Aberdeen Marine Mammal Project - News

  The PhD Project was awarded a generous grant from Sea-Changers, a marine conservation charity, to support our drone-based seal research at the Ythan Estuary. This funding is crucial for providing the on-the-ground assistance needed to ensure safe and effective drone flights, while safeguarding the delicate wildlife of the reserve. It's all the people on the ground who make my research possible. I’m excited to introduce Amber, my latest drone observer intern. Read on to hear her reflections on the role! The advertisement for the drone survey internship had come across my emails a few times. During these times I was so eager to do it but not able to commit. I feel like these setbacks were fated for me to finally get the chance to assist with drone surveys during the perfect time of February to March when thousands of seals haul out on the site for us to behold. This really was the perfect opportunity at the perfect time. I was deep in the final weeks of completing my dissertati...

The PhD Project was awarded a generous grant from Sea-Changers, a marine conservation charity, to support our drone-based seal research at the Ythan Estuary. This funding is crucial for providing the on-the-ground assistance needed to ensure safe and effective drone flights, while safeguarding the delicate wildlife of the reserve. It's all the people on the ground who make my research possible. I’m excited to introduce Chris, my latest drone observer intern. Read on to hear his reflections on the role! So after the excitement of being taken on for the drone internship the reality of starting this and praying I wouldn’t mess up took the sheen of that initial thrill.   Luckily the intimidation of working with Scotland’s seal Queen was allayed upon meeting with the impressive Claire Stainfield. Her easy-going manner and disarming smile, soon put the the fear of dropping a clanger too bed. (hopefully not too big a clanger) A Soft landing was mercifully granted too me for my fi...

  In my previous roles working with seals, the weather rarely dictated whether work happened — only how uncomfortable it might be. I’ve pressure-washed outdoor seal enclosures in rescue centers in driving rain, worked through snowstorms at Bird Island with the British Antarctic Survey, and endured intense heat on the Galápagos sea lion project. The work simply carried on. There were moments when sanity was questionable. Times when it took an hour just to defrost fingers, or when you were so soaked through that it felt pointless trying to dry out. Every seal team also had a bit of a reputation for being hard on equipment — waterproof casings inevitably failed, salt spray found its way into everything, and we were forever asking for help fixing kit that had once again been pushed to its limits by the marine environment. There’s a saying that pets often reflect their owners, and I’ve long thought there might be something similar going on with researchers and their study species. W...

I’m excited to introduce Alice Pollard, a journalism student from the University of Stirling. With a strong passion for environmental and conservation themes she requested to join me for a photojournalism assignment.   Read on to hear her reflections on documenting a survey! The sun is rising over the North Sea. Hundreds of grey seals lift dozy heads in the golden light, a handful slipping into the icy embrace of the River Ythan, unaware of the drone buzzing far above them. It is 8 am, and the conditions are perfect for a seal survey. I have joined PhD student Claire Stainfield for the morning, armed with a bag of lenses and a slightly rusty Nikon. The goal? To document the seal survey process, and learn about the importance of the project. What I didn’t anticipate, however, was the striking onslaught of nature from all angles at Ythan Estuary. Claire has dedicated her life to studying seals. On the frozen shores of the North Sea, she undertakes her latest project – studying v...

The PhD Project was awarded a generous grant from Sea-Changers, a marine conservation charity, to support our drone-based seal research at the Ythan Estuary. This funding is crucial for providing the on-the-ground assistance needed to ensure safe and effective drone flights, while safeguarding the delicate wildlife of the reserve. It's all the people on the ground who make my research possible. I’m excited to introduce Max, read on to hear his reflections on the role!     "When I first saw an email advertising a drone survey internship at the Ythan Estuary, I didn’t hesitate. I already fly drones, I study Wildlife and Conservation Management, and the idea of spending time on a beach watching seals sounded significantly better than being indoors staring at spreadsheets. What I didn’t fully appreciate at the time was just how much early mornings, sand, and careful note-taking would be involved.   sunrise at the estuary  Over the course of six weeks, I took part in ...

  he PhD Project was awarded a generous grant from Sea-Changers, a marine conservation charity, to support our drone-based seal research at the Ythan Estuary. This funding is crucial for providing the on-the-ground assistance needed to ensure safe and effective drone flights, while safeguarding the delicate wildlife of the reserve. It's all the people on the ground who make my research possible. I’m excited to introduce Sophie, read on to hear her reflections on the role!   In early August, around 7:30am we make our way to the look-out point. The grassy, sage tones of the dunes and birdsong pepper the gorse lining the boardwalk. Woody sounds underfoot soon dampen into soft sand, engaging my senses as we approach the flight zone. The reserve is quietly buzzing with life.   Mirrored morning light  The approach to the seals at the start of each survey is a treasured routine. I absorb the changing features that greet us on each visit – from where the light hits the w...