  Avian Island Location in Antarctica | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Antarctica |
| Coordinates | 67°46′15″S68°53′10″W / 67.770876°S 68.886246°W /-67.770876; -68.886246 |
| Administration | |
| Administered under theAntarctic Treaty System | |
| Demographics | |
| Population | Uninhabited |
Avian Island is anisland, 1.2 km (0.7 mi) long and 40 metres (130 ft) high, lying close off the south tip ofAdelaide Island,Antarctica. It was discovered by theFrench Antarctic Expedition, 1908–10, underJean-Baptiste Charcot, and visited in 1948 by theFalkland Islands Dependencies Survey, who so named it because of the large number and variety of birds (avians) found there.
The island has been identified as anImportant Bird Area byBirdLife International because it supports a largebreeding colony ofAdélie penguins (35,000 pairs), as well asimperial shags (670 pairs),south polar skuas (880 pairs),southern giant petrels (250 pairs),kelp gulls andWilson's storm petrels. It also holds the southernmost record of breedingbrown skuas.[1] The island is protected asAntarctic Specially Protected Area (ASPA) No.117 for its outstanding ornithological significance.[2]
To the south areSkeen Rocks, (67°47′S68°54′W / 67.783°S 68.900°W /-67.783; -68.900), two rocks which were named by theUnited Kingdom Antarctic Place-Names Committee (UK-APC) for LieutenantMichael G.C. Skeen,Royal Navy, officer in charge of the helicopter flight, HMS charting this area in 1961–63.[3]
This article incorporatespublic domain material from"Avian Island".Geographic Names Information System.United States Geological Survey.
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