Seabird expert Chris Surman seeks funds to track Abrolhos Islands noddies

Well-known seabird expert Chris Surman is raising funds to track two seabird species that nest on Pelsaert Island in the Houtman Abrolhos archipelago. “These islands contain some of the largest and most significant seabird breeding islands in Australia, with well over a million seabirds from 14 species nesting here,” Dr Surman said. “I hope to raise funds to purchase micro GPS trackers to unlock the secret lives at sea of two species of noddies that breed on Pelsaert Island. “Of these, the threatened lesser noddy is found only here.” Dr Surman, who has studied the Abrolhos’ breeding seabirds for 30 years, is crowdfunding to buy 10 British-made Micro GPS Trackers which cost $669 each plus freight, GST and import charges. He then intends to fit each to a Pelsaert Island noddy to track its movements by satellite. “Micro GPS trackers are expensive but they are re-useable many times and last for several years,” he said. Dr Surman is using the crowdfunding app Pozible to raise the necessary funds. More information is available by visiting pozible.com/profile/christopher-surman . A similar study by Nic Dunlop and Claire Greenwell has found almost all of WA’s fairy terns winter at the northern Abrolhos Islands.