Page 617 - Atlas Sea Birds Ver1
P. 617
After staff were withdrawn from Namibia’s remote Mercury Island in 1980, it was recolonised by Cape Fur Seals, which subsequently
displaced large numbers of four seabird species, endemic to the BUS and threatened, from breeding sites. The island was re-staffed and
disturbance of the seals at the conclusion of their breeding season caused them to relocate to adjacent Dolphin Head and other rookeries.
Seabird populations at Mercury Island recovered (Crawford et al. 1989). Staff were again recalled from the island in 2022, once more
with disastrous consequences for seabirds. The above photos provide views of a section of an African Penguin colony at the island in
December 2009 (left) and the same area in December 2023 (right, photos DB Tom)
The main African Penguin colony at Halifax Island, 2024 (photo DB Tom)
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