Bird Island, Falkland Islands

Bird Island
Falkland Islands
Location
Location:	52°8’60"S, 60°54’-0"W
Area:	297 acres
Highest point:	351 feet
Data

Bird Island is one of the Falkland Islands. It lies due south of West Falkland, near Port Stephens and Calm Head

According to Ian Strange:

"Such offshore islands [as Bird Island] are the remaining strongholds of a large percentage of bird life"

Geography

Bird Island is located about 3 miles off the south-western coast of West Falkland and is roughly triangular in shape. The western half of the southern coast has sheer cliffs reaching at least 230 feet and the plateau above slopes gently to the north and west. In the centre of the island there is a large seasonal pool, to the west of a small inlet.

The eastern promontory has two domed peaks reaching to at least 110m with sheer southern cliffs of up to 350 feet and very steep slopes in the north.

Access by boat is difficult, except at the small north-east-facing inlet between the northern and eastern promontories, and the terrain is difficult to cross, with dense growth of Tussac above thick, soft peat and Tussac overhanging deep gulches.

Wildlife

Amongst the birds which breed here are rockhopper penguins, King Shags, petrels and Black-browed Albatrosses.

The total number of species recorded on Bird Island in November 1998 was 27, of which 25 bred or were probably breeding. Macaroni Penguin, Ruddyheaded Goose, Canary-winged/Black-throated Finch and Falkland Steamer Duck are present but their status is uncertain or populations are too small to qualify. The congregation of seabirds on this island exceeds 10,000 breeding pairs, making the site classifiable under the A4iii criterion. Bird Island is one of the most important breeding sites for the Striated Caracara and it is considered that the population here is at least as dense as on any offshore island around the Falklands, possibly due to the very large population of Thin-billed Prions, an important prey species.

Deep Tussac cover over most of Bird Island makes it comparable to Beauchêne Island for the density of burrowing petrels. Other species that should be investigated include Sooty Shearwater, Grey-backed Storm-petrel, which is thought to be numerous, Rock Shag, Imperial Shag and Dolphin Gull. Endemic races present include Dark-faced Ground-tyrant, Falkland Thrush, Long-tailed Meadowlark and Common Diving Petrel.