The Selvagens are probably the ultimate destination for anyone
interested in Western Palearctic seabirds. If you look for
the Salvage Islands or Ilhas Selvagens (in Portuguese) –
the "wild islands" – in an atlas for the first
time, it will take time for sure. They are no romantic islands
in the Caribbean with golden beaches and bars, but a tiny
rocky archipelago, about 162 nautical miles (300 km) south
of Madeira and 80 nautical miles (148 km) north of the Canary
Islands. The archipelago consists of two groups and has a
total area of 283 hectares (2.83 km²). Very few birders
have had the opportunity to go there and a round-trip by boat
from Madeira to these islands is indeed a memory for life!
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| Seabird photographers aboard
"Ventura do Mar" during the tour to the Salvage
Islands on 6-10th July 2005. Photo: Niklas Holmström. |
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Next
trip on 1st–11th July 2009
In July 2008 Celtic Bird Tours made a successful trip to Selvagens
with Ventura do Mar. The very highlight was four Sooty Terns
present at the Common Tern colony on Pequeana 3-4th July. CBT
plan
a new trip in 2009, which include Madeira, Desertas and
Selvagens. Read
their trip report here» |
New
sound recording added
18th March 2008: A couple of years ago I received a tape
cassette from Steve Gantlett, with calling Bulwer's Petrels.
Imagine, while Steve recording these Bulwer's at night the air
was filled by thousands of silent White-faced Storm-petrels! |
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