Albatross Island (South Georgia)
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | South Atlantic Ocean |
| Coordinates | 54°1′S 37°20′W / 54.017°S 37.333°W |
| Archipelago | South Georgia |
| Administration | |
United Kingdom | |
| Essequibo Islands-West Demerara | |
Albatross Island is an small islet located 2 miles (3 km) southeast of Cape Buller in the Bay of Isles. It is part of South Georgia, a British Overseas Territory to the east of Falkland Islands. Charted in 1912–13 by American naturalist Robert Cushman Murphy aboard the brig Daisy, it was named the observation of albatrosses in the island. The eastern headland of the island is called the Pricker. The island has been designated as a Specially Protected Area, and has been closed to visitors since 2004.
Geography
Albatross Island is an small islet which forms part of South Georgia, a British Overseas Territory. It is located 2 miles (3 km) southeast of Cape Buller in the Bay of Isles, to the east of Falkland Islands.[1] Charted in 1912–13 by American naturalist Robert Cushman Murphy aboard the brig Daisy, it was named the observation of albatrosses in the island.[2] The eastern headland of the island is called the Pricker, a name which first appeared on a 1931 British Admiralty chart.[3]
Flora and fauna
The islet is small and rocky with coastal tussock vegetation suitable for seabird nesting. The bird population in South Georgia consists of 31 bird species including 25 seabirds, and three endemic subspecies.[4][5] Wandering, black-browed, and grey-headed species of albatrosses breed here.[6] However, studies in 2014-15 showed that albatross populations have declined by 18% over the previous decade and has been of international conservation concern. One of the causes for the declining populations have been attributed to illegal fishing outside the designated areas.[6][7]
Conservation
The island has been designated by the South Georgia Government as a Specially Protected Area, and has been closed to visitors since 2004, to protect vulnerable habitat from trampling.[8] Eradication programs have been conducted to get rid of rats to enable breeding of seabirds.[9][10] Covered by Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, three albatross species have been designated as "Priority Populations" for action plans targeting reducing bycatch during fishing and habitat protection.[6] The island is uninhabited except for occasional research visits by South Georgia Heritage Trust and scientists for seabird monitoring. The British Antarctic Survey and South Georgia government funds and enforces mitigation techniques like bird control devices, line-setting protocols, and fisheries management.[8][11].
See also
References
- ^ "ACAP Breeding Site No. 64. Albatross Island, a monitoring site for Wandering Albatrosses and giant petrels in the South Pestrels". Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ^ This article incorporates public domain material from "Albatross Island". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
- ^ "The Pricker". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
- ^ "Pipit and petrel breeding noted". BirdLife International. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
- ^ "Albatross Island". e-bird. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ^ a b c "South Georgia (Islas Georgias del Sur) gets Conservation Action Plans for its decreasing albatross populations". Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
- ^ "Decreasing numbers of albatrosses on South Georgia (Islas Georgias del Sur) considered due to fisheries bycatch". Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ^ a b "Albatross Action Plans". Government of South Georgia. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
- ^ "South Georgia island rat free". National Geographic. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ^ "South Georgia Island Is Officially Free of Its Bird-Killing Rodents". Smithsonian. 10 May 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ^ "Conservation plans to protect the Albatross". British Antarctic Survey. Retrieved 17 June 2025.