Kirton Island / Macklin Island (45186)
Antarctica, Antarctica
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2015
National site name: Kirton Island / Macklin Island
Central coordinates: Latitude: -67.4930, Longitude: 63.6336
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 30
Area of KBA (km2): 1.94867
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Kirton Island and Macklin Island are part of the Robinson Island group, and are situated amongst a number of small largely ice free islands ~6 km west of Cape Daly, Mawson Coast, Mac.Robertson Land. Kirton Island is ~0.6 km long and up to 0.3 km wide and lies ~200 metres north of the Mawson Coast, while Macklin Island lies ~ 2 km further north and is ~0.5 km long and up to 0.4 km wide. The IBA qualifies on the basis of the Adélie Penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) colony present and comprises Kirton Island, Macklin Island, associated smaller islands and the intervening marine area. The nearest permanent station is Mawson (AUS) ~35 km to the west in Holme Bay, on the Mawson Coast.
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 12 955 breeding pairs (95% CI 7737, 21 308) of Adélie Penguin were present at Kirton Island and Macklin Island in December 2006 as estimated from satellite imagery (Lynch & LaRue 2014). Southwell et al. (2014) estimated approximately 48 500 breeding pairs of Adélie Penguin present within the Robinson Island group as a whole in a survey conducted from 2-4 December 2006. No other birds are known to breed on the islands. Non-bird biodiversity: None known.
Delineation rationale: Shortest perimeter around islands and/or ice-free areas ≤ 5 km3.
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: None known.
Additional information
References: 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 Southwell, C., Low, M., Newbery, K. & Emmerson, L. 2014. First comprehensive abundance survey of a newly discovered Adélie penguin breeding metapopulation in the Robinson Group of islands, Mac.Robertson Land, east Antarctica. Antarctic Science 26: 265-66.