Adrift Lab (Marine Science)
@adriftlab.bsky.social
Our brilliant & diverse team of (mostly) Australian-based #MarineScientists study #plastic in our #oceans & #wildlife 🐦🌊🏝🌈 We feature in BBC’s #drowninginplastic. We also have projects on #ClimateChange, #Bushfires, #MarineHeatwaves & #ArtSci collaboration
One of our PhD students @alixdejersey.bsky.social submitted her #PhDThesis yesterday 🎉 Thankfully we’ve got heaps of papers to selfishly keep DOCTOR de Jersey around, and immersed in the world of #shearwaters & #plastics #phddone
October 15, 2025 at 3:23 AM
One of our PhD students @alixdejersey.bsky.social submitted her #PhDThesis yesterday 🎉 Thankfully we’ve got heaps of papers to selfishly keep DOCTOR de Jersey around, and immersed in the world of #shearwaters & #plastics #phddone
#Seabirds use a highly efficient method of flight often called ‘slope soaring’ where they take advantage of wind eddies off the tops of the waves to give them extra lift. Rarely do they flap, and yet they’re catapulted forward at great speed
📸 credit: University of Oxford
📸 credit: University of Oxford
October 9, 2025 at 10:16 PM
#Seabirds use a highly efficient method of flight often called ‘slope soaring’ where they take advantage of wind eddies off the tops of the waves to give them extra lift. Rarely do they flap, and yet they’re catapulted forward at great speed
📸 credit: University of Oxford
📸 credit: University of Oxford
A passenger aboard the ‘Spirit of #Tasmania’ recorded this video yesterday as the ferry entered the #BassStrait
The seas were ~6 m & wind gusting ~75 km/hr. It is glorious to see flocks of Short-tailed #Shearwaters (just returned from the Bering Sea) absolutely in their element 🐦💨
The seas were ~6 m & wind gusting ~75 km/hr. It is glorious to see flocks of Short-tailed #Shearwaters (just returned from the Bering Sea) absolutely in their element 🐦💨
October 9, 2025 at 10:16 PM
A passenger aboard the ‘Spirit of #Tasmania’ recorded this video yesterday as the ferry entered the #BassStrait
The seas were ~6 m & wind gusting ~75 km/hr. It is glorious to see flocks of Short-tailed #Shearwaters (just returned from the Bering Sea) absolutely in their element 🐦💨
The seas were ~6 m & wind gusting ~75 km/hr. It is glorious to see flocks of Short-tailed #Shearwaters (just returned from the Bering Sea) absolutely in their element 🐦💨
20 #surfboards were generously donated for leading Australian artists to transform into one-of-a-kind works of art (including one featuring our beloved #shearwaters).
October 1, 2025 at 7:41 AM
20 #surfboards were generously donated for leading Australian artists to transform into one-of-a-kind works of art (including one featuring our beloved #shearwaters).
The combination of warm waters during the winter followed by warm waters during the spring is problematic. Many #seabirds will likely struggle to find enough food over the coming weeks, and begin to wash-up on beaches
September 28, 2025 at 9:23 PM
The combination of warm waters during the winter followed by warm waters during the spring is problematic. Many #seabirds will likely struggle to find enough food over the coming weeks, and begin to wash-up on beaches
Multiple species of #shearwater have begun arriving in Australian waters after completing their southward migration. We need your help recording if/when #seabirds start washing up on your local beaches #citizenscience
September 28, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Multiple species of #shearwater have begun arriving in Australian waters after completing their southward migration. We need your help recording if/when #seabirds start washing up on your local beaches #citizenscience
For #SeabirdSaturday, please enjoy this adorably grumpy Kermadec Petrel chick on #OenoAtoll 🥰
@seabirdsentinel.bsky.social
@seabirdsentinel.bsky.social
September 27, 2025 at 12:50 AM
For #SeabirdSaturday, please enjoy this adorably grumpy Kermadec Petrel chick on #OenoAtoll 🥰
@seabirdsentinel.bsky.social
@seabirdsentinel.bsky.social
Amazing to be in the vast #SouthPacific & within minutes, the #iStat provided data on each bird’s health (blood chemistry parameters). This is important: #seabirds are excellent indicators of the condition of their environment. If they’re healthy, so too is the ocean #PitcairnMPA
September 24, 2025 at 4:33 AM
