Go Find a Wirebird

Alas, unlike on my next stop on Ascension Island, time did not permit me to explore in any detail either the flora or fauna on St Helena other than admire from a distance which, of course, I did. I would love to have had the time to get out and take advantage of some of the great walks which are possible on the Island.

While not an avid birdwatcher, I did however determine that I wanted to see the only endemic bird on the island – the St Helena Plover, commonly referred to as the Wirebird due to its longish spindly legs. I figured (rather I was told!) that my best chance of a sighting was on Deadwood Plain or the St Helena Golf Club both close to Longwood.

As chance would have it, having enjoyed a beautiful cup of St Helena Coffee at the Farm House Lodge Hotel – on the “wrong” part of the island – the owner took us for a look at his small coffee plantation and, low and behold, as we looked around the plantation a Wirebird landed beside us.

This was fantastic and perhaps saved many hours of searching elsewhere. I have to add, this sighting also brought a wry smile to my face as a small group of ornithologists (birdwatchers) was actually staying at the Farm Lodge and they had spent the day at Deadwood Plain looking for Wirebirds (of which they saw some) but failed to see the one I saw literally outside their bedroom windows! That said, I do have to thank the group (which came to St Helena with us on the RMS St Helena) for introducing me to the Wirebird and numerous other interesting birds as we steamed towards St Helena from Cape Town.

The Wirebird, first mentioned in 1638 is the national bird of St Helena and features on the Island’s flag.

The bird is critically endangered though deforestation, while not good for other species, actually lead to a stabilisation if not increase in numbers in the early 2000s. Unfortunately, numbers have again declined to just over 200 adults due to land-use change (particularly a decrease in grazing pasture) and increased predation by invasive species including domestic cats. The construction of St Helena’s airport is being carefully monitored by authorities given its closeness to the birds’ main nesting area.

This blog entry is one of a group (loop) of entries on my trip to St Helena.  I suggest you continue with my next entry – High Knoll Fort – Fort Of Many Uses – or to start the loop at the beginning go to my St Helena Introduction entry.