National Geographic Channel's Great Migrations is a seven-part global programme that takes viewes around the world on the arduous journeys millions of animals take to ensure the survival of their species. Part of this series is the Christmas Island Red Crab Migration. Preview National Geographic's "Great Migrations" here ...
Click here to listen to a broadcast about Christmas Island by Sharon Carleton.
Click here to read about Christmas Island in the latest issue of Voyeur.
Click here to read about Christmas Island in the Escape Travel liftout.
The 4th Annual Underwater Festival 2010 was held from 24 - 30 April 2010 on Christmas Island - and what a stunning week was had by all participants - to view the amazing images taken during this festival, and a wrap up of the week, please view:
http://www.underwaterfestival.com.au/about/winners-2010-gallery/
The Minister for Home Affairs, Brendan O’Connor, recently announced a new
service provider to conduct regular flights between Perth and Christmas
and Cocos Keeling Islands.
Virgin Blue will commence services from Thursday 1 April 2010 with twice
weekly flights to
Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Christmas Island and an additional third weekly
flight to
Christmas Island only which will be reassessed after six months, subject
to demand.
Virgin will be flying a modern Embraer E190 aircraft which will provide
increased passenger
and freight capacity. The contract will result in better passenger fares
and direct and faster
flights which will reduce the overall flying time to and from the mainland.
Flight schedules and pricing are available at
http://www.christmas.net.au/getting_here_flights.html
Possible spawning dates for 2010 are around Oct 2, Nov 1, Nov 30 or Dec
30. The timing of the actual event is dependant on when
wet seasons rains set in. The downward migration, dipping, mating, and egg-brooding
sequences occur before the females spawn. These events occur in the 4 weeks
preceding spawning. You cannot pinpoint the exact date on the start of the
migration before spawning, eg, downward migration can vary between 9-18
days, dipping can vary from 0-11 days - all dependant on weather. For further information, please visit Parks Australia - http://www.environment.gov.au/parks/christmas/visitor-activities/migration.html
At the beginning of the wet season (usually October / November), most adult
Red Crabs suddenly begin a spectacular migration from the forest to the
coast, to breed and release eggs into the sea. Breeding is usually synchronized
island wide. The rains provide moist overcast conditions for crabs to make
their long and difficult journey to the sea. The timing of the migration
breeding sequence is also linked to the phases of the moon, so that eggs
may be released by the female Red Crabs into the sea precisely at the turn
of the high tide during the last quarter of the moon. It is thought that
this occurs at this time because there is the least difference between high
and low tides. The sea level at the base of the cliffs and on the beaches,
where the females release their eggs, at this time varies the least for
a longer period, and it is therefore safer for the females approaching the
water's edge to release their eggs. Sometimes there are earlier and later
migrations of smaller numbers of crabs but all migrations retain this same
lunar rhythm.
Christmas Island National Park was nominated
as a candidate in the New 7 Wonders of the world campaign - in the category
of Forests, National Parks and Nature Reserves.
Whilst the National Park made it to the list of final 77 candidates, it
did not make the final list of 21. However, an extraordinary effort for
Christmas Island National Park, and a big thank you to all who voted ito
support Christmas Island in this worldwide campaign.
Theme: Tropical seabird research and island endemics
Bird week participants will be invited in small groups to help Dr Janos
Hennicke catch Abbott’s Boobies high in the rainforest canopy, assist Nick
Mooney to colour-band Brown Boobies and monitor their colonies on the remote
and secluded rocky coasts, and work with Nic Dunlop and Tim Low to study
the nesting biology and foraging ecology of Christmas Island Frigatebirds
and Red-tailed Tropicbirds. Depending on interest and demand, there will
also be opportunities to assist in the colour-banding of Christmas Island
Goshawks, a Christmas Island Hawk-Owl survey, seabird identification workshops,
territory mapping of Island Thrushes and closer looks at the island’s other
wildlife. And of course there will be the chance to search for a few of
those rarities for which Christmas Island is so famous. Nightly seminars
will showcase the results of all the seabird research (revealing the wanderings
of the majestic Abbott’s Booby, CI Frigatebirds and more), the status of
the endemic landbirds, the rarities of Christmas Island, and the marine
and terrestrial ecology of the island.Bird and Nature Week 2010 will be
held from 4 - 11 September. Click here for
more information on our Bird and Nature Week.
Follow the events and activities of the Christmas Island Tourism Association
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Christmas Island Tourism Association receives funding support from the Australian Government Attorney General's Department.
