Current view: Text account
Site description (2015 baseline):
Site location and context
Kirton Island and Macklin Island are part of the Robinson Island group, and are situated amongst a number of small largely ice free islands ~6 km west of Cape Daly, Mawson Coast, Mac.Robertson Land. Kirton Island is ~0.6 km long and up to 0.3 km wide and lies ~200 metres north of the Mawson Coast, while Macklin Island lies ~ 2 km further north and is ~0.5 km long and up to 0.4 km wide.
The IBA qualifies on the basis of the Adélie Penguin (
Pygoscelis adeliae) colony present and comprises Kirton Island, Macklin Island, associated smaller islands and the intervening marine area.
The nearest permanent station is Mawson (AUS) ~35 km to the west in Holme Bay, on the Mawson Coast.
Approximately 12 955 breeding pairs (95% CI 7737, 21 308) of Adélie Penguin were present at Kirton Island and Macklin Island in December 2006 as estimated from satellite imagery (Lynch & LaRue 2014). Southwell
et al. (2014) estimated approximately 48 500 breeding pairs of Adélie Penguin present within the Robinson Island group as a whole in a survey conducted from 2-4 December 2006.
No other birds are known to breed on the islands.
Non-bird biodiversity: None known.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
None known.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Kirton Island / Macklin Island (Antarctica). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/kirton-island--macklin-island-iba-antarctica on 26/12/2024.
