Current view: Text account
Site description (2006 baseline):
Site location and context
Pebble Island is the third largest offshore island in the
archipelago, stretching about 18.5 miles (30 km) from east to
west, but it is only about 4.3 miles (7 km) at its widest point.
There are three peaks west of the settlement: First Mountain
reaches 277 m, Middle Mountain 214 m and the western
Marble Mountain 237 m. The land to the east is generally
low lying with many large lakes and ponds, which provide
important waterfowl and wader habitat. The coastline is
deeply indented and Elephant Bay, north-east of the
settlement, has a spectacular 3 mile-long (5 km) white sand
beach. Pebble Island is one of the most visited tourist sites
in the Falklands, with a lodge and self-catering cottage
accommodation in the centrally located settlement and a
cottage near Marble Mountain on the far western point.
The largest of the associated islets, Pebble Islet is
low lying, reaching no more than 20 m at the western
point. The northern coast has shelf rock and there are
extensive kelp beds off the northern and western coasts,
extending to Government Islet. There are a few large ponds
and the island has been heavily grazed by sheep and
horses. The vegetation is open and sparse, with only about
14 ha of Tussac cover at the eastern point.
Government Islet is almost entirely covered by dense Tussac
but was grazed by up to 10 bullocks in the early 1960s. There
are cliffs up to 15 m on the western and north-eastern coasts,
and large sheltered bays towards the east.
White Island is a low rocky stack with thick Tussac on the
southern slopes and in the centre, but less vegetation
towards the east and west. It has probably not been grazed.
Keppel Islet is a low, domed island with a boulder beach
on the north-east coast and low cliffs to the south-east. It is
densely covered in Tussac, which appears to be in good
condition, although it was used for fattening bullocks,
probably between 1960 and 1970.
In 1995, 39 species were found breeding on Pebble Island,
with another four possibly breeding. A total of 23 of the 25
species of waterfowl and wading birds (as defined under
the Ramsar Convention) breeding in the Falklands are
found in the large wetland area on Pebble Island East, and
more than 1,000 pairs of Imperial Shags breed near Cape
Tamar. There are also colonies of Rockhopper and Gentoo
Penguins. The Gentoo population doubled in the five years
between 1995 and 2000, while the Rockhopper population
remained more or less stable. The very small number of
breeding Macaroni Penguins is associated with a large
colony of Rockhopper Penguins north of Marble Mountain.
The status of some of the species that could be breeding
needs clarification and the entire group warrants further
study since the previous (partial) surveys took place in
1995 and 1998. During the summer of 2000/01 the first pair
of Coscoroba Swans – known to breed successfully in the
Falklands since 1860 – was recorded on the eastern
wetlands. Sightings of rare visitors or breeders such as
Red Shovelers and Cinnamon Teals make the site a
favourite haunt for birdwatchers. This part of the island
probably supports the largest concentration of Blacknecked
Swans in the Falklands, with at least 15 pairs
nesting in 1995/96. The Cobb’s Wren is absent from Pebble
Island, and probably Pebble Islet, as it cannot co-exist
with rats. Members of the Royal Air Force Ornithological
Society carried out a complete coastal survey of Pebble
Island in 1995.
A total of 16 species was noted during a brief visit to the
south-eastern part of Government Islet in December 2001.
Cobb’s Wrens, Tussacbirds and other species were
numerous, suggesting that the islet is apparently free of
introduced predators. However, an old bleached rat skull
was found in a clearing among Tussac and a piece of
orange expanded polystyrene on the beach had been
chewed. These items may have been carried by a bird,
perhaps a Striated Caracara. Keppel Islet was examined
briefly from a passing boat in December 2001; 11 species
were noted, including Tussacbirds near a colony of Rock
Shags. This suggests that the islet is free of rats. Endemic
sub-species known to be present in the Pebble Group
include the White-tufted/Rolland’s Grebe, Black-crowned
Night-heron, Upland Goose, Kelp Goose, Short-eared Owl,
Dark-faced Ground-tyrant, Falkland Pipit, Falkland Grass
Wren, Falkland Thrush and the Long-tailed Meadowlark.
Non-bird biodiversity: About 40 immature Southern Elephant Seals and several
Southern Sea Lions used the south-western beach of
Government Islet in December 2001. White Island is also a
traditional site for Southern Sea Lions. The flowering plants
of Pebble Island have been well surveyed (133 species
recorded up to 2001). The following eight endemics have
been recorded: Clubmoss Cudweed Chevreulia lycopodioides,
Antarctic Cudweed Gamochaeta antarctica, Vanilla Daisy
Leucheria suaveolens, Hairy Daisy Erigeron incertus, Coastal
Nassauvia Nassauvia gaudichaudii, Woolly Falkland Ragwort
Senecio littoralis, Smooth Falkland Ragwort Senecio vaginatus
and Lady’s Slipper Calceolaria fothergillii. Other species of
note include Yellow Lady’s Slipper Calceolaria biflora and
the ‘local and scarce’ Shoreweed Littoralis australis.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The eastern half of Pebble Island is of great conservation
value due to the presence of large lakes and wetlands.
The tourist industry on Pebble Island is currently well
managed and poses little threat to the wildlife in terms
of disturbance and risk of fire. It is very important that
the Falkland Islands Countryside Code is followed.
A herd of goats on Pebble Island that caused serious
damage to the vegetation for at least 10 years has been
culled. Some controls are necessary to guard against
overgrazing and further erosion of the more fragile parts of
the habitat. Pebble Island has cats and rats, while Pebble
Islet is known to have rats; the species is unknown but they
are probably Brown/Norway Rats. All visitors should be
informed about the dangers of accidentally introducing
alien species to the islands.
All four offshore islets/islands require baseline ecological
surveys, particularly looking for introduced predators and
burrowing petrels.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Pebble Island Group (Falkland Islands (Malvinas)). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/pebble-island-group-iba-falkland-islands-(malvinas) on 23/12/2024.
