Phoebe’s Corner 3 (Falkland Islands!)

27th April. We joined the Conservation group on a trip to Middle Island because the Tussac grass had caught fire sometime in the past. Tussac is what penguins and the birds live and breed in, it grows in big bush type things, Tussac can grow up to 6 foot tall. And live 200 years if it doesn’t burn!

We went on a boat to Middle Island and from 7am to 6pm we were digging holes and planting grass root bunches we harvested from the bigger plants already on the island, so we had to split large bunches into smaller ones so we could plant them farther out, We got home very late and the peat soil was EVERYWHERE, I found it in my ears and eyes the next day after showering. It was hard work but worthwhile and so enjoyable. And we saw a lovely rainbow as well.

Sometimes we can be walking in the dunes and get surprised by wildlife, we went to the lighthouse once and Mum and I got chased by a huge male sea lion.

29th April, I had an interview a few hours ago and I got a job today! I’m now an official volunteer at the Jane Cameron national archives, doing document scanning, social media management and cataloguing documents that go all the way back to the 1840s, They have a huge library room that’s really cold with huge leather-bound books from the 1800s all the way through to 1940s, they are absolutely huge, I’m really excited!! My start day is the 8th of may

Me and my mum also signed up to do cetacean counting with the conservation people, basically it just gives us an excuse to go to the lighthouse and look for whales every week, we get sheets of paper to record numbers, species and weather conditions, behaviours of the whales and dolphins etc. Each species of whale has a different blowhole pattern which I didn’t know, that was cool to see

May 4th, Mum and I went to the lighthouse on a flat day, no wave crests which was great because we could see them really clearly, we ended up seeing 5 Southern Right whales on the same day and some Sei whale further out to sea. The whales were in pairs and we think they were mating because the whale started to do headstands and “spy hopping” that is where they poke their heads out to get a 360° view of their surroundings. They do head stands and splash their tales hard to alert their presence in the ocean to other whales. Yes, I used the force to see the whales 🤣🤣

May 7th, Because of my job, I have to do an oath today at the general attorney here because I will be seeing government documents and stuff. It’s a 4 week placement but I’m excited to start tomorrow.