Fitz News in Africa - Birds & Birding: "Seabird research through the years"

"Seabirds offer several advantages for ornithological research. Most species breed in colonies, where they are readily observed and can be caught, facilitating the rapid collection of large data sets. As top predators, they also provide an efficient way to assess the health of the oceans. Given the wealth of seabirds off southern Africa, it is not surprising that studies on them have played an important role in the development of the Fitztitute.

"The list of Fitz alumni and publications (see www.fitzpatrick.uct.ac.za) reveals how seabird research has evolved over the past 50 years. Initial studies were largely land-based, considering the behaviour and ecology of breeding seabirds. Mike Jarvis, one of the first PhD students at the Fitz, worked on Cape Gannets. But it was when Roy Siegfried was appointed Director that seabird research really accelerated, thanks to his enthusiastic support of South Africa’s Antarctic programme." more...