An African penguin tries out the weigh-bridge during tests at Banham Zoo. Copyright British Antarctic Survey. Since the 1960s large-scale catches of fish, krill and squid have been made. It depends on fundamental scientific research conducted by organisations like British Antarctic Survey to enable it to recommend catch levels for commercial fisheries. The research carried out by BAS at Bird Island on seals, albatross and penguins form the basis for monitoring the Southern Ocean ecosystem.
Bird Island lies at the northern tip of the island of South Georgia.
They arrive from their breeding colony in the same week, in late October, each year. They lay two eggs, only one of which hatches, and both the male and female share the incubation period that lasts 35 days. On average only one third of the breeding pairs will successfully rear a chick to fledging in each year. Although young birds return to the colony the following summer they will not breed until they are 5-7 years old. Financial support comes through NERC from the Office of Science and Technology.