Bird Island Seychelles

Birds galore all year round on Bird Island Seychelles

Regardless of when you visit Bird Island Seychelles, there is always a wide choice of Bird species to see, as well as much else to see and experience!

Throughout the year at least 20 different bird species can be seen at any one time, including resident sea and land birds as well as non-breeding migratory birds. For the keen bird watcher, the best time to visit Bird Island is April, May and October, November. This is when the winds change from the south east to the north west and rare visitors are blown off course, making landfall on Bird Island before continuing their migration.

Bird Island has no light pollution and the night skies are particularly clear between November and April - perfect for viewing the southern hemisphere constellations. The island has no lights on its grounds to provide minimum disturbance to resident birds as well as reducing the risk to nesting Green Turtles who can easilly become disorientated by artificail light.

Weather conditions mean the best time for snorkelling is between October and April when the sea is calm and clear. The north west trade winds blow during this period and this is generally when rain showers can occur, although as you are in the tropics, it should be noted that rain can occur at almost any time! During the period of south easterly trade winds (May to September), the best snorkelling areas are exposed to this wind making the sea rough and visibility poor. However, swimming on the west coast near the main lodge is unaffected as it protected from the prevailing winds and the sea mainly calm.

It should be noted that the weather on Bird, and indeed most of the Seychelles outer coral islands, is significantly drier and sunnier than that of the inner mountainous granitic islands. This includes the main island of Mahe from which many guides take their 'Seychelles weather details'! Bird Island, for example, is some 100kms north of Mahe Island and is not generally affected by the weather patterns created as a result of winds having to rise over the mountains of Mahe and the other inner islands, thereby causing higher rainfall. Bird generally has around half the annual; rainfall of Mahe.

Birds and other wildlife by month on Bird Island!

January & February
Generally a good variety of migrant birds. Hawksbill Turtles laying eggs in large numbers. A good time for a chance to see baby turtles emerging from their nests! Common Noddy Terms nest throughout the year but this period is one of two peak breeding seasons (January to March).
March & April
Sooty Terns gather over the island in preparation for breeding. By the end of April hundreds of thousands will have established their individual territory in the 'colony' area of the island. Lesser Noddy Terns start arriving in preparation for their breeding season. The island has almost 9000 nesting pairs. The last of the Hawksbill Turtle eggs hatch.
May
Migrant birds are often seen brought in by the south east winds. Sooty Terns start to be present all day on the ground. Eggs of the Lesser Noddy Terns hatch and parents can often be seen feeding their chicks.
June & July
The start of the second breeding season for the Common Noddy Tern. The season for Green Turtles to lay their eggs (June to September) although this mostly occurs during the night. The first eggs of the Sooty Terns begin to hatch in July, although many parents still incubating their eggs well into the month.
August & September
The Sooty Tern chicks start to fledge towards the end of August and early September, while the chicks of the Common Noddy Tern hatch early August with most having fledged by late September.
October, November & December
By late October the Sooty Terns have usually departed. October and November are the months when many migrant species can be seen on the island - a truebirdwatchers paradise!. Back on the beaches, Hawksbill Turtles start laying their eggs in earnest between November and February. Hatchlings therefore emerge from January to early April.
During November, December and January, on full moon and new moons, the reef dries out due to the receding tide. Guests with suitable shoes can walk out and see the reef for short periods.