The success of the May and October 2009  Fiji Petrel “chumming expeditions” around Gau Island is still creating interest in the international press. Science Illustrated, a popular magazine packed with science and discoveries on a wide variety of subjects, from space exploration, medical breakthroughs to environmental insights has recently run an article and a full page advertisement on the Fiji Petrel.

NatureFiji-MareqetiViti gratefully acknowledges our NFMV members Marijcke and Peter Thomson for the Science Illustrated story on the first ever sighting at sea of the Fiji Petrel (Pseudobulweria macgillvrayi)  in May 2009.

Science Illustrated also ran a full page advertisement to attract assistance for NatureFiji-MareqetiViti, the Species Guardian for the Fiji Petrel which is regarded as one of the rarest birds in the world and categorised as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Redlist.

The current objectives of NatureFiji-MareqetiViti’s Fiji Petrel project are to find the nesting burrows of this small petrel which are somewhere in the rugged upland forests of Gau Island, so that they can be actively conserved, and working with Gau Island community members to enable them to take the lead in conservation management. So the exposure provided by Science Illustrated through the good office or our members, Marijcke and Peter Thomson is greatly appreciated, and we strongly recommend the magazine for anyone, especially the young with an interest in science - www.scienceillustrated.com.au