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PT
Depois de semanas de espera, era o tempo pra realizar o trabalho para o qual estou na Madeira, trabalhar com aves marinhas. Infelizmente, o tempo não está acompanhando este ano. Laura e eu estávamos indo para Ilhéu do Farol duas noites, como ela me disse a minha primeira experiência "Ilhéu".
Atualmente, o esforço da SPEA Madeira no mar está centrada no estudo das populações pintainho (Puffinus lherminieri), uma espécies encontra-se localmente pelágicas nas águas tropicais e temperadas do Atlântico Norte, nidificando em vários arquipélagos europeus e americanos, como é o caso da "nossa" arquipélago.
O Ilhéu do Farol tem registos antigos de escutas, mas desde o inicio tínhamos dúvidas de que atualmente existisse nidificação do Pintainho no Ilhéu do Farol, e sendo esta visita importante para ter a certeza que não existe nidificação do pintainho, e concentrar os nossos esforços em outros ilhéus.
Tudo começa com a viagem para o Ilhéu de autocarro e bote, viagem efetuada com os guardas da natureza (do Parque Natural da Madeira) que fizeram a viagem com muita diversão, passando o tempo todo com piadas e "boas vibrações".
Chegando ao Ilhéu, a primeira coisa que fizemos montar o nosso acampamento, na verdade, acabamos armando tendas no abrigo de uma casa em ruínas (com fio dental).
Após descansar um pouco, tivemos com os binóculos a observar o voo das Cagarras(Calonectris borealis) , muito agueis no mar (exatamente o oposto na terra, onde eles não sabem nem aterrar).
Mesmo antes do anoitecer, dirigimo-nos ao primeiro ponto de escuta, e jantamos tranquilamente, ao barulho continuo da gaivotas até os últimos raios de sol, logo, começou um silêncio quase por completo, que durou quase meia hora, e de repente o som tão característico das Cagarras, começou a soar. Primeiro ouvimos apenas um tímido individuo e após alguns segundos uma grande multidão de machos.
Eu sentia (por ser de noite, sem lua e não conseguir ver nitidamente) como passavam as Cagarras macho perseguidos por uma fêmea, e vice-versa. (Como curiosidade, a fêmea desta espécie, ao contrário dos humanos, apresentam um tom mais grave).
Entre todas as Cagarras foram ouvidos Roques de Castro, com um vôo rápido, poderia até sentir mudanças bruscas de direção (ou talvez fosse a minha imaginação). Também ouvimos almas negras muito perto.
Depois de um tempo, tudo estava calmo, com vocalizações muito menos frequentes, e não tendo ouvido nenhum Pintainho, decidimos procurar ativamente o ninho, de modo que toda a área potencial escolhida para essa noite foi traçada, olhando os espaços entre as pedras que poderiam ser potenciais para nidificação de pintainhos, mas infelizmente, como nós presumimos não encontramos nenhum. Por outro lado, encontrámos muitos ninhos potenciais de cagarras e almas-negras.
Já passado da meia-noite, ao voltar-mos para a tenda, podiamos ver o chão cheio de besouros, em cima de perpétua da Ponta de São Lourenço(Helichrysum devium) foram contados em dezenas. Percebemos que uma alma-negra tinha o seu ninho muito perto do nosso acampamento, por isso, o seu som característico, que lembra um cão, acompanhou-nos durante a toda a noite.
Assim foi o meu primeiro dia no Ilhéu.
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EN
After weeks waiting, it was time to do the job I was in Madeira for: working on seabirds. Unfortunately, weather has been hell this year. Laura and I were going to Ilheu do Farol for two nights, in how she called my first “Ilheu experience".
SPEA Madeira’s current work at the sea focuses on the study of populations of Audubon's Shearwater (Puffinus lherminieri), a pelagic species found in tropical and temperate waters in the North Atlantic that breeds in various European and American archipelagos, as it is the case of "our" archipelago.
There were old registered records in Ilheu do Farol but it was highly doubted from the beginning that the Audubon's Shearwater had actually nested. This visit was important to ensure the absence of Audubon's Shearwater nests and therefore put our efforts elsewhere.
Everything started with the trip to Ilheu, first by car and then by zodiac boat" during which I had the chance to meet some of the park rangers (acronym Park) who made the trip fun, it was all jokes and "good vibes".
Arriving at Ilheu, the first thing we did was unload the supplies and set our camp. We eventually set up our tents with dental floss sheltered under a dilapidated house. Then we strolled to Ilheu, this being much smaller than it first seemed; we used this walk to identify recording locations.
