Rocky Point, Ross Island (45228)
Antarctica, Antarctica
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2015
National site name: Rocky Point, Ross Island
Central coordinates: Latitude: -77.5192, Longitude: 166.2228
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 50
Area of KBA (km2): 0.39938
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Rocky Point is situated between Horseshoe Bay and Maumee Bight, ~ 4 km north of Cape Royds, Ross Island. The IBA qualifies on the basis of the South Polar Skua (Catharacta maccormicki) colony present. The IBA comprises all of the ice free ground at Rocky Point. The nearest permanent scientific stations are Scott Base and (NZL) McMurdo (USA), situated ~40 km to the south on Hut Point Peninsula, Ross Island.
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: South Polar Skuas breed at Rocky Point, with ~66 breeding pairs estimated in 1981 (Ainley et al. 1986). No recent information on the colony is available. A small Adélie Penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) colony of 2000 – 4000 breeding pairs is present at Cape Royds, which is protected by ASPA No. 121 for its value in long term and detailed research programmes. South Polar Skuas are also known to breed within and near the protected area. 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. Compared to Cape Royds, which is of interest to tourists and national program personnel both for the presence of the penguin colony and Shackleton's historic hut, relatively few people visit Rocky Point and human disturbance is expected to be minimal.
Additional information
References: Ainley, D.G., Morrell, S.H. & Wood, R.C. 1986. South Polar Skua breeding colonies in the Ross Sea region. Notornis 33: 155-63.