Point Hennequin, King George Island (45171)
Antarctica, Antarctica
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2015
National site name: Point Hennequin, King George Island
Central coordinates: Latitude: -62.1137, Longitude: -58.3705
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 250
Area of KBA (km2): 2.95207
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Point Hennequin is situated in the northeastern side of Admiralty Bay, King George Island, at the entrance to Martel Inlet. The IBA qualifies on the basis of the South Polar Skua (Catharacta maccormicki) colony present at the site. The IBA comprises all of the ice free ground at Point Hennequin and lies within ASMA No. 1 Admiralty Bay. Vicente Station (summer-only, ECU) is located on Point Hennequin and Comandante Ferraz (year-round, BRA) is situated ~ 3km north on Keller Peninsula.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs.
Additional biodiversity: Seven bird species were breeding at Point Hennequin in 2004/05 (Table 045.1), while only five were recorded in 1978/79. The 3 newly recorded species include Cape Petrel ( Daption capense) , Black-bellied Storm-petrel ( Fregetta tropica ) and Chilean Skua ( Catharacta chilensis ). South Polar Skua and Kelp Gull ( Larus dominicanus ) showed an increase in population between the two surveys, whereas Wilson's Storm-petrel ( Oceanites oceanicus ), Brown Skua ( Catharacta antarctica ) and Antarctic Tern ( Sterna vittata ) showed a decrease. Imperial Shag ( Phalacrocorax [ atriceps ] bransfieldensis ), Gentoo Penguin ( Pygoscelis papua ), Adélie Penguin ( Pygoscelis adeliae ) and Chinstrap Penguin ( Pygoscelis antarctica ) have been reported as visitors to Point Hennequin (Schneider et al . 2008). 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: See IBA West Admiralty Bay, King George Island for more information on conservation issues within ASMA No. 1.
Additional information
References: Schneider Costa, E. & Alves, M.A.S. 2008. The breeding birds of Hennequin Point an ice-free area of Admiralty Bay (Antarctic Specially Managed Area) King George Island, Antarctica. Revista Brasileira de Ornitologia 16(2): 137-41.