‘Birds of Tristan da Cunha’ from Results of the Norwegian Scientific Expedition to Tristan da Cunha, 1937-1938. No. 20

1952

Storage QL692 T8 H3632

Oslo: Jacob Dybwad

When Tristan da Cunha was first permanently settled at the beginning of the 19th century, birds were plentiful but their ‘lack of escape-reaction’ and ‘total lack of fear’ culminated in several species being ‘eaten out of existence’ (Lovegrove, 2012). Fortunately much of the damage caused by animal grazing and over-harvesting is now being reversed. Zoologist Yngvar Hagen from the University of Oslo began the ornithological survey for this expedition on the three larger islands of the archipelago – Tristan da Cunha, Nightingale, and Inaccessible. Despite being hampered by rough weather and the difficulties of accessing bird nesting sites, Hagen collected 210 specimens of 26 species. This volume is the result of his observations.