Current view: Text account
Site description (2015 baseline):
Site location and context
Cockburn Island is a small, oval-shaped, ice-free island rising to around 450 m and lying 5 km northwest of Seymour Island. The IBA qualifies on the basis of the Imperial Shag (
Phalacrocorax [
atriceps]
bransfieldensis) colony present and the large concentration of seabirds (in particular Adélie Penguin (
Pygoscelis adeliae)), and comprises all of Cockburn Island.
Information on the environment of Cockburn Island is not available. The nearest permanent scientific station is Marambio (ARG) located 10 km to the east, more information on which can be found under IBA ANT070.
Approximately 800 pairs of Imperial Shag were recorded breeding on Cockburn Island in 2006 (Lynch
et al. 2008). Approximately 15 721 breeding pairs (95% CI: 9489, 25 987) of Adélie Penguin were present in 2010/11, as estimated from February 2011 satellite imagery (Lynch & LaRue 2014). Snow Petrel (
Pagodroma nivea) nests were reported on the island in 1901 (Croxall
et al. 1995), although it is not known whether this species continues to breed in the area.
Non-bird biodiversity: None known.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
None known. There are no records of tourist landings at Cockburn Island and visits to the site appear to be infrequent.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Cockburn Island (Antarctica). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/cockburn-island-iba-antarctica on 26/11/2024.
