Current view: Text account
Site description (2015 baseline):
Site location and context
Eden Rocks lie 1.5 km from the eastern coast of Dundee Island, in the Erebus and Terror Gulf. The rocks were first charted in 1842 by James Clark Ross. IBA Paulet Island lies ~9 km to the southwest. The IBA qualifies on the basis of the Adélie Penguin (
Pygoscelis adeliae) colony present and comprises two rocks rising to around 90 m and the intervening sea.
The nearest permanent scientific station is Petrel (ARG), a summer-only facility for up to ~55 people (COMNAP, Antarctic Facilities, accessed 06/08/2010) located ~30 km to the west on Dundee Island.
Two large colonies of Adélie Penguin were recorded breeding on Eden Rocks in 1996, with approximately 20 000 pairs in the west colony and 26 750 pairs in the east colony (total between 44 249 and 49 460 pairs) (Naveen
et al. 2000). Other confirmed breeders in the area include Cape Petrel (
Daption capense) and skua (
Catharacta spp.). Occasional visitors include Southern Giant Petrel (
Macronectes giganteus), Snowy Sheathbill (
Chionis albus), Wilson's Storm-petrel (
Oceanites oceanicus) and Kelp Gull (
Larus dominicanus) (Naveen & Lynch 2011).
Non-bird biodiversity: None known.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Visitor landings at Eden Rocks are difficult due to the surrounding uncharted waters and variable ice conditions (Naveen & Lynch 2011). Visits to the site are infrequent and human disturbance is expected to be minimal.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Eden Rocks (Antarctica). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/eden-rocks-iba-antarctica on 28/11/2024.
