The final islet isolation marooning

Well it’s not quite how the summer was planned to go…

I guess we’ve all been experiencing different types of lock down. A couple months back I heard it described as the same storm but not the same boat. For me my summer had meant to be 5-6months back on the islet catching a second breeding season of the Azorean endemic species of storm-petrel. Not surprisingly that didn’t happened…

Instead I had the privilege of being back home, and actually taking a first look at the data from the last year! Really exciting to see the daily numbers/data collected forming into understandable graphs/tables! More of that to come as data is properly analysed :).

Five months later… as lockdown started to ease, and with much care and preparation, my team and I managed to make it back out to the islet!

It has been an absolute privilege to be back out on the islet to catch the end of the endemic storm-petrel’s breeding season… we’ve accomplished so much in a very short space of time… daily nest checks, deployment and retrieval of GPS loggers, many internal and external camera deployments, mist netting sessions alongside swimming in the warm sea, sea and star-watching from the cliffs and enjoying the absolute privilege of being completely isolated from everything…

There may be another blog post once I’ve had a chance to process the final islet marooning… but for now here is my attempt to summarise the year and a half of marooning in the islet visitors book (see picture below for full text). Amongst all the many, many memories, I’ve been learning ‘new rhythms and routines based on weather and tide – ‘getting back to nature’ and defining awe and wonder in new and amazing ways.’ We might not all have the opportunity or possibility to go to an islet (or an island) but if you’re reading this I hope you are able to take time to stop, look and revel at the amazing creation around… and if not, is it time to get out there?

‘Home is behind the world ahead… the world behind and home ahead’

For me, through it all, the highs and lows and everything in between, God has led the way, showing me wondrous things!

“This is GOD’s Message, the God who made earth, made it livable and lasting, known everywhere as GOD: ‘Call to me and I will answer you. I’ll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own.’”
Jeremiah 33:2-3

“Higher than the mountains that I face
Stronger than the power of the grave
Constant through the trial and the change
One thing remains
This one thing remains
[God’s] love never fails, and never gives up
It never runs out on me…”
One thing remains, Jesus Culture.

Until next time ilhéu da Praia!

Hannah