Personal Blog of Ellen MacArthur

• Andrew
• 13th June, 2007

Having watched the program last night, it was disappointing to hear of young Alfred’s demise and whereas I understand the importance of wild animals not interacting with people, why are endangered creatures who are destined to die (because of human interaction) not aided?

From a point of ignorance, Alfred could have been fed surreptitiously and gone on to aid the propagation of his endangered species.

• Tricia
• 13th June, 2007

Dear Ellen,
I’ve been a fan of yours for 3-4 years now (sorry, I hopped on the boat late, I guess). This is a great new site, and I’m so impressed with your dedication to environmental and ecological concerns. Unfortunately, I live in the US and don’t have BBC tv, but it’s nice to have this site to keep up to date on activities such as this one in South Georgia.
Sincerely,
Tricia

• Ellen
• 13th June, 2007

Andrew - I don’t really feel qualified to answer your question so I will ask some of my scientist friends and see what their opinion would be. I will let you know what they say.

ellen

• Ellen
• 13th June, 2007

Hi Tricia - Thank you for your kind comments. Several people from the US have asked me whether it would be possible to make the documentary available online. We are just looking into this and will let you know if it is going to be possible.

ellen

• Charley
• 14th June, 2007

Hi Ellen.
I was wondering if the Albatross documentary on BBC4 will be available to buy on dvd sometime?

Glad to see you back.
Charley x

• Margaret Power
• 14th June, 2007

Hi Ellen, I live in Dublin & follow all your adventures with great interest. Saw the Albatross documentary a couple of nights ago. It was superb.Really enjoyed it. Sad about Alfred.They really are amazing birds. I’m currently reading your autobiography. Congrats on the new website.
Very best wishes,

Margaret

• Eilidh
• 15th June, 2007

I am a really big fan of yours and have been sailing now since I was 10. I watched the programme too and I thought it was such a shame that Alfred died. Oh and I am reading your book, “Taking on the World” and i love it.

Eilidh xx

• Laurence Roberts
• 15th June, 2007

Dear Ellen

Hi long term fan . I watched the programme with intrest . While I a gree the impact of man is the greatest threat to all speices and their enviroments . As shown the seals were taking over nesting areas. Could this not be also a “natural” result (spieces taking over other territorys), and the Albatross could be forced to move even if “mans” influence in this are is reduced to nil ?

Nice Website as well

Pax Tau

Laurence

• Ellen
• 18th June, 2007

Charley - I’m afraid we do not have any plans to produce DVDs of the albatross documentary at the moment, but if that changes in the future, we will definitely let you know.

ellen

• katie
• 21st June, 2007

Hi Andrew,
sorry for taking so long to reply. In response to your query, here is some information that Cleo Small from the RSPB put together to answer a similar question from a viewer:

“Not being part of the film crew I am unable to say why the chick wasn’t given supplementary feeding. However, scientists generally have a policy of not intervening. Another factor may have been the fact that the crew were only on the island for a short period, which may not have been long enough to make a significant difference. Long-term monitoring has shown that the breeding success of these birds (proportion of nests that fledge a chick) is generally good and the threat to the population comes from fisheries related mortality at sea. Mortality of young birds is naturally high, the film mentioned that only 10% of young birds survive to maturity. However, adult mortality is naturally very low and it is the increased number of adults that are killed by fishing vessels that threatens the population. Your point that the survival of this and other species of albatross is no longer in the hands of nature and human intervention is needed to save
these birds is a valid one. This is why BirdLife established the ‘Save the Albatross Campaign’ to lobby fisheries management organisations to
tighten up their regulations and directly educate fishermen in the methods of avoiding seabird mortality.

Hope this helps!
ellen

• Louise
• 27th June, 2007

I was devastated to watch the story of little Alfred. He must have touched the hearts of everyone who viewed that evening. I was comforted though, that he found a special person and that his life was enriched by your friendship. Louise.

• Jay Thompson
• 2nd July, 2007

Hi Ellen - I caught your thought provoking documentary and was reminded painfully of the flight of these amazing birds. Aside from a few visitors to the Scottish Islands I’ve never seen albatross before, and always envied you and those that sail or live and work in their territories for the mazing contacts you must have with them and all other palagic birdlife.

I’m flying to the Falkland Islands myself next year and hope to compile enough material for a presentation on the Albatross ecology there to present to children as part of my work with schools. If there are any resources online you think might be useful i’d appreciate any links you might have in case i’ve overlooked anything, but in the meantime i’d just like to thank you for your continuing endeavours, yours in admiration, Jay.

• katie
• 10th July, 2007

Hi Jay, apologies for the delayed response. The following websites should be helpful to you:

http://www.savethealbatross.net

http://www.birdlife.org/action/campaigns/save_the_albatross/index.html

Enjoy your trip!

• James Downing
• 29th July, 2008

I have been a fan for many years and wanted and now live in Washington DC and have wanted for two years to sail my 34 foot hunter across the atlantic against most of my friends advice…I have been slowly fitting her out and am looking to go next year.. I feel the boat is structurely sound and have made no structureal adjustments although I am told the make is not made for the journey.

Could you give any advice