Current view: Text account
Site description (2015 baseline):
Site location and context
Armstrong Reef is a small island group situated ~2 km southwest of Renaud Island, part of the Biscoe Islands, lying off the Graham Coast of the central Antarctic Peninsula. Armstrong Reef extends over 4.3 km in a southwest-northeast orientation and consists of a number of small ice-free islands each with areas of < 100 ha. The IBA qualifies on the basis of the Imperial Shag (
Phalacrocorax [
atriceps]
bransfieldensis) colony present and comprises the islands of the reef and the intervening marine area.
Plutonic rocks dominate the geology of the island group (Smellie
et al. 1985).
The nearest scientific station is Vernadsky (UKR), which is located ~121 km to the northeast. The area is remote from the most popular tour ship routes and thus receives few visitors.
Poncet & Poncet (1987) reported a large Adélie Penguin (
Pygoscelis adeliae ) colony on Armstrong Reef, with approximately 12 800 breeding pairs recorded in 1984, which originally qualified the site as an IBA. However, a recent ground nest count made in January 2013 (Casanovas
et al . in press) indicated a decrease in the colony to ~2813 breeding pairs and the site therefore no longer qualifies as an IBA on account of the penguin colony.
However, a large colony of 633 pairs of Imperial Shag was also recorded breeding amongst the Adélies and on three islets within the island group (unpublished data S. Poncet pers. comm. 2005). More recently, Casanovas
et al . (in press) reported 114 pairs at the site based on an accurate nest count. A sizeable colony of 126 pairs of Southern Giant Petrel (
Macronectes giganteus ) was documented breeding on Armstrong Reef in 1983 (Patterson
et al. 2008). In view of the interseasonal variability in breeding numbers, the IBA has been retained based on the criteria for Imperial Shags.
Non-bird biodiversity: None known.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
None known.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Armstrong Reef (Antarctica). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/armstrong-reef-iba-antarctica on 23/12/2024.
