The cahow colony on Nonsuch Island escaped from Hurricane Gonzalo unscathed and the area is ready for the imminent arrival of our national bird for the next breeding season.

Conservation experts have been checking over the site, part of the Castle Harbour Islands Nature Reserve, and found the birds were well.

“This week, I recorded single cahows and pairs back in 10 nests among all the breeding islands, and was able to remove and check band numbers on five of them,” said Jeremy Madeiros, senior conservation officer at the Department of Conservation Services.

“One bird looks like it rode out the hurricane in its burrow, with waves washing right into the entrance.

“This bird seems unfazed by the experience, but if this hurricane had hit just a week or two later, it may have caught a significant number of breeding adults in their burrows.

“Luckily the tropicbird (longtail) season had just about finished, with just two chicks on the Castle Harbour Islands left in nests high enough not to be affected by the hurricanes. They have both been checked and are doing well.”

Conservation Services said coastal damage and erosion to the Castle Harbour Islands from Gonzalo and Fay was not as bad as they had feared.

Gonzalo did not cause the level of cliff falls experienced during Fabian and Igor, with the islands suffering only minor rock flaking and the washing away of loose material that had collapsed during the previous storm.

Nonsuch’s south beach was unharmed, with lush dune vegetation credited for preventing further erosion. The north beach was washed away to bedrock but is already rebuilding. No buildings suffered any major damage.

A number of large live cedars on Nonsuch uprooted but those not obstructing paths are expected to continue growing at an inclined angle. Some of the smaller ones will be straightened and staked.

Nonsuch’s bay grape trees were badly damaged, with several large ones uprooted or unbranched. The endemic olivewoods were not affected, while the palmetto palms are tattered but in good shape.

All tours of Nonsuch are cancelled until the end of next month. Approved tours will be rescheduled, for more information e-mail conservation@gov.bm