Data Zone
Country/territory: Antarctica
IBA criteria met: A4iii (2015)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 300 ha
Site description (2015 baseline)
The Schaefer Islands are situated southwest of the northern extremity of Canisteo Peninsula, which projects into the eastern Amundsen Sea between Ferrero and Cranton Bays on the Walgreen Coast, Marie Byrd Land. Schaefer Islands are situated ~4 km south of Lindsey Islands.
The island group consists of one larger island, ~0.5 km by ~1 km, and several smaller islands and islets. The islands are relatively flat and mostly ice free during summer.
The IBA qualifies on the basis of the concentration of seabirds present (in particular Adélie Penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae)) and comprises all of the Schaefer Islands group and the intervening marine area.
There are no research stations nearby. The closest permanent stations are Rothera (GBR) and San Martín (ARG), located approximately 1420 km to the northeast in Marguerite Bay, Antarctic Peninsula.
Key biodiversity
Approximately 28 033 breeding pairs (CI not available) of Adélie Penguin were present on Schaefer Islands as estimated from March 2011 satellite imagery (unpublished data, H. Lynch & M. LaRue pers. comm. 2014). The colony breeds on most of the larger islands, mostly on the northern coast. No other birds are known to breed in the area.
Non-bird biodiversity: No information on other wildlife in the area is available. However, given its close proximity to Lindsey Islands (IBA ANT204) where Southern Elephant Seals (Mirounga leonina) and Leopard Seals (Hydrurga leptonyx) occur (Lindsey 1995), these species are also likely to be observed in the Schaefer Islands area.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Schaefer Islands (Antarctica). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/schaefer-islands-iba-antarctica on 30/11/2024.