DOCSLIB.ORG

Antarctica Travel Guide

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Antarctica Travel Guide ANTARCTICA T R AV EL GU I DE AN EXPLORER’S HEART Since the launch of Silversea Expeditions, I have probed some of the most remote corners of the planet. But no destination has been more memorable and, in truth, more inspirational than the wildlife, the stunning landscape … the untamed beauty of Antarctica. I hope you too can experience the wonder of this magical continent. Happy Travels, CONRAD COMBRINK SVP Strategic Development Expeditions and Experiences CONTENTS INTRODUCTION Journey of the Spirit 4 Regional Highlights 5 2020 Antarctica Voyages 6 2021/2022 Antarctica Voyages 8 Antarctica Bridge 10 DESTINATIONS Antarctic Peninsula 12 Antarctic Sound 12 Drake Passage 12 South Georgia 13 South Shetland Islands 13 Ushuaia 13 Falkland Islands 13 5 Reasons to Visit Antarctica in the (Austral) Summer 14 ON BOARD & ASHORE Discover Silversea 16 Wildlife 17 Royal Geographical Society 18 Expedition Team 20 The Expedition Experience 21 Packing Essentials 22 3 Zodiac® tour, Antarctica JOURNEY OF THE SPIRIT Awaken your soul to the wonder of Antarctica In the age of Wi-Fi, smartphones and geotagging, Antarctica still remains the Terra Incognita. The fragile wilderness contained in the White Continent still looms in all its purity. That’s why an expedition to the world’s last unexplored frontier can be thrilling, life- changing and humbling all at the same time. Revel in the beauty and overwhelming power of nature. Admire the abundant wildlife. Meet the personal challenge of reaching Earth’s last great wilderness frontier. You’ll cruise across seas of glass, passing giant prisms of ice riding an ink-blue sea. And you’ll share the landscape with bellowing elephant seals and raucous rookeries of penguins, unafraid and unperturbed by your presence. Add the polished luxury of Silversea and you can add the Realm of Ice to your list of adventures without sacrificing a sliver of comfort. 4 Buenos Aires PACIFIC OCEAN SOUTH ATLANTIC OCEAN Puerto Madryn Saunders Island West Point Island Stanley New Island Bleaker Island Sea Lion Island Ushuaia South Georgia DRAKE PASSAGE Elephant Island South Shetland Islands Antarctic Sound ANTARCTIC PENINSULA REGIONAL HIGHLIGHTS Few experiences can compare to a visit to Antarctica. You’ll pass diamond-blue icebergs the size of city blocks. The average thickness of the Antarctic ICE THICKNESS You will make Zodiac® landings on remote beaches ice sheet is 2.16km; the maximum where few have ever set foot, enjoying personal, up-close known thickness of the ice sheet is Km encounters with the many marvels. You will be amazed 4776m (Terre Adélie). 2.16 at nature in its most pristine, unadulterated form. Our expeditions operate during the austral summer months, when the continent is at its most spectacular. The pack ice About 98% thick continental ice begins to melt from late November to early December, ICE SHEETS sheet and 2% barren rock. The signalling the mating season for penguins and other birds. ice surface dramatically grows in Antarctica’s warmest days span from mid-December to 7.7% size from about 3 million square mid-January; the perfect time to witness penguins hovering OF ANTARCTICA’S SURFACE kilometres over their downy chicks, while playful seal pups are also visible. Whale sightings become increasingly numerous as the receding ice opens new channels for explorations. The late summer, from end of January to end of February, is In 1773 James Cook and his crew crossed FIRST EXPLORED the time when dolphins and whale sightings are at a peak. the Antarctic Circle for the first time. Penguin chicks begin to fledge and snow algae is blooming. 1773 5 Touring the Antarctic Peninsula 2020 ANTARCTICA VOYAGES Silver Cloud 254 GUESTS DATE DAYS PORTS 2020 USHUAIA > 3 Days at sea > South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (3 days) > Transit the Drake Passage (2 days) > Elephant Island > Antarctic Sound > Antarctic Peninsula > 4 JAN 15 South Shetland Islands > Transit the Drake Passage (2 days) > USHUAIA 19 JAN 10 USHUAIA > Transit the Drake Passage (2 days) > Antarctic Sound > Antarctic Peninsula (3 days) > South Shetland Islands > Transit the Drake Passage (2 days) > USHUAIA 29 JAN 10 USHUAIA > Transit the Drake Passage (2 days) > Antarctic Sound > Antarctic Peninsula (3 days) > South Shetland Islands > Transit the Drake Passage (2 