Old bird - not just me, but Northern Fulmars on the island Texel, NE.

Last week I went to Texel in the Netherlands to visit Suse Kuehn, we met on the RV Polarstern last year. Suse was one of the bird and mammal survey team on borad. While on the ship we had discussed old birds and how they sometimes received ringed birds that could be quite accurately aged. Then towards the end of last year an exceptionally old Northern Fulmar showed up on one of their beaches. A beachcomber handed it in to Suse and she contacted me. Suse and colleagues examine found dead birds for plastic content in their stomachs, she is based at Wageningen University Research Institute. I also met her PhD supervisor Jan who is now officially retired but helps with the bird studies...and is also perpetually 'on duty' at Ecomare the island's rehabilitation and wildlife education centre. It was a really interesting visit and I discussed collaboration possibilities with Suse and other ecologists.