Current view: Text account
Site description (2015 baseline):
Site location and context
Gourdin Island is the largest of a group of islands lying 1.2 km north of Prime Head, northern Trinity Peninsula. The IBA qualifies on the basis of the large concentration of seabirds present (in particular Adélie Penguin (
Pygoscelis adeliae)) and comprises all of Gourdin Island.
The permanent scientific stations Esperanza (ARG) and Teniente de Navio Ruperto Elichiribehety (URY), are both located 28 km southeast in Hope Bay, and General Bernando Higgins (CHL) is situated 34 km southwest at Cape Legoupil, Trinity Peninsula.
Naveen (2003) estimated the Adélie Penguin colony breeding on the northwestern end of Gourdin Island in 1997 comprised 14 334 pairs, along with 568 pairs of Gentoo Penguin (
Pygoscelis papua ) and 3282 pairs of Chinstrap Penguin (
P. antarctica ). Occasional visitors to the area include Snowy Sheathbill (
Chionis albus ), Brown Skua (
Catharacta antarctica ) and Kelp Gull (
Larus dominicanus ) (Naveen & Lynch 2011).
Non-bird biodiversity: None known.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Gourdin Island receives an annual average of around 890 visitors (including tourists, staff and crew) (IAATO Tourism Statistics 2005-10, accessed: 06/08/2010).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Gourdin Island (Antarctica). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/gourdin-island-iba-antarctica on 23/11/2024.
