Wildlife surveys
Each austral summer, South Georgia Surveys' researchers carry out wildlife and habitat surveys at South Georgia. Studies include surveys of the abundance and distribution of seabirds, of non-native species and of historic sites and artefacts.
RV Golden Fleece anchored off Crescent Island in the Bay of Isles during
the 2005-07 SGS albatross and petrel survey.
The information collected is archived in a GIS (Geographical Information System) database at the British Antarctic Survey. It is also available in the form of project reports, scientific publications, books, web diaries, documentaries and public lectures.
Researchers work from yachts and field camps. Yachts combine a high level of logistical flexibility with minimal environmental impact and are the ideal research platform for survey work in remote wilderness locations such as South Georgia. To find out more about sailing on RV Golden Fleece, click here.
For some firsthand accounts of the 2005-06 and 2006-07 albatross and petrel surveys, check out the fieldwork diaries of Ben Sullivan, Olly Watts and Ellen MacArthur. And to understand how these surveys play a role in helping to protect the birds, go to the ACAP website for information on the international Agreement for the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels.
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