The Mouse-Free Marion Project is celebrating World Albatross Day this month with art posters

The Saving Marion Island’s Seabirds: The Mouse-Free Marion (MFM) Project is working towards eradicating the sub-Antarctic island’s introduced House Mice that in recent years have taken to attacking and killing threatened albatrosses and petrels.  As part of its ongoing efforts to create awareness and raise funds it will be celebrating World Albatross Day (WAD2025) this month from now until 19 June.

Last year over November and December the MFM Project collaborated on a Special Project entitled “Conservation Campaign for Marion Island” with the international collective Artists & Biologists Unite for Nature (ABUN) to produce artworks depicting Marion’s biota and landscapes to help advertise the island’s conservation importance.  Of the 43 artworks submitted by members of ABUN, seven by different artists have been chosen to illustrate posters, to be made freely available for downloading from a photo album on the MFM Project Facebook page up until 19 June.

The first poster released is by Deepti Jain and is entitled “Albatross: Skyward Grace”.  It depicts an Endangered Grey-headed Albatross Thalassarche chrysostoma flying over Marion’s coast with mouse-free Prince Edward Island on the horizon.  Deepti, who resides in India, describes herself “as a self- taught and realistic artist who loves to work with soft pastels, charcoal and watercolours to create memorable portraits, vivid landscapes, magnificent wildlife, alluring still life and self-depicting illustrations.  My artworks reflect my passion for wildlife, nature and creativity.”

In addition to its WAD2025 poster series, the MFM Project is marking World Albatross Day by running a “double your donation” challenge this month.  All donations received in June will be matched through the generosity of two MFM supporters – for as long as matching funds last (click here).

With thanks to Robyn Adams, Mouse-Free Marion Project Communications Officer and Project Assistant.

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 05 June 2025