I was stationed there with the USAF in '79. I remember the terrible cat predation on the newly hatched sea turtles. I'm gladdened and relieved that the cats were eliminated but I wonder how it could have possibly been done. I remember hearing that the USAF had done aerial seeding with grass seed (with permission, of course) to help establish some sort of soil. There was no dirt, only volcanic pumice which doesn't tend to break down. No water to do it. The only green on the island was the top of Green Mountain, that was high enough to be in the water vapor from passing clouds. Since no rocks breaking down, the sand on the beach is shell sand. Wonderful stuff. 70 degrees F. day and night, summer and winter. One hour of a light sprinkle in the year I was there.

Was there for 6 months in 1983. A fantastic place.

@vivekkesoju6092

3 жыл бұрын

So great

@Q_QQ_Q

Жыл бұрын

why

Really great video. I was there in the USAF and then as a Pan Am Diver. 80-86. There were lots of Frigates nesting on the cliff by the letterbox trail (where you pointed to the white Island. First time I had ever seen Frigates outside of Nat Geo. Plus not sure why, the avoidance of the showing the lush areas of the Island. A great experiment in Terra forming. FYI, I scaled Boatswainbird Island carrying a rope for the people in our two boats.(no cable then like in your video) I was the last on off the platform when we left. Did a sloppy dive and swam to our zodiacs. ONLY then did I look in the water with a dive mask. Every wonder how many sharks live under that island to catch baby birds? I count myself lucky to have limbs after that dive. LOL

"Since the animals have lived here for thousands of years without land predators, they have relatively little beer. And that lack of experience with creditors prove their undoing". Well done with english subtitles, KZread. Well done. This is brilliant satire.

Amazing documentary video.

I'd love to go there

This is fascinating.

Thanks for sharing, shared.

loved your book.

Cat eradication is 100% wonderful

@jacquelynmathews5341

3 жыл бұрын

Much as I love cats, I absolutely agree with you. It's horrible how they've lead to the mass extinction of many native bird species & other animals.

This is such a great video.

@marilynhernandez8172

7 жыл бұрын

I Hope there are pelicans and flamingos in that island.

@Q_QQ_Q

Жыл бұрын

@@marilynhernandez8172 no

Why aren't more trees introduced to the island? They could help prevent the soil from eroding needlessly into the ocean.

@rishibehal3393

5 жыл бұрын

Well trees never really existed there, even when the portuguese arrived in the 1500s the most the island had was small ferns but the British did plant an artificial forest called Green Mountain to help provide wood for masts and bring a bit more rainfall to the island . It was succesfull but ended up being a bit of a threat to local species . BBC engineers tried again in 1966 with the 'Mexican Thorn' to bind the dry top soil though this ended up being an even bigger disaster for the endemic species.

@jasonmgavitt2357

4 жыл бұрын

Rishi Behal there are ways to start a forest that would possibly allow most species to adapt.planting only one kind of tree across a large swath of the island could be detrimental,but starting slowly with pioneer species and gradually planting bigger trees of as many species as possible could have much less of an impact.

@obiwahndagobah9543

4 жыл бұрын

@Seiko Loveless Because the trees overcrowd and shade out the native plants. They didn't evolve to live under the shade of trees, they need full sunlight, but at the same time many need enough moisture. So they are restricted to the wetter top of the Island, but there they are pushed out from most places by the trees. Two fern species and some moss species though are quite happy in the forest, but the rest is not.

@jacquelynmathews5341

3 жыл бұрын

It's probably better if nothing's introduced. Life on the island is so fragile that even usually harmless trees or plants could have devastating effects if planted there.

@Q_QQ_Q

Жыл бұрын

@@rishibehal3393 there were no trees locally there . only 4 ferns ever grew .

I think he is the luckiest man on earth

Lovely documentary. The crabs, Frigate Birds and Boobies remind me of Christmas Island.

I REMEMBER THE CRABS WALKING BY ME IN MY BIVVY😂😂❤

@Greentim67

2 ай бұрын

Thousands and thousands

Who saw the Skink tail at 8:15 (Tristiidon Lunata)

I read elsewhere (this is 2021) that this island is now 'greened' all over.....so ????

ain't nothing that old

He didn't get shit on by the seabirds?

Eh no cats eh..... Wonder how they are doing with the rat problem now lol

@ramdas363

2 жыл бұрын

Don't worry, the snakes that were newly introduced to control the rats will take care of that.

@Q_QQ_Q

Жыл бұрын

no rats

Anybody who likes this place deserves to spend a stretch at Pelican Island....

Does nobody else see that Pyramid?

@billbogg3857

3 жыл бұрын

Yup . The ancient Asdickheads teleported there from South America on their way to Egypt to teach them all they knew.

@billbogg3857

3 жыл бұрын

Yup . The ancient Asdickheads teleported there from Machu Pichu on their way to Egypt to teach them all they knew.

Terns are much more agile than boobies.

Winston Churchill Memorial Trust, that should destroy everything....

The most stupid background music ever. It completely drowns out what the narrator is saying at times. Stupid, stupid.