Shore And Sea Birding Tour

Depart to Itsamia beach where to board on cruise boat and explore the berauty of shore and sea birds of Comoro island

Sail to the white rock island of Mchako, a special breeding area for sea birds in Moheli island

This is one of the main sea birds habitat selection models

three species had a higher probability of presence

the Petral, tropical shearwater, white-tailed tropicbird, lesser noddy, wedge-tailed shearwater

Birds of Hamchako Rock, on the island of Moheli
Hamchako Rock, located on the island of Moheli, is an exceptional site for birds. This rock, tinted white by the guano of seabirds, shelters a rich biodiversity. The birds that swim in the surrounding waters, such as reef sharks and tunas, contribute to the beauty and vitality of this site. EIn more oligotrophic tropical waters, however, it is unclear whether environmental conditions create similar multi-species hotspots.

We track the non-breeding movements and habitat preferences of a tropical seabird, 9 species, and 10 colonies in the western Indian Ocean, which supports globally important biodiversity.

We mapped species richness from tracked populations

and measure for all known Indian Ocean colonies. Most species had large non-breeding ranges, low or variable residency patterns, and specific habitat preferences. This in turn revealed that maximum species richness covered several km2, with no focused aggregations, in stark contrast to large-scale tracking studies in all other ocean basins.High species richness was captured by existing marine protected areas in the region; however, most occurred in the unprotected high seas beyond national jurisdictions. Seabirds experience cumulative anthropogenic impact during non-breeding. Therefore, our results suggest that seabird conservation in the tropical Indian Ocean requires an ocean-wide perspective, including high seas legislation.

on the way back, we can enjoy some snorkeling arround the area and also take the opportunities to explore some existing shore birds such as the variety of crab plovers

Return back to Itsamia beach