Current view: Text account
Site description (2015 baseline):
Site location and context
Seabee Hook is located 0.3 km west of Cape Hallett, situated at the northern extremity of the Hallett Peninsula, Borchgrevink Coast, northern Victoria Land. Seabee Hook is a relatively flat, depositional feature that consists of coarse volcanic parent material forming a series of beach ridges. Steep scree and permanent ice rising to more than 65 m form the western slopes of northern Hallett Peninsula.
The IBA qualifies on the basis of the Adélie Penguin (
Pygoscelis adeliae) colony that occupies Seabee Hook, and is coincident with the boundary of ASPA No. 106: Cape Hallett. The ASPA is designated as an outstanding example of biological diversity, including for its large seabird colonies and diverse terrestrial ecology.
The nearest permanent stations are Mario Zucchelli (ITA) and Jang Bogo (KOR), ~330 km to the south in Terra Nova Bay.
A mean of 42 628 breeding pairs of Adélie Penguin was reported over 14 seasons sampled between 1981 and 2012 (Lyver
et al. 2014). Approximately 63 971 breeding pairs were present in 2009/10 (combined total of direct nest, oblique aerial and ground photo counts made 26 Nov – 3 Dec 2009; unpublished data ERA 2010 cited in ASPA No.106 Management Plan (2010)).
South Polar Skuas (
Catharacta maccormicki) breed within the area, and 14 breeding pairs and 66 individuals were observed on Seabee Hook in 2009, and another 23 breeding pairs and 92 individuals were present east of Willett Cove (unpublished data ERA 2010 cited in ASPA No.106 Management Plan (2010)).
Visitors to the area include Emperor Penguins (
Aptenodytes forsteri), Chinstrap Penguins (
Pygoscelis antarctica), Wilson's Storm-petrels (
Oceanites oceanicus), Snow Petrels (
Pagodroma nivea) and Southern Giant Petrels (
Macronectes giganteus).
Non-bird biodiversity: Weddell Seals (
Leptonychotes weddellii) breed in Edisto Inlet and have been observed on Seabee Hook. Leopard Seals (
Hydrurga leptonyx) and Minke Whales (
Balaenoptera acutorostrata) are commonly observed offshore.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
A permanent NZL / USA scientific station was built on Seabee Hook in 1964, which involved destruction of nesting sites for thousands of pairs of Adélie Penguin. Prior to station construction, the colony was around 62 900 pairs (1959), which reduced to 37 000 pairs (1968) after the station was operational (ASPA No.106 Management Plan 2010). The station was closed in 1973, although clean-up did not commence until the 1980s and continued through until 2010 when the last materials remaining were removed. Penguins have begun to recolonise former station areas following removal of structures and debris.
Cape Hallett is visited by tourist ships. Parts of the coastline are accessible for tourists as they are situated outside of the ASPA and ATS Visitor Site Guidelines apply. From 2008–2013 an average of 101 visitors landed in the area, although the number of visitors fluctuates. For example, in 2008/09 more than 300 people landed, while in 2010/11 and in 2012/13 less than 100 people landed, whereas in 2011/12 no tourist landings were made (IAATO Tourism Statistics, accessed: 24/04/2014).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Seabee Hook, Cape Hallett (Antarctica). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/seabee-hook-cape-hallett-iba-antarctica on 28/11/2024.
