DISTRIBUTION OF SEABIRD COLONIES IN STINKER POINT, ELEPHANT ISLAND

Abstract

Stinker Point is located on Elephant Island. It presents an ice-free area where di erent seabird species breed during the austral summer. To evaluate the distribution of Antarctic seabird breeding sites, colonies and breeding groups were mapped into the study area. ere are breeding colonies of 13 species. Southern Giant Petrel Macronectes giganteus and Wilson’s Storm-petrel Oceanites oceanicus are the species with most breeding groups mapped, totaling 10 of both species, followed by Cape Petrel Daption capense with nine breeding groups recorded. e high number of species observed in Stiker Point con rms the signi cance of this area as an Important Bird Area in Antarctica (IBA 071).