Current view: Text account
Site description (2015 baseline):
Site location and context
Adélie Cove is situated in Terra Nova Bay on the coast of the Northern Foothills, Victoria Land. The IBA qualifies on the basis of the concentration of seabirds present (in particular Adélie Penguin (
Pygoscelis adeliae)) and comprises ice free ground on the northern coast of Adélie Cove adjacent to ASPA No. 161 Terra Nova Bay.
The nearest permanent stations are Mario Zucchelli (ITA) and Jang Bogo (KOR), ~9 km and 17 km to the north respectively.
An average of ~11 234 breeding pairs of Adélie Penguin were present each season from 1981 – 2012 (Lyver
et al. 2014). Approximately 91 breeding pairs of South Polar Skua (
Catharacta maccormicki) were reported along the Northern Foothills coast (Ainley 1986), although the exact extent of the area of the count is not known. A more recent census counted 30 breeding pairs of South Polar Skua in the immediate vicinity of the Adélie Penguin colony, and Wilson's Storm-petrel (
Oceanites oceanicus) have also been also observed in the area (S. Olmastroni pers. comm. 2015). Information on other breeding bird species in the area is not available.
Non-bird biodiversity: Leopard Seals (
Hydrurga leptonyx) have been reported in the area (S. Olmastroni pers. comm. 2015).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The proximity of nearby stations and associated aircraft and other human activity could pose risks of disturbance to the colony. Italy has recently proposed construction of a new hard-rock airstrip in the Northern Foothills, several kilometres to the north of the Adélie Penguin colony (Government of Italy 2014). Sound intensity measurements and penguin observations at Adélie Cove reported minimal disturbance during a single test flight by a large transport aircraft over the proposed airstrip, although a detailed account, including information on breeding South Polar Skuas or other birds, was not provided. A Comprehensive Environmental Evaluation is being prepared by Italy prior to construction of the airstrip (S. Torcini pers. comm. 2015).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Adélie Cove (Antarctica). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/adélie-cove-iba-antarctica on 22/12/2024.
