Data Zone
Country/territory: Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
IBA criteria met: A1, A4ii (2006)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 5,956 hectares (59.56 km2)
Site description (2006 baseline)
This group of islands lies west of Weddell Island and West
Falkland. Beaver, Split, Staats and Tea Islands all have
spectacular west-facing sheer cliffs and deeply indented
coastlines. There are generally very steep slopes above
eastern coasts with rocky shores, a few sand beaches and
sheltered coves. Inland the islands are mountainous with
many peaks exceeding 150 m and some above 200 m. Most
of the smaller islands are low lying.
Key biodiversity
At least 40 species have been recorded, of which 34 are
known to breed. Thin-billed Prions breed on Channel Rock
and Hecate Rock but their population has not been
assessed. Striated Caracaras breed on Stick-in-the-mud,
Rookery Island and Hecate Rock, and Ruddy-headed Geese
are present but their populations are too small to qualify.
Local sub-species recorded are the Black-crowned Nightheron,
Upland Goose, Kelp Goose, Dark-faced Groundtyrant,
Falkland Thrush, Falkland Grass Wren and the
Long-tailed Meadowlark. The Cobb’s Wren has not been
found on any of these islands in recent years, due probably
to the widespread occurrence of Norway Rats. Few Upland
Geese, oystercatchers, Magellanic Snipe or songbirds breed
on Beaver Island due to the presence of foxes and rats.
Non-bird biodiversity: About 100 Southern Sea Lion pups are born annually on Stick-in-the-mud Island, north of Governor Island, and 35 on Beaver Island (Stinker Point), while non-breeders haul out on Tea, Green, Split and other islands in Beaver Bay. The western cliffs of Beaver Island are home to a few hundred breeding South American Fur Seals. The scarce Adder’s-tongue Fern Ophioglossum crotalophoroides occurs on Beaver Island. Tea Island has a population of the unidentified purslane (Calandrinia), possibly a new endemic plant. Additional endemic plants found in this group of islands include Clubmoss Cudweed Chevreulia lycopodioides, Vanilla Daisy Leucheria suaveolens, Lady’s Slipper Calceolaria fothergillii, Smooth Falkland Ragwort Senecio vaginatus, Hairy Daisy Erigeron incertus, and Coastal Nassauvia Nassauvia gaudichaudii.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Beaver Island Group (Falkland Islands (Malvinas)). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/beaver-island-group-iba-falkland-islands-(malvinas) on 22/12/2024.