• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Map
• Reference and further resources

Site description (2015 baseline)

The Riiser-Larsen Ice Shelf extends ~400 km between Cape Norvegia and Lyddan Island, on the Princess Martha Coast, Dronning Maud Land. An Emperor Penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) colony breeds on fast ice that forms in cracks along the western coast of the Riiser-Larsen Ice Shelf, immediately south of Cape Vestkapp. The site is formally named by Germany as Dreschereisfrontkerbe, and is often referred to unofficially in English as ‘Drescher Inlet'.

The IBA qualifies on the basis of the Emperor Penguin colony present and is entirely marine.

There are no research stations nearby. The summer stations Aboa (FIN) and Wasa (SWE) are situated ~200 km to the southeast at Basen Nunatak in the Vestfjella Mountains.

Key biodiversity

Gerdes et al. (1987) estimated ~6600 Emperor penguin chicks were present at the colony from a direct census conducted in October 1986. Analysis of a satellite image acquired 04 Oct 2009 (Fretwell et al. 2012) indicated that approximately 2305 Emperor Penguins were present at the colony, although image quality was rated as only Fair. No other birds are known to breed in the area.

Non-bird biodiversity: Weddell Seals (Leptonychotes weddellii) are known to breed in the vicinity (Gerdes et al. 1987).

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Drescher Inlet (Dreschereisfrontkerbe) (Antarctica). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/drescher-inlet-(dreschereisfrontkerbe)-iba-antarctica on 18/12/2024.