Indigenous-led research with Adrift Lab shows impact of bushfires on seabird breeding islands

Esperance Tjaltjraak Native Title Aboriginal Corporation (ETNTAC) #IndigenousRangers have been working with Dr Jenn Lavers and the #AdriftLab team to investigate the frequency and severity of #bushfires on #seabird breeding islands in the Recherche Archipelago. ETNTAC team members, Dave Guilfoyle, Gen Carey and Doc Reynolds co-authored a paper (see here) with Jenn based on data collected from Figure of Eight Island.

This research shows significant loss of breeding birds during a 2020 bushfire on the island and the slow recovery of populations post-burn. In the Archipelago, at least one fire is predicted to occur on islands every 2nd year, due in large part to climate change (and the associated increase in storms, which result in dry lightning strikes).

Exciting side note: this is Jenn’s 100th peer-reviewed journal article, quite the landmark!

Here’s another photo taken during one of the research trips to Figure of Eight Island: