The first recipient of the Société Jersiaise’s new environmental bursary, created in memory of a former States Member and dedicated environmentalist, is a major project to monitor seabirds and other marine wildlife in Channel Island waters.
The Société’s Nigel Quérée Environmental Award has been presented to a multi-agency research project taking place to collect information on all species of seabirds and marine mammals across areas of Jersey, Guernsey and Normandy.
It has been launched with the initial aim to monitor the Balearic Shearwater, Europe’s most threatened seabird. This species has only 3,000 breeding pairs who breed in the Mediterranean Sea but spend many months of the year in Channel Islands waters.
Having founded the Nigel Quérée Award in 2023 to recognise relevant environmental research, field work and other projects, the Société is one of many organisations partnering on this significant piece of coastal research in the waters across the Bailiwicks. Members of the Société’s Ornithological Section are closely involved in the monitoring which is taking place between May and October.
In addition to the Société Jersiaise, the the Office Français de la Biodiversité (France’s Biodiversity Office), La Société Guernesiaise, Birds On The Edge, the British Trust for Ornithology, Le Mourier Marine Ltd., the States of Guernsey, and the Government of Jersey are all also working closely on this research.
A team of specialised surveyors are collecting data on all birds, mammals and fish from a dedicated boat. The surveyors, all seasoned birdwatchers from Guernsey and Jersey, were trained on the research techniques by staff from the UK’s Joint Nature Conservation Committee, who run similar research programmes.
The boat-based surveys will be complimented by an aerial survey from a specialised plane, which will take high-definition photographs of birds on the waters around both Bailiwicks.
Whilst acknowledging the importance of Channel Islands waters for this critically endangered bird, local researchers consider this a unique opportunity to gather scientific data on all the species that use our seas, from seabirds to seals, dolphins, whales, and fish.
This is the first time that this kind of research will take place in the Channel Islands. The data produced will be of great benefit to the communities and conservation organisations of all Islands.
Commenting on the awarding of the Société’s newest bursary, Société Jersiaise CEO Rebecca Bailhache said: “The Société Jersiaise is delighted to be part of such a pioneering piece of regional ornithological and environmental research. The aims of the project to discover more about our environment in order to better understand and protect it exactly aligns with the ethos of the Nigel Quérée Award. Mr Quérée was a fervent advocate for the environment and wildlife, so we feel we are honouring his legacy by founding this award in his name to support ongoing research in this area.”
Pictured: A Balearic Shearwater, Credit: John Ovenden