Amazing to be in the vast #SouthPacific & within minutes, the #iStat provided data on each bird’s health (blood chemistry parameters). This is important: #seabirds are excellent indicators of the condition of their environment. If they’re healthy, so too is the ocean #PitcairnMPA
One of our main goals for the #PitcairnExpedition2025 was to collect blood samples to be analysed using a portable iSTAT on loan to us from the generous folks at Zoetis. While we ran into a few unexpected issues, we successfully analyzed samples from #GreatFrigatebirds on #OenoAtoll
September 24, 2025 at 4:33 AM
One of our main goals for the #PitcairnExpedition2025 was to collect blood samples to be analysed using a portable iSTAT on loan to us from the generous folks at Zoetis. While we ran into a few unexpected issues, we successfully analyzed samples from #GreatFrigatebirds on #OenoAtoll
It’s a wrap! In only 5 days, we collected 82 feather & 24 blood samples, plus 12 plastic samples & completed 15 transects to estimate abundance. Stay tuned for new data on five species of poorly understood #SouthPacific #seabirds
September 22, 2025 at 10:42 PM
It’s a wrap! In only 5 days, we collected 82 feather & 24 blood samples, plus 12 plastic samples & completed 15 transects to estimate abundance. Stay tuned for new data on five species of poorly understood #SouthPacific #seabirds
Wet little lumpet feels our pain
September 20, 2025 at 10:14 PM
Wet little lumpet feels our pain
September 17, 2025 at 4:37 AM
Farewell #HendersonIsland. I adore you to the ends of the Earth. In the morning we will wake to #OenoAtoll and even more #frigatebirds 💙 #WorldHeritage #PitcairnMPA #PitcairnExpedition2025 #MarineScience
@seabirdsentinel.bsky.social
@thelabandfield.bsky.social
@seabirdsentinel.bsky.social
@thelabandfield.bsky.social
September 16, 2025 at 3:45 AM
Farewell #HendersonIsland. I adore you to the ends of the Earth. In the morning we will wake to #OenoAtoll and even more #frigatebirds 💙 #WorldHeritage #PitcairnMPA #PitcairnExpedition2025 #MarineScience
@seabirdsentinel.bsky.social
@thelabandfield.bsky.social
@seabirdsentinel.bsky.social
@thelabandfield.bsky.social
Day 1 field update: we didn’t catch as many #seabirds as we hoped, but the humpback whales sure entertained us
#PitcairnExpedition2025 #PitcairnMPA #HendersonIsland
@seabirdsentinel.bsky.social
#PitcairnExpedition2025 #PitcairnMPA #HendersonIsland
@seabirdsentinel.bsky.social
September 15, 2025 at 1:09 AM
Day 1 field update: we didn’t catch as many #seabirds as we hoped, but the humpback whales sure entertained us
#PitcairnExpedition2025 #PitcairnMPA #HendersonIsland
@seabirdsentinel.bsky.social
#PitcairnExpedition2025 #PitcairnMPA #HendersonIsland
@seabirdsentinel.bsky.social
Good morning from glorious #HendersonIsland 💙 Bring on day 1 of #MaskedBooby catching #PitcairnExpedition2025 #PitcairnMPA #seabirds
@seabirdsentinel.bsky.social
@thelabandfield.bsky.social
@nhm-london.bsky.social
@seabirdsentinel.bsky.social
@thelabandfield.bsky.social
@nhm-london.bsky.social
September 14, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Good morning from glorious #HendersonIsland 💙 Bring on day 1 of #MaskedBooby catching #PitcairnExpedition2025 #PitcairnMPA #seabirds
@seabirdsentinel.bsky.social
@thelabandfield.bsky.social
@nhm-london.bsky.social
@seabirdsentinel.bsky.social
@thelabandfield.bsky.social
@nhm-london.bsky.social
One of our team has joined the crew of the #PitcairnExpedition2025 and #OperationGarnet, they are currently halfway between Rikitea and Pitcairn in the middle of the vast South Pacific
#SeabirdSaturday #PitcairnMPA
@seabirdsentinel.bsky.social
@nhm-london.bsky.social
#SeabirdSaturday #PitcairnMPA
@seabirdsentinel.bsky.social
@nhm-london.bsky.social
September 12, 2025 at 7:19 PM
One of our team has joined the crew of the #PitcairnExpedition2025 and #OperationGarnet, they are currently halfway between Rikitea and Pitcairn in the middle of the vast South Pacific
#SeabirdSaturday #PitcairnMPA
@seabirdsentinel.bsky.social
@nhm-london.bsky.social
#SeabirdSaturday #PitcairnMPA
@seabirdsentinel.bsky.social
@nhm-london.bsky.social
Grateful for support of territory governments, local partners, Blue Belt Programme & the Pitkern community! Stay tuned for gorgeous #birds, fabulous teamwork & stunning islands #ProtectWhatYouLove #MarineScience #AdriftLab #OperationGarnet #UKOT #HendersonIsland #OenoAtoll #SeabirdSaturday
September 7, 2025 at 6:23 AM
