Flock to Marion Again!

[Flutterby]

During the cruise, there were a number of fund-raising initiatives, one of them being to sponsor a hectare on Marion Island for R1000, which Tina and I both did. Some people sponsored multiple hectares.

(Pic courtesy of Mouse-Free Marion)

This initiative raised nearly R3 000 000!!

There was also a silent auction, and a live auction, of items like paintings, sculptures, books, and trips. Peter Harrison conducted the live auction, and managed to get people to part with over R250 000, using such witticisms as "I have come to sell you things you don't need!!" and "Don't leave all your money to your children, if you don't travel first class, they will!!" After adding the amount raised by the live auction, more than R9 000 000 was raised on the cruise!

[Lisbeth]

I admire profoundly the people spending their time on conservation issues, most likely getting a wretched salary or nothing at all.

Typical that the state is not involved. I hope that the "Mouse-Free Marion project" doesn't have to pay tax on the donations and that they can start the real work soon and beat the mice

[Richprins]

What a grand ship, Flutts!

This was really a unique opportunity!

And how well done was the fundraising!

I hope one hears more of the anti-mouse project...maybe some cats!

[Lisbeth]

...maybe some cats!

Then they will have to start all over again with a "Cat free Marion"

[Flutterby]

I admire profoundly the people spending their time on conservation issues, most likely getting a wretched salary or nothing at all.

Typical that the state is not involved. I hope that the "Mouse-Free Marion project" doesn't have to pay tax on the donations and that they can start the real work soon and beat the mice

I found the passion of these people truly inspiring!

What a grand ship, Flutts!

This was really a unique opportunity!

And how well done was the fundraising!

I hope one hears more of the anti-mouse project...maybe some cats!

They did try cats! Five cats were introduced to the island in 1949. By 1975, the five cats had become over 2000 cats, which killed about 450,000 burrowing petrels each year! They managed to get rid of all the cats by 1991 through the introduction of the feline panleucopaenia virus, trapping and poisoning.

[Flutterby]

These are some of my favourite bird pics of the trip.

Wandering Albatrosses

[Flutterby]

Sooty Albatross

Northern Giant Petrel

Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross (*Edit* This is a Grey-headed Albatross.)

[Lisbeth]

1. Vertical flying

My favourite close up is the last one, Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross, but they are all great

( Is it a Grey-headed Albatross as you have called it somewhere or an Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross?)

[ExFmem]

A lot of those birds look rather prehistoric, and some would also make good cartoon characters.

[Pumbaa]

Thanks so much, Flutterby,

only caught up now but what a privilege you had doing that trip

Lots of fantastic bird as well as dolphin / whale shots Must have been an unforgetable trip

Thanks so much for sharing