Current view: Text account
Site description (2015 baseline):
Site location and context
Madder Cliffs lie at the northern entrance to Kinnes Cove at the western extremity of Joinville Island, Erebus and Terror Gulf. A rocky beach lies below scree and tuff ridges and cliffs, with the distinctive red rocks that give the site its name. The IBA qualifies on the basis of the concentration of seabirds present (in particular Adélie Penguin (
Pygoscelis adeliae)) and comprises the ice-free area at Madder Cliffs.
Snow algae and
Prasiola crispa have been reported at the site (Naveen 2003).
The nearest permanent scientific research stations are Petrel (ARG), Esperanza (ARG) and Teniente de Navio Ruperto Elichiribehety (URY), more information on which can be found under IBA D'Urville Monument, Joinville Island and IBA Hope Bay.
A rough estimate made in 2003 indicated around 20 000 – 25 000 pairs of Adélie Penguin breed at Madder Cliffs, located along exposed ridges and knolls above the beach (Naveen & Lynch 2011). Gentoo Penguins (
Pygoscelis papua) also breed at the site and around 450 chicks were counted in 2005 (Lynch
et al. 2008). Kelp Gull (
Larus dominicanus) and Snowy Sheathbill (
Chionis albus) are also confirmed breeders at the site (Naveen & Lynch 2011).
Non-bird biodiversity: None known.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
None known.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Madder Cliffs, Joinville Island (Antarctica). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/madder-cliffs-joinville-island-iba-antarctica on 23/12/2024.
