In September 2025 we held a workshop (a report of which is coming soon) to devise a plan for long-term monitoring and/or island-wide population counts of the mammals and birds of South Georgia. Many of these important populations are undergoing changes following our successful eradication of invasive rats and mice and the removal of reindeer by GSGSSI, the impacts of climate change, the recent outbreak of avian influenza and the recovery of whale populations following the end of commercial whaling in the region in the mid-1960s.
Elephant seal, one of the species affected by avian flu.
Photo by George Lemann
Many of our population estimates of flying birds are more than 40 years old, so it is important to update this baseline information and undertake regular monitoring of key breeding sites, to manage and address some of these changes. With the South Georgia Government, stakeholder scientists and researchers, we discussed what is currently happening and might be possible in future, and now we’re ready to put a joint plan into action to count and monitor South Georgia’s wildlife.
The Wilson’s Storm Petrel is one of many species recovering following the rodent eradication.
Photo by Peter Harrison