Over the past few months, my placement has taken me across a wide range of projects, both in the office and out in the field. When based indoors, I continued analysing benthic quadrats using PhotoQuad, supported data entry and report writing, and helped sort and sample deep‑water corals for genetic work. Out in the field, I’ve been involved in several terrestrial and marine research projects across the Falklands.
One of the highlights was a trip to Saunders Island to study the foraging movements of rockhopper penguins. We captured individuals, fitted satellite tags to track their journeys, and collected feather and blood samples. Working with such charismatic, mischievous birds, and visiting one of the Falklands’ most spectacular islands, was an unforgettable experience.
I also continued contributing to the burrowing bird project, comparing occupancy‑detection methods for Magellanic penguins, white‑chinned petrels, and sooty shearwaters. Alongside the South Atlantic detection dogs, we carried out timed surveys across multiple sites, testing approaches including detection dogs, burrow scoping, camera traps, and drone‑based thermal imaging. Field days on Bottom Island and Kidney Island meant battling dense tussac and penguin fleas, but we were rewarded with successful burrow finds and regular visits from playful pods of Peale’s dolphins putting on spectacular displays.
Another project involved leading data collection for an invasive‑species introduction study. This included an eight‑week germination trial to assess what plants emerge from different composts and hays, helping evaluate the risk of new species arriving through imported materials. I also ran insect trapping in warehouses using sticky, pitfall, and light traps to investigate potential introductions via cargo vessels. This was a great opportunity to work independently and gain some experience in running a research project.
I assisted with fieldwork for a hydrology project assessing whether a constructed wetland could help filter sewage released from the Mount Pleasant Complex. This involved site surveys and an experiment testing the filtration ability of native plant species such as club rush, milfoil, tussac grass, and cinnamon grass.
Finally, I supported a PhD project exploring maritime heritage and comparing benthic communities on shipwrecks versus natural sites. We collected transects along wrecks and nearby seabeds, deployed BRUVs (Benthic Remote Underwater Videos), and used CTDs to gather environmental data for later analysis.
Overall, this placement has been an exceptional opportunity. It that has allowed me to work alongside a brilliant team, contribute to a diverse range of research and consultancy projects, and experience some of the Falkland Islands’ most remarkable landscapes and wildlife.