days) > USHUAIA 8 FEB 10 USHUAIA > Transit the Drake Passage (2 days) > Antarctic Sound > Antarctic Peninsula (3 days) > South Shetland Islands > Transit the Drake Passage (2 days) > USHUAIA 2020 18 FEB 10 USHUAIA > Transit the Drake Passage (2 days) > Antarctic Sound > Antarctic Peninsula (3 days) > South Shetland Islands > Transit the Drake Passage (2 days) > USHUAIA USHUAIA > Day at sea > New Island > West Point Island > Stanley > Bleaker Island > Sea Lion Island > Transit the Drake Passage > Elephant Island > Antarctic Sound > 16 NOV 15 Antarctic Peninsula (4 days) > South Shetland Islands > Transit the Drake Passage (2 days) > USHUAIA 1 DEC 10 USHUAIA > Transit the Drake Passage (2 days) > Antarctic Sound > Antarctic Peninsula (3 days) > South Shetland Islands > Transit the Drake Passage (2 days) > USHUAIA 11 DEC 10 USHUAIA > Transit the Drake Passage (2 days) > Antarctic Sound > Antarctic Peninsula (3 days) > South Shetland Islands > Transit the Drake Passage (2 days)> USHUAIA USHUAIA >Day at sea > New Island > West Point Island > Stanley > Bleaker Island > Sea Lion Island > Drake Passage > Elephant Island > Antarctic Sound > 21 DEC 15 Antarctic Peninsula (4 days) > South Shetland Islands> Transit the Drake Passage (2 days) > USHUAIA Venetian Society members enjoy an additional saving. 6 2020 ANTARCTICA VOYAGES Silver Explorer 144 GUESTS DATE DAYS PORTS 2020 4 JAN 12 USHUAIA > Transit the Drake Passage (2 days) > Antarctic Sound > Antarctic Peninsula (5 days) > South Shetland Islands > Transit the Drake Passage (2 days)> USHUAIA USHUAIA > Day at sea > New Island > West Point Island > Stanley > 2 Days at sea > South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (3 Days) > 2 Days at sea > Elephant Island > 16 JAN 18 Antarctic Sound > Antarctic Peninsula (2 days) > South Shetland Islands > Transit the Drake Passage (2 days) > USHUAIA 2020 USHUAIA > Day at sea > West Point Island > Saunders Island > Stanley > 2 Days at sea > South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (3 Days) > 2 Days at sea > Elephant Island > 3 FEB 18 Antarctic Sound > Antarctic Peninsula (2 days) > South Shetland Islands > Transit the Drake Passage (2 days) > USHUAIA 21 FEB 12 USHUAIA > Transit the Drake Passage (2 days) > Antarctic Sound > Antarctic Peninsula (5 days) > South Shetland Islands > Drake Passage (2 Days) > USHUAIA Silver Wind 274 GUESTS DATE DAYS PORTS 2020 USHUAIA > Day at Sea > New Island > West Point Island > Stanley > Transit the Drake Passage (2 days)> Antarctic Sound > Antarctic Peninsula (4 days) > South Shetland Islands > 21 NOV 14 Transit the Drake Passage (2 days) > USHUAIA USHUAIA > Day at Sea > New Island > West Point Island > Stanley > Transit the Drake Passage (2 days)> Antarctic Sound >Antarctic Peninsula (4 days) > South Shetland Islands > 5 DEC 14 Transit the Drake Passage (2 days) > USHUAIA USHUAIA > Day at Sea > West Point Island > Saunders Island > Stanley > 2 Days at Sea > South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (3 days) > 2 Days at Sea > Elephant Island > 19 DEC 18 Antarctic Sound > Antarctic Peninsula (2 days) > South Shetland Islands > Transit the Drake Passage (2 days) > USHUAIA Discovering Antarctic landscapes 337 2021/2022 ANTARCTICA VOYAGES Silver Cloud 254 GUESTS DATE DAYS PORTS 2021 USHUAIA > 3 Days At Sea > South Georgia (3 days) > Drake Passage (2 days) > Elephant Island > Antarctic Sound > Antarctic Peninsula > South Shetland Islands > Drake Passage 05 JAN 15 (2 days) > USHUAIA 20 JAN 10 USHUAIA > Drake Passage (2 days) > Antarctic Sound > Antarctic Peninsula (3 days) > South Shetland Islands > Drake Passage (2 days) > USHUAIA PUNTA ARENAS > 3 Days At Sea > South Georgia (3 days) > Drake Passage (2 days) > Elephant Island > Antarctic Peninsula (3 days) > South Shetland Islands > Drake Passage 14 NOV 16 (2 days) > USHUAIA 30 NOV 11 USHUAIA > Drake Passage (3 days) > Eclipse Position / Day At Sea > Elephant Island > Antarctic Peninsula (2 days) > South Shetland Islands > Drake Passage (2 days) > USHUAIA 11 DEC 10 USHUAIA > Drake Passage (2 days) > South Shetland Islands > Antarctic Peninsula (3 days) > South Shetland Islands > Drake Passage (2 days) > USHUAIA USHUAIA > Day At Sea > West Point Island > Saunders Island > Port Stanley > Day At Sea > Elephant Island > Antarctic Sound > Antarctic Peninsula (5 days) > South Shetland 21 DEC 15 Islands > Drake Passage (2 Days) > USHUAIA 2022 05 JAN 10 USHUAIA > Drake Passage (2 days) > South Shetland Islands > Antarctic Peninsula (3 days) > South Shetland Islands > Drake Passage (2 days) > USHUAIA 15 JAN 10 USHUAIA > Drake Passage (2 days) > South Shetland Islands > Antarctic Peninsula (3 days) > South Shetland Islands > Drake Passage (2 days) > USHUAIA 25 JAN 10 USHUAIA > Drake Passage (2 days) > South Shetland Islands > Antarctic Peninsula (3 days) > South Shetland Islands > Drake Passage (2 days) > USHUAIA 04 FEB 10 USHUAIA > Drake Passage (2 days) > South Shetland Islands > Antarctic Peninsula (3 days) > South Shetland Islands > Drake Passage (2 days) > USHUAIA 14 FEB 10 USHUAIA > Drake Passage (2 days) > South Shetland Islands > Antarctic Peninsula (3 days) > South Shetland Islands > Drake Passage (2 days) > USHUAIA Venetian Society members enjoy an additional saving. 8 Silver Explorer 144 GUESTS DATE DAYS PORTS 2021 USHUAIA
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Falkland Islands Seabird Monitoring Programme Annual Report 2019/2020 (SMP27)
    Falkland Islands Seabird Monitoring Programme Annual Report 2019/2020 (SMP27) Sarah Crofts & Andrew Stanworth August 2020 Funded by the Falkland Islands Government 0 Recommended citation: Crofts, S. & Stanworth, A. 2020. Falkland Islands Seabird Monitoring Programme ‐ Annual Report 2019/2020 (SMP27). Falklands Conservation, Stanley. Falklands Conservation, 41 Ross Road, Stanley, Falkland Islands Corresponding author: Sarah Crofts: [email protected] Falkland Islands Government Denise Blake (Environmental Officer): [email protected] Falklands Conservation is a company limited by guarantee in England and Wales No. 3661322 and Registered Charity No. 1073859 Registered Office: 2nd Floor, Regis House, 45 King William Street, London, EC4R 9AN Telephone: +44 (0)1767 679039, [email protected] Registered as an Overseas Company in the Falkland Islands 1 Summary The Falkland Islands support seabird populations that are of global importance; both numerically, and in terms of conservation status. Accordingly, fluctuations in local populations may substantially affect the global conservation status of these species. The Falkland Islands Seabird Monitoring Programme (FISMP) monitors Gentoo Penguin (Pygoscelis papua) at 11 sites (17 colonies), Southern Rockhopper Penguin (Eudyptes c. chrysocome) and Macaroni Penguin (Eudyptes chrysolophus) at five sites (14 colonies) and Magellanic Penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus) at one site (one colony). King Penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) and Black‐browed Albatross (Thalassarche melanophris)
    [Show full text]
  • South Georgia and Antarctic Odyssey
    South Georgia and Antarctic Odyssey 30 November – 18 December 2019 | Greg Mortimer About Us Aurora Expeditions embodies the spirit of adventure, travelling to some of the most wild opportunity for adventure and discovery. Our highly experienced expedition team of and remote places on our planet. With over 28 years’ experience, our small group voyages naturalists, historians and destination specialists are passionate and knowledgeable – they allow for a truly intimate experience with nature. are the secret to a fulfilling and successful voyage. Our expeditions push the boundaries with flexible and innovative itineraries, exciting Whilst we are dedicated to providing a ‘trip of a lifetime’, we are also deeply committed to wildlife experiences and fascinating lectures. You’ll share your adventure with a group education and preservation of the environment. Our aim is to travel respectfully, creating of like-minded souls in a relaxed, casual atmosphere while making the most of every lifelong ambassadors for the protection of our destinations. DAY 1 | Saturday 30 November 2019 Ushuaia, Beagle Channel Position: 20:00 hours Course: 83° Wind Speed: 20 knots Barometer: 991 hPa & steady Latitude: 54°49’ S Wind Direction: W Air Temp: 6° C Longitude: 68°18’ W Sea Temp: 5° C Explore. Dream. Discover. —Mark Twain in the soft afternoon light. The wildlife bonanza was off to a good start with a plethora of seabirds circling the ship as we departed. Finally we are here on the Beagle Channel aboard our sparkling new ice-strengthened vessel. This afternoon in the wharf in Ushuaia we were treated to a true polar welcome, with On our port side stretched the beech forested slopes of Argentina, while Chile, its mountain an invigorating breeze sweeping the cobwebs of travel away.
