Current view: Text account
Site description (2015 baseline):
Site location and context
The Brunt Ice Shelf is situated on the Caird Coast, Coats Land. An Emperor Penguin (
Aptenodytes forsteri) colony breeds on fast ice that forms along the northwestern margin of the Brunt Ice Shelf, at a location locally known as ‘Halley Bay' after the nearby British research station Halley.
The IBA qualifies on the basis of the Emperor Penguin colony present and is entirely marine.
The nearest permanent station is Halley VI (GBR), ~20 km to the east on the Brunt Ice Shelf.
Hempel & Stonehouse (1987) estimated that 15 400 Emperor Penguin chicks were in this colony in Oct/Nov 1987. Analysis of a satellite image acquired 27 Oct 2009 (Fretwell
et al. 2012) indicated that approximately 22 510 Emperor Penguins were present at the colony. No other birds are known to breed in the area.
Non-bird biodiversity: None known.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The close proximity of Halley VI Station (GBR), with accompanying local operational support by ships and aircraft, could pose potential concerns for conservation of the breeding colony of Emperor Penguins. Station procedures take into account the presence of the breeding colony, and appropriate protocols are followed by visitors (R. Clarke pers. comm. 2015).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Brunt Ice Shelf (Halley Bay) (Antarctica). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/brunt-ice-shelf-(halley-bay)-iba-antarctica on 27/11/2024.
