Australia's icebreaker, RSV Nuyina, is on its way to the spectacular Heard Island and McDonald Islands for the second time this year, this time for a 25-day science and environmental management visit.
The ship spent ten days at Heard Island in October. This time, RSV Nuyina will resupply Casey research station - finishing just before Christmas - and then travel on to the World Heritage-listed Heard Island.
"V1 was a quick visit to lay the foundations for V2 and capture some key data points early in the wildlife season," V2 Field Leader David Knoff said.
"V2 will involve a 25-day program, and that will give us more time to collect samples and data. It'll be more targeted and efficient thanks to the hard work of those on V1."
There are 97 expeditioners on V2, working across 32 projects - 24 of them relating to Heard Island marine and terrestrial science.
Across the 25 days, project teams will examine how Heard Island's historic sites like the old station are faring, install instruments to measure glacial retreat and monitor weather, investigate marine biodiversity and continue wildlife population assessments by drone and on foot.
On V1, samples were taken from southern elephant seals after a large number of dead pups were found on Heard Island's south coast. These samples tested positive for the highly contagious H5 bird flu.
By the time V2 reaches the island, the elephant seals will have finished breeding, but fur seals and seabirds will have started.
A key focus for wildlife biologists will be looking at whether H5 bird flu is now impacting other species and assessing the spread of the virus on the island.
"During V2 we will assess for any signs and symptoms of H5 bird flu in other species, collect further samples for virus confirmation and assess the population sizes of priority species so the short-term and long-term impacts of the virus can be assessed," wildlife biologist Dr Julie McInnes said.
