and whistles produced when air runs along male tail feathers during mating display dives. They also collected field recordings of scolding calls and songs of the two subspecies. They compared beak and wing lengths. Using tissue samples, they investigated the degree to which populations of evelynae and lyrura diverged in genetics.

They found that:

"Our findings suggest that lyrura is best considered a full species," Clark said. "Calliphlox evelynae evelynae should keep Bahama Woodstar as its familiar name. Calliphlox evelynae lyrura could use 'Inaguan Lyretail as its familiar name."

Next Clark and colleagues will petition the American Ornithologists' Union to officially recognize the new species.

Story Source:

The above story is based on materials provided by University of California - Riverside. The original article was written by Iqbal Pittalwala. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.

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A new species of hummingbird?

Floating Islands from Recycled material – Asap Islan – Sealand – dartofscience – Video

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Floating Islands from Recycled material - Asap Islan - Sealand - dartofscience
"Aa Che Island" (Title in Gujarati which translates to "This is an Island"), Open island projects are done as an open collaborative projects and in India led by Joy Lohmann, Vinesh Iyer (founder...

By: dartofscience

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Floating Islands from Recycled material - Asap Islan - Sealand - dartofscience - Video

Beautiful northern lights (full HD time-lapse), Lofoten islands, Norway – Video

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Beautiful northern lights (full HD time-lapse), Lofoten islands, Norway
All shots in this video were made around the polar light center in Laukvik at the Lofoten islands. Visit there website for more information! http://www.polarlightcenter.com/ The time-lapses...

By: Ramon Oost

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Beautiful northern lights (full HD time-lapse), Lofoten islands, Norway - Video

The 19 best Greek islands

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Best for beaches - Zakynthos

The Ionian Islands can't be beaten for sandy beaches backed by dramatic coastlines. Myrtos Beach on Kefalonia and Porto Katsiki on Lefkada are among the most photogenic, but Shipwreck Bay on Zakythos, only accessible by boat, trumps them both - even if it does get a bit crowded.

"Visitors to Zakynthos should avoid the boozy corners of the south coast and stick to the beautiful, unspoilt north and mountainous west of the island," says Telegraph Travel's Joanna Symons. "Or base yourself on the pine-forested Vasilikos peninsula in the south-east, most of which has been protected from large-scale development because of the loggerhead turtles that breed on Gerakas beach."

Gerakas itself is "a perfect curve of golden sand", she adds. "Those turtles know how to pick a good spot."

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The 19 best Greek islands

NIWA: Whale tales from the edge of Antarctica

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Researchers aboard RV Tangaroa have encountered humpback whales at the Balleny Islands deep in the Southern Ocean and are on the track of the worlds largest mammal, the blue whale.

Voyage leader Dr Richard ODriscoll said Tangaroa surveyed whale, krill and fish around most of the islands coasts except where they were hampered by sea ice.

"Numerous humpback whales were observed, particularly around Buckle Island (the middle island), and acoustic data showed aggregations of Antarctic krill in the upper 200 metres of the water," Dr ODriscoll reported from the ship.

"Biopsy samples were taken from seven humpback whales, and we also trawled for food species, netting krill and jellyfish, some grenadiers (rattails), small Antarctic cods and lanternfish."

The first two blue whales were sighted and photographed between Buckle and Sturge Islands. "This was a great thrill, and hopefully a good omen for the next phase of the voyage," he said. The Australian Antarctic Division team on board had deployed sonobouys to listen for blue whales and get a fix on their location.

Dr ODriscoll said: "The weather and sea conditions so far have been amazing and we have been treated to some spectacular sunrises and sunsets against the backdrop of the Balleny Islands. We are out of sight of land again now, with only icebergs (and hopefully blue whales) for company."

The blue whale work is scheduled for the next 10 days before Tangaroa enters the Ross Sea proper. "The latest sea ice charts suggests that the ice is clearing nicely and all onboard are hopeful that the favourable conditions will continue," he said.

Dr Richard ODriscoll is NIWA fisheries scientist and project leader on the New Zealand-Australia Antarctic Ecosystems Voyage 2015. The voyage is monitoring the health of the ecosystem that supports the oceans top predators, blue whales, humpback whales and Antarctic toothfish.

Video and high-resolution photos are available at niwa.co.nz.

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NIWA: Whale tales from the edge of Antarctica


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