Shingle Cove (29457)
Antarctica, Antarctica
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2015
National site name: Shingle Cove
Central coordinates: Latitude: -60.6549, Longitude: -45.5664
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 500
Area of KBA (km2): 0.75607
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Shingle Cove is located in Iceberg Bay several km east of Cape Hansen on the southern coast of Coronation Island. The IBA qualifies on the basis of the concentration of seabirds present (in particular Adélie Penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae)) and comprises the ice-free area southwest and adjacent to Shingle Cove, ~1.3 km NE of Cape Hansen. The nearest research station is Signy (GBR), located ~1.5 km southwest of Cape Hansen. See IBA Signy Island for more information on this station.
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 13 381 pairs of Adélie Penguin were recorded breeding close to and southwest of Shingle Cove in 2003 (Lynch et al. 2008; H. Lynch pers. comm. 2010; Naveen & Lynch 2011), referring to this site as ‘Marshall Bay'. A small number of Brown Skuas (Catharacta antarctica) breed among the penguins; four breeding pairs were counted in 2003 (H. Lynch pers. comm. 2010). Croxall & Kirkwood (1979: 16) reported approximately 10 000 breeding pairs in 'A series of Adélie colonies [that] stretches the length of the NE side of the cove to the north (‘Half Moon Cove') [of Cape Hansen]”, referring to this site as ‘Cape Hansen'. It has been concluded that these authors are referring to the same colony, and that it lies along the NE coast of the cove immediately east of Cape Hansen. A colony of Adélie Penguins is also present at Shingle Cove, which comprised ~3041 breeding pairs in 2006 and ~3205 pairs in 2003 (Lynch et al. 2008; Naveen & Lynch 2011); around 3000 pairs were estimated in 1978 (Croxall & Kirkwood 1979). A ‘possible colony' of Chinstrap Penguins (Pygoscelis antarctica) was reported at Cape Hansen in 1965 (Croxall & Kirkwood 1979), although it seems likely that this was a mistaken reference to the nearby Adélie Penguin colony described above since no Chinstrap Penguin colony exists in this location. Cape Petrel (Daption capense), Snow Petrel (Pagodroma nivea), skuas (Catharacta spp.) and Snowy Sheathbill (Chionis albus) are confirmed to breed at the site (ATS Visitor Site Guidelines, Shingle Cove). Non-bird biodiversity: None known.
Delineation rationale: If ice-free area is ≤ 5 km2 then ice-free area is used as boundary.
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: None known.
Additional information
References: Antarctic Treaty System Visitor Site Guidelines, Shingle Cove: URL: http://www.ats.aq/siteguidelines/documents/shingle_cove_e.pdf Accessed 05/04/2015. Croxall, J.P. & Kirkwood, E.D. 1979. The distribution of penguins on the Antarctic Peninsula and Islands of the Scotia Sea. British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge. 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. Naveen, R. & Lynch, H. 2011. Compendium of Antarctic Peninsula visitor sites (3rd edition): A Report to the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Oceanites, Chevy Chase, MD.