Bird Island Research Station
| Bird Island Research Station | |
|
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands | |
|---|---|
 Bird Island Research Station, and elephant seals | |
| Type: | Research station |
| Location | |
| Location: | 54°-0’30"S, 38°3’4"W |
| History | |
| Built 2005 | |
| Research station | |
| Information | |
| Owned by: | British Antarctic Survey |
Bird Island Research Station stands on the shore of Jordan Cove on the south coast of Bird Island, which lies off the western point of South Georgia. The is a jetty here for boats, and the cove provides a sheltered water. The beach around the head of the cove here is known as Landing Beach.
This has been a station for Antarctic research since 1957, though it was comprehensively redeveloped in 2004. It is currently a biological research station of the British Antarctic Survey. It has three resident biologists and one technician. The main focus of the research is the ecology and population of the island's seabirds and seals.
At the invasion and occupation of South Georgia by the Argentines in 1982, Bird Island remained unoccupied and its then residents, 15 Britons, remained beyond the invaders' reach. The Argentine forces removed the British Magistrate and other civilians and military present in Grytviken on South Georgia itself, but the small garrison of Royal Marines at Grytviken had put up such a spirited defence before being overwhelmed that the Argentines suffered significant losses, which prevented them from occupying the rest of the island, or from landing on Bird Island. Bird Island Station, and field camps on South Georgia itself, at Schlieper Bay, Lyell Glacier and St. Andrews Bay, remained under British control.
Outside links
- British Antarctic Survey: