Current view: Text account
Site description (2015 baseline):
Site location and context
Half Moon Island is a rocky island lying in Moon Bay, 2 km north of Livingston Island, South Shetland Islands. Raised cobble beaches line the south and central shorelines, while steep scree slopes lead to a low summit at the north of the island. East-facing slopes are typically snow-covered. The IBA qualifies on the basis of the South Polar Skua (
Catharacta maccormicki) colony present and comprises the entire island.
Several moss and lichen species and the native Antarctic Hairgrass (
Deschampsia antarctica) are found on Half Moon Island (ATS Visitor Site Guidelines, Half Moon Island).
Cámara Station (ARG) (summer-only) is located in the southern part of Half Moon Island and has capacity for ~36 people (COMNAP, Antarctic Facilities, accessed 24/08/2010).
South Polar Skua breed at several locations on Half Moon Island, mostly in the north, with 103 pairs recorded in the 1995-96 (Garcia Esponda
et al. 2000). Approximately 2094 pairs of Chinstrap Penguin (
Pygoscelis antarctica) were breeding on the island in December 2012 (Lynch
et al. 2013). Antarctic Terns (
Sterna vittata) nest in rocky outcrops and 125 breeding pairs were recorded in 1995/96, along with 39 pairs of Kelp Gull (
Larus dominicanus) (Garcia Esponda
et al. 2000). Wilson's Storm-petrel (
Oceanites oceanicus) also breed, with 377 pairs in 1995/96. Other birds breeding in low numbers include the Imperial Shag (
Phalacrocorax [
atriceps]
bransfieldensis), Snowy Sheathbill (
Chionis albus), Cape Petrel (
Daption capense), Brown Skua (
Catharacta antarctica) and Black-bellied Storm-petrel (
Fregetta tropica) (Garcia Esponda
et al. 2000).
Non-bird biodiversity: Weddell Seals (
Leptonychotes weddellii) and Antarctic Fur Seals (
Arctocephalus gazella) are regularly observed at local beaches (ATS Visitor Site Guidelines Half Moon Island; Naveen & Lynch 2011).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Cámara Station (ARG) operates in close proximity to local breeding wildlife. Half Moon Island is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Antarctic Peninsula region, with 9760 tourists landing ashore in the 2009/10 season (IAATO Tourism Statistics, accessed: 06/08/2010). There is evidence of damage to soils and vegetation and concern that visitors may disturb wildlife or damage breeding burrows (ATS Visitor Site Guidelines, Half Moon Island). Tourism is supervised by expedition staff and station personnel.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Half Moon Island (Antarctica). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/half-moon-island-iba-antarctica on 22/12/2024.
