Birdwatcher explores remote Icelandic Island to study endangered seabirds

Birdwatcher Emin Yoğurtcuoğlu went to Iceland for research and had the opportunity to observe seabirds, including puffins, fork-tailed storm petrels, and various other sea birds, on Ellidaey Island, referred to as the most isolated house in the world, for about a month. Emin Yoğurtcuoğlu, who tracks lesser-known bird species that are endangered in Türkiye and around the world, shared the details of his work in Iceland. Ellidaey Island, which gained attention on social media, is located at the northern tip of the Vestmann Islands in the south of the country. He mentioned that he obtained official permission to visit the island through Icelandic birdwatchers and later joined a British team conducting specialized work on the island. He discovered that the place he was working in was known as the 'most isolated house in the world,' which heightened his excitement. He shared his journey to the island with his followers and showcased the house through photos and videos, generating considerable interest. The island has only one house, which was historically constructed by the locals to catch puffins. Yoğurtcuoğlu explained that the locals used to eat puffins due to the inability to engage in agriculture on the island. While this practice might have been understood several centuries ago, it was disturbing to hear that it continues secretly despite being banned in the present day. He also mentioned that the locals allow scientists to use the house for observation during their spare time. During his approximately month-long stay on the island, he mentioned that they had to manage with transported water due to the lack of a clean water source. When he wasn't conducting observations, he spent time online. He stated that he was particularly interested in the fork-tailed storm petrel and actively looked for it on the island. These birds are significant to him because, similar to albatrosses, they spend most of their lives at sea and only come to land for a short period to breed, mainly during the time when the sun doesn't set in the Northern Hemisphere. Scientists who study them carefully capture and tag them with microchips to track their movements and understand their preferences. Yoğurtcuoğlu emphasized that Ellidaey Island serves as a habitat for puffins, fork-tailed storm petrels, and numerous other sea birds. Being the first Turkish person to visit the island brought him excitement and pride. He also expressed his plans to continue his bird observation journeys, with North America and New Zealand as his next destinations.