Data Zone
Country/territory: Antarctica
IBA criteria met: A4ii, A4iii (2015)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 500 hectares (5.00 km2)
Site description (2015 baseline)
Jutulsessen Mountain (2370 m) is located in the central Gjelsvik Mountains, Dronning Maud Land. The main ice free area of the massif is ~10 km by ~5 km across.
The IBA qualifies on the basis of the Antarctic Petrel (Thalassoica antarctica) colony present at the site.
The nearest permanent station is Troll (NOR) ~6 km to the northwest.
Key biodiversity
Approximately 38 000 breeding pairs of Antarctic Petrel occupy a number of elevated north-facing slopes in the Jutulsessen Mountain area (Mehlum et al . 1988; van Franeker et al . 1999). However, during a site visit made in 2013/14 it was estimated that numbers may be more than double these earlier estimates, although an accurate count has not been made (reported by A. Tarroux, B. Njåstad pers. comm. 2015).
Approximately 2100 breeding pairs of Snow Petrel ( Pagodroma nivea ) were reported at Jutulsessen Mountain in 1991 (Croxall et al . 1995). South Polar Skua ( Catharacta maccormicki ) also breed in the vicinity, the principal nesting areas being on the lower slopes and in the main valley to the northwest of Jutulsessen Mountain (Mehlum et al . 1988).
Non-bird biodiversity: None known.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Jutulsessen Mountain (Antarctica). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/jutulsessen-mountain-iba-antarctica on 22/12/2024.