After resting for awhile, we watched the flight of Cory's Shearwater(Calonectris borealis) with binoculars, extremely skilled at the sea (just the opposite that on earth, where they can’t even land).
Right before nightfall we headed to the first recording point, where we ate quietly. The gulls’ squawks lasted until the sunlight was gone; then, we sank in an almost absolute silence that lasted for half an hour until it was interrupted by the sudden characteristical sound of Cory's Shearwater. It was first just a shy male, but only a few seconds later a large crowd of males began and wouldn’t stop, while females were only heard now and then. We felt (being a moonless night we couldn’t see clearly) a male Cory's Shearwater flying by, chasing a female and vice-versa. (As an interesting fact, this species females, unlike in the case of humans, is the one with a deeper voice).
In addition to the Cory's Shearwater, we heard the Band-rumped Storm-petrel(Hydrobates castro), which flew fast and I could even feel them suddenly turning directions (or maybe it was my imagination). We could also hear some close Bulwer's Petrel(Bulweria bulwerii). After a while, vocalizations became less frequent and the calm returned; as we didn’t hear any Pintinho, we decided to actively look for the nest and the chosen zone for the night was completely tracked. We searched every gap between rocks that could be a potential nesting site for Pintainhos, but unfortunately as was expected we found nothing. What we did find was a lot of Cory's Shearwater’s and Bulwer's Petrel’ nests.
After midnight, we got back to the camp and in our way we saw the ground crowded with beetles; there were hundreds on the top of Ponta de São Lourenço's Immortelle Helichrysum devium. As we arrived, we noticed a Bulwer's Petrel had its nest quite close to the campsite, so this characteristical sound (which use to reminds a dog) stayed with us during the night
That was my first day at Ilheu.
After weeks waiting, it was time to do the job I was in Madeira for: working on seabirds. Unfortunately, weather has been hell this year. Laura and I were going to Ilheu do Farol for two nights, in how she called my first “Ilheu experience".
SPEA Madeira’s current work at the sea focuses on the study of populations of Audubon's Shearwater (Puffinus lherminieri), a pelagic species found in tropical and temperate waters in the North Atlantic that breeds in various European and American archipelagos, as it is the case of "our" archipelago.
There were old registered records in Ilheu do Farol but it was highly doubted from the beginning that the Audubon's Shearwater had actually nested. This visit was important to ensure the absence of Audubon's Shearwater nests and therefore put our efforts elsewhere.
Everything started with the trip to Ilheu, first by car and then by zodiac boat" during which I had the chance to meet some of the park rangers (acronym Park) who made the trip fun, it was all jokes and "good vibes".
Arriving at Ilheu, the first thing we did was unload the supplies and set our camp. We eventually set up our tents with dental floss sheltered under a dilapidated house. Then we strolled to Ilheu, this being much smaller than it first seemed; we used this walk to identify recording locations.
Right before nightfall we headed to the first recording point, where we ate quietly. The gulls’ squawks lasted until the sunlight was gone; then, we sank in an almost absolute silence that lasted for half an hour until it was interrupted by the sudden characteristical sound of Cory's Shearwater. It was first just a shy male, but only a few seconds later a large crowd of males began and wouldn’t stop, while females were only heard now and then. We felt (being a moonless night we couldn’t see clearly) a male Cory's Shearwater flying by, chasing a female and vice-versa. (As an interesting fact, this species females, unlike in the case of humans, is the one with a deeper voice).
In addition to the Cory's Shearwater, we heard the Band-rumped Storm-petrel(Hydrobates castro), which flew fast and I could even feel them suddenly turning directions (or maybe it was my imagination). We could also hear some close Bulwer's Petrel(Bulweria bulwerii). After a while, vocalizations became less frequent and the calm returned; as we didn’t hear any Pintinho, we decided to actively look for the nest and the chosen zone for the night was completely tracked. We searched every gap between rocks that could be a potential nesting site for Pintainhos, but unfortunately as was expected we found nothing. What we did find was a lot of Cory's Shearwater’s and Bulwer's Petrel’ nests.
After midnight, we got back to the camp and in our way we saw the ground crowded with beetles; there were hundreds on the top of Ponta de São Lourenço's Immortelle Helichrysum devium. As we arrived, we noticed a Bulwer's Petrel had its nest quite close to the campsite, so this characteristical sound (which use to reminds a dog) stayed with us during the night
That was my first day at Ilheu.
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