Join Rand Rudland at 7:30 p.m., Friday April 5, at the Sechelt Arts Centre, for an illustrated presentation describing a three-week Antarctic ocean adventure in the southern roaring 40s and furious 50s. The voyage went from Invercargill, New Zealand, to as far south as Macquarie Island, and then east, to the Chatham Islands in search of rare mammals and birds.
Eleven species of albatross and 10 of the world’s 17 species of penguins were seen. Magenta petrel were observed too, considered to be one of the rarest seabirds in the world, and certainly one of the most difficult to find. Seen also were a number of shags (cormorants to North Americans), like the Campbell Island shag.
Numerous orcas and leopard seals were seen too. These are formidable predators of penguins, which need to forage afar in the ocean and return to the various islands to feed their chicks. Numerous Hooker’s sea lions and southern elephant seals were seen on the beaches too.
The flora of these remote islands is also very interesting, as it has evolved into rare endemics, on these extremely isolated islands, with adaptations to the cold, similar to those found also in Arctic plants. Visiting these remote South Pacific Islands, especially the historically famous Pitt Island and Bounty Islands, and seeing all the unique flora and fauna, made this a trip of a lifetime.
Rand Rudland, is a local Sunshine Coast physician and wildlife enthusiast who lives in Halfmoon Bay with his wife Elise. He likes to travel and is an accomplished photographer.
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