Bird Island, Falkland Islands
Encyclopedia
Bird Island is one of the Falkland Islands
. It lies due south of West Falkland
, near Port Stephens
and Calm Head
According to Ian Strange:
roughly triangular in shape. The western half of the southern coast has sheer cliffs
reaching at least 70m and the plateau above slopes gently to the north and west.
In the centre of the island there is a large seasonal pool, to the west of a small
inlet. The eastern promontory has two domed peaks reaching to at least 110m
with sheer southern cliffs of 30m and very steep slopes in the north. Access by
boat is difficult, except at the small north-east-facing inlet between the northern
and eastern promontories, and the terrain is difficult to cross, with dense growth of
Tussac above thick, soft peat and Tussac overhanging deep gulches.
s, King Shag
s, petrel
s and Black-browed Albatross
es.
The total number of species recorded on Bird Island in November 1998 was
27, of which 25 bred or were probably breeding. Macaroni Penguin, Ruddyheaded Goose, Canary-winged/Black-throated Finch and Falkland Steamer Duck
are present but their status is uncertain or populations are too small to qualify.
The congregation of seabirds on this island exceeds 10,000 breeding pairs, making
the site classifiable under the A4iii criterion. Bird Island is one of the most important
breeding sites for the Striated Caracara and it is considered that the population
here is at least as dense as on any offshore island around the Falklands, possibly
due to the very large population of Thin-billed Prions, an important prey species.
Deep Tussac cover over most of Bird Island makes it comparable to Beauchêne
Island for the density of burrowing petrels. Other species that should be investigated
include Sooty Shearwater, Grey-backed Storm-petrel, which is thought to be
numerous, Rock Shag, Imperial Shag and Dolphin Gull. Endemic races present
include Dark-faced Ground-tyrant, Falkland Thrush, Long-tailed Meadowlark
and Common Diving Petrel.
Falkland Islands
The Falkland Islands are an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean, located about from the coast of mainland South America. The archipelago consists of East Falkland, West Falkland and 776 lesser islands. The capital, Stanley, is on East Falkland...
. It lies due south of West Falkland
West Falkland
West Falkland is the second largest of the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic. It is a hilly island, separated from East Falkland by Falkland Sound. Its area is and its coastline is long. Including the adjacent small islands the land area is .-Population:The island has fewer than 200...
, near Port Stephens
Port Stephens, Falkland Islands
Port Stephens is a settlement on West Falkland, in the Falkland Islands. It is on the far south west of the island, near Calm Head and Cape Meredith and South Harbour is the nearest other settlement. Until recently, it was one of the Falkland Island Company's largest sheep stations. In 1989 the...
and Calm Head
Calm Head
Calm Head is the most south westerly point of the Falkland Islands, and is on West Falkland. It is to the south west of Port Stephens, and shelters it.Bird Island is nearby....
According to Ian Strange:
- "Such offshore islands [as Bird Island] are the remaining strongholds of a large percentage of bird life"
Geography
Bird Island is located 4·5 km off the south-western coast of West Falkland and isroughly triangular in shape. The western half of the southern coast has sheer cliffs
reaching at least 70m and the plateau above slopes gently to the north and west.
In the centre of the island there is a large seasonal pool, to the west of a small
inlet. The eastern promontory has two domed peaks reaching to at least 110m
with sheer southern cliffs of 30m and very steep slopes in the north. Access by
boat is difficult, except at the small north-east-facing inlet between the northern
and eastern promontories, and the terrain is difficult to cross, with dense growth of
Tussac above thick, soft peat and Tussac overhanging deep gulches.
Wildlife
Amongst the birds which breed here are rockhopper penguinRockhopper penguin
The rockhopper penguins are three closely related taxa of crested penguins that have been traditionally treated as a single species and are sometimes split into two or three species. Not all experts agree on the classification of these penguins...
s, King Shag
King Shag
The Rough-faced Shag , also known as New Zealand King Shag or King Shag, is a rare bird endemic to New Zealand.- Description :...
s, petrel
Petrel
Petrels are tube-nosed seabirds in the bird order Procellariiformes. The common name does not indicate relationship beyond that point, as "petrels" occur in three of the four families within that group...
s and Black-browed Albatross
Black-browed Albatross
The Black-browed Albatross or Black-browed Mollymawk, Thalassarche melanophrys, is a large seabird of the albatross family Diomedeidae, and it is the most widespread and common albatross.-Taxonomy:...
es.
The total number of species recorded on Bird Island in November 1998 was
27, of which 25 bred or were probably breeding. Macaroni Penguin, Ruddyheaded Goose, Canary-winged/Black-throated Finch and Falkland Steamer Duck
are present but their status is uncertain or populations are too small to qualify.
The congregation of seabirds on this island exceeds 10,000 breeding pairs, making
the site classifiable under the A4iii criterion. Bird Island is one of the most important
breeding sites for the Striated Caracara and it is considered that the population
here is at least as dense as on any offshore island around the Falklands, possibly
due to the very large population of Thin-billed Prions, an important prey species.
Deep Tussac cover over most of Bird Island makes it comparable to Beauchêne
Island for the density of burrowing petrels. Other species that should be investigated
include Sooty Shearwater, Grey-backed Storm-petrel, which is thought to be
numerous, Rock Shag, Imperial Shag and Dolphin Gull. Endemic races present
include Dark-faced Ground-tyrant, Falkland Thrush, Long-tailed Meadowlark
and Common Diving Petrel.