Archive for

July 2010

Parasitic tourism...

On Wednesday we got a TUI / Thomson's Rep phone call to book a dolphin watching/swimming trip for 2 people. This Rep didn't know about us, it was her customers who told her about us and our trips and so she phoned to book. A day later we got this SMS you can read on the photo below.

Sms

We did not answer to her text message as it would be like: It is not TUI who does not work with us but us (Madeira Wind Birds) who do not want to work with TUI. We are an eco-tourism company!
 
The things one has to hear...
 
I just feel sorry for the customers who could not run the trip with us as today we saw: Bottlenose dolphins, Spotted dolphins, Bryde's whale, Cory's Shearwater and Fea's Petrel... and we even swam with Bottlenose dolphins!
 
So, if by any chance you are a customer of TUI or Thomson and wish to do a trip with Madeira Wind Birds you will have to book it directly.

Posted by Catarina Fagundes 

Brown Booby offshore Madeira

Brown Booby Sula leucogaster offshore Madeira, just now in our pelagic with Oceanodroma.

This 2nd year bird was seen fishing. Last year another Brown Bobby was seen. Later this week we will try to post a video and some record photos.

Filed under  //  pelagics  

Help Audubon Save the Gulf [Video]


Public Service Announcement by National Audubon Society. How you can help the Gulf Coast oil disaster action.

Posted by Hugo Romano 

Whale Wars [Video]


Something has to be done, to protect these species...

Posted by Hugo Romano 

Wind farms in bird migration paths [Video]


A vulture fly too close to a windmill in Lendas, south Crete and collided. Most wind turbines in the World are position in bird migration paths, as wind conditions are ideal for birds and sadly for wind power generation. The solution is to save energy, not plant the world with windmills.

Posted by Hugo Romano 

The biggest scientific expedition to Selvagens, Madeira [Video]

From 8 till June 30 , 2010, Selvagens Islands were host to the biggest portuguese scientific expedition with 70 scientific researchers and students from 31 national and international institutions. The Mission:Selvagens 2010 was coordinated by the Task Group for the Extension of Continental Shelf (EMEPC) and the Portuguese Navy via NRP Almirante Gago Coutinho and NRP Creoula.

Filed under  //  video  
Posted by Hugo Romano 

Tour price evolution over 5 years [Charts]

Foreign exchange markets are always on the move. Here is presented the price evolution of the Fauna and Flora Tour by Wind Birds in GBP, SEK and USD. Over the last 6 years we never raised the prices, even with erratic fuel prices, rising taxes and inflation. Naturally with prices kept the same the tours should have become cheaper due to currency depreciation, this is a fact for Eurozone and at the moment for the United States. As for United Kingdom and Sweden the tours are more expensive since the creation of Wind Birds.

Tour Price Evolution GBP, USD and SEK:

North Sea Brent historical prices:

Posted by Hugo Romano 

North Atlantic: Plastic or food? [Video]

Plastic pollution in the North Atlantic. Hard to tell which is food!

Posted by Hugo Romano