Cockburn Island (29407)
Antarctica, Antarctica
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2015
National site name: Cockburn Island
Central coordinates: Latitude: -64.2007, Longitude: -56.8389
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 450
Area of KBA (km2): 3.75145
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Cockburn Island is a small, oval-shaped, ice-free island rising to around 450 m and lying 5 km northwest of Seymour Island. The IBA qualifies on the basis of the Imperial Shag (Phalacrocorax [atriceps] bransfieldensis) colony present and the large concentration of seabirds (in particular Adélie Penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae)), and comprises all of Cockburn Island. Information on the environment of Cockburn Island is not available. The nearest permanent scientific station is Marambio (ARG) located 10 km to the east, more information on which can be found under IBA ANT070.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that was identified using previously established criteria and thresholds for the identification of Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) and for which available data indicate that it does not meet global KBA criteria and thresholds set out in the Global Standard.
Additional biodiversity: Approximately 800 pairs of Imperial Shag were recorded breeding on Cockburn Island in 2006 (Lynch et al. 2008). Approximately 15 721 breeding pairs (95% CI: 9489, 25 987) of Adélie Penguin were present in 2010/11, as estimated from February 2011 satellite imagery (Lynch & LaRue 2014). Snow Petrel (Pagodroma nivea) nests were reported on the island in 1901 (Croxall et al. 1995), although it is not known whether this species continues to breed in the area. Non-bird biodiversity: None known.
Delineation rationale: Island coastline where island is ≤ 5 km2.
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: None known. There are no records of tourist landings at Cockburn Island and visits to the site appear to be infrequent.
Additional information
References: Croxall, J.P., Steele, W.K, McInnes, S.J. & Prince, P.A. 1995. Breeding distribution of the Snow Petrel Pagodroma nivea. Marine Ornithology 23: 69-99. Lynch, H., Naveen, R. & Fagan, W. 2008. Censuses of Penguin, Blue-eyed Shag Phalacrocorax atriceps and Southern Giant Petrel Macronectes giganteus populations on the Antarctic Peninsula, 2001-2007. Marine Ornithology 36: 83-97. Lynch, H.J. & LaRue, M.A. 2014. First global census of the Adélie Penguin. The Auk 131(4): 457-66. doi:10.1642/AUK-14-31.1