Visit to Christmas Island from 27 Nov to 4 Dec 2004 by members of the NSS (Singapore)
Background: Christmas Island is about 1/3 the size of Singapore and it lies 2600km NW of Perth and 500km south of Jakarta. Sixty three percent of the island is designated National Park and it contains 24 endemic species! The island is shaped like a Scottish Terrier and phosphate mining is the main industry. Armed with 4WD, cameras and lots of memory cards we scoured the island looking for masses of crabs migrating.
It was mind-boggling to see to see thousands of Red Crabs during an attempted migration that I can not imagine seeing millions of them during the migrating season. A prolonged dry season, possibly due the effects of El Nino prevented the spectacle of my dreams. But seeing hundreds of Blue Crabs and Robber Crabs somewhat made up for the disappointment. Not surprising, crabs is not served at all in the restaurants.
Golden Bosuns with their trailing long tails and golden sheens were a delight to watch as they glided at Margaret Knoll. Common were the endemic birds- the CI White-eyes, CI Thrush, CI Emerald Dove and the large CI Imperial Pigeons. All these were easy subjects for photography including the Australian Kestrel. Max Orchard does his daily routine feeding sea birds that were displaced from their nests but be prepared for the boisterous Frigate birds, Red-footed Boobies, Abbots Boobies and the Silver Bosuns for some do take a peck at you. Their nesting sites were also explored; Frigates at the Golf Club, Brown Boobies at Winifred Beach and Abbots Boobies at the West White Beach. And the silhouettes of CI Flying Foxes returning to roost at Margaret Knoll, and the superb views from our lodge balcony of the sea birds flying past in the morning and the gorgeous sunsets - makes it even more memorable.