Grateful for support of territory governments, local partners, Blue Belt Programme & the Pitkern community! Stay tuned for gorgeous #birds, fabulous teamwork & stunning islands #ProtectWhatYouLove #MarineScience #AdriftLab #OperationGarnet #UKOT #HendersonIsland #OenoAtoll #SeabirdSaturday
Such a privilege to be invited back to this special place & to be reunited with the A-team (the incredible folks who made the 2024 expedition a success). Just look at these generous, hilarious, hard-working, beautiful people 💙
September 7, 2025 at 6:23 AM
Such a privilege to be invited back to this special place & to be reunited with the A-team (the incredible folks who made the 2024 expedition a success). Just look at these generous, hilarious, hard-working, beautiful people 💙
Tomorrow the 4-day journey to #PitcairnIsland begins! We’re participating in the 2025 #BlueBelt #expedition to support the #MarineProtectedArea. Six international scientists from Australia, Scotland & Brazil were awarded funding from #Cefas; the research will focus on ecosystem & #seabird health
September 7, 2025 at 6:23 AM
Tomorrow the 4-day journey to #PitcairnIsland begins! We’re participating in the 2025 #BlueBelt #expedition to support the #MarineProtectedArea. Six international scientists from Australia, Scotland & Brazil were awarded funding from #Cefas; the research will focus on ecosystem & #seabird health
Grateful to Interrex for quick delivery of these field-readable bands: they’re headed to the #PitcairnIslands where they’ll be placed on #MaskedBoobies
*while plastic tape isnt ideal, we have to admit…it’s adorable 🐦💙
#ringing #banding #SeabirdSaturday
*while plastic tape isnt ideal, we have to admit…it’s adorable 🐦💙
#ringing #banding #SeabirdSaturday
August 29, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Grateful to Interrex for quick delivery of these field-readable bands: they’re headed to the #PitcairnIslands where they’ll be placed on #MaskedBoobies
*while plastic tape isnt ideal, we have to admit…it’s adorable 🐦💙
#ringing #banding #SeabirdSaturday
*while plastic tape isnt ideal, we have to admit…it’s adorable 🐦💙
#ringing #banding #SeabirdSaturday
Over the weekend, the #AdriftLab team returned to Larapuna to remove 1000s of sea spurge & #MarineDebris. We covered 15 km of beach & submitted data to 5 different #CitizenScience programs
#ProtectWhatYouLove #volunteering
#InvasiveWeeds #AMDI
#ProtectWhatYouLove #volunteering
#InvasiveWeeds #AMDI
August 25, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Over the weekend, the #AdriftLab team returned to Larapuna to remove 1000s of sea spurge & #MarineDebris. We covered 15 km of beach & submitted data to 5 different #CitizenScience programs
#ProtectWhatYouLove #volunteering
#InvasiveWeeds #AMDI
#ProtectWhatYouLove #volunteering
#InvasiveWeeds #AMDI
Research findings:
💩 #Shearwater guano is rich in phosphorous & potassium
🌴There is evidence the #birds "fertilized" the soil
🐧 Many seabirds are in decline, including LHI's shearwaters
💩 Islands experience a reduction in nutrients from “lost” guano
🌴Likely results in vegetation changes over time
💩 #Shearwater guano is rich in phosphorous & potassium
🌴There is evidence the #birds "fertilized" the soil
🐧 Many seabirds are in decline, including LHI's shearwaters
💩 Islands experience a reduction in nutrients from “lost” guano
🌴Likely results in vegetation changes over time
July 29, 2025 at 12:08 AM
Research findings:
💩 #Shearwater guano is rich in phosphorous & potassium
🌴There is evidence the #birds "fertilized" the soil
🐧 Many seabirds are in decline, including LHI's shearwaters
💩 Islands experience a reduction in nutrients from “lost” guano
🌴Likely results in vegetation changes over time
💩 #Shearwater guano is rich in phosphorous & potassium
🌴There is evidence the #birds "fertilized" the soil
🐧 Many seabirds are in decline, including LHI's shearwaters
💩 Islands experience a reduction in nutrients from “lost” guano
🌴Likely results in vegetation changes over time
*huge* thanks to the individuals who generously answered our recent call for donations - you know who you are (legends) 💚
adriftlab.org/donate/
#philanthropy #CommunityScience #ProtectWhatYouLove
adriftlab.org/donate/
#philanthropy #CommunityScience #ProtectWhatYouLove
July 8, 2025 at 11:51 PM
*huge* thanks to the individuals who generously answered our recent call for donations - you know who you are (legends) 💚
adriftlab.org/donate/
#philanthropy #CommunityScience #ProtectWhatYouLove
adriftlab.org/donate/
#philanthropy #CommunityScience #ProtectWhatYouLove