    [Show full text]
  • Species List for Svalbard Birds and Mammals
    Falkland Islands Circumnavigation – A South Atlantic bird & wildlife spectacle Falkland Islands There is no other groups of islands in the entire Atlantic Ocean which allows fairly easy access to such a diversity of spectacular bird species under such a mild climate and with such a variety of marine mammals thrown in. The Falkland Islands are known to most people today more for their recent political history than their natural history. And even to many nature lovers, the Falklands are often seen as secondary compared to the neighbouring Antarctica and South Georgia. This voyage aims to set the record straight: The Falkland Islands are worth every minute of a two-week circumnavigation, and they will provide us with a long string of wonderful encounters with penguins (4-5 species), albatrosses, cormorants, ducks and geese, raptors, shore birds, song birds and more – as well as seals and sea lions, whales and dolphins. We will see a variety of the islands’ unique landscapes of rolling hills, stone runs, rugged shorelines, pristine white beaches and lush giant kelp beds. We will see the endemic bird species and several near-endemic ones as well, and we intend to visit the southern hemisphere’s largest albatross colony on Steeple Jason. There will be time enough to allow for prolonged visits to the most magnificent of the sites during the best of the weather conditions. The group will be small enough to allow for great flexibility and individual attention. Tour Description Dates: December 3 - 17, 2016. Price: Starting at US$ 8.500,- Group size: Minimum 8, maximum 11.
    [Show full text]
  • The Sea Lion Islands: a Chronological History
    The Sea Lion Islands: A Chronological History D. Bailey, Historian in Residence, 2019 Sea Lion Island is the most Southerly occupied Island in the Falklands archipelago and is the largest of the ‘Sea Lion Islands’ group. They first appear named on a map of ‘Hawkins Maidenland’ in 1689 and have been known as the Sea Lion Islands since. Not a great deal is known about Sea Lion Island’s history between its discovery and the mid- nineteenth century but it is safe to assume that the bountiful stocks of seals and sea lions were brutally exploited by the many (predominantly American) sealers visiting the Falklands to take advantage of their lack of protection. In terms of ownership, the islands are first mentioned included in a grant issued to Alexander Ross and Samuel Lafone (who lent his name to Lafonia) in 1846. In their early prospectus (1849) they mention the islands’ use for the profitable sealing industry that had been steadily wiping out the populations on the islands for the best part of a hundred years. The Sea Lion Islands are referred to as being “favourite resorts of these valuable animals” but it was later noted that “…Hitherto, these valuable rookeries have been so much poached by French and American adventurers and fished in so indiscriminate a manner, that on some of the best grounds the animals are becoming shy and scarce;…” As with many of the Falkland Islands, Sea Lion Island does have a rich maritime history often linked either to the perilous waters around Cape Horn or to the shallow reefs off the island itself.
    [Show full text]
  • Bleaker Island Settlement & the South
    Distance: 1.5 - 2 km Time: 30-45 min Terrain: Moderate 1 SETTLEMENT TRAIL 89 Semaphore Hill This short trail is ideal for families and provides a great introduction to the immediate area. Taking in whale bones, settlement buildings and gardens, the walk also provides a glimpse into farming life with the chance to watch farm activities such as shearing or cattle work if the time is right. It includes a short climb to the Shearing shed summit of Bleaker’s highest hill, an altitude of just 27m (89 feet), giving views across the island and surrounding ocean. 1 Main route Settlement Walk first to the BBQ hut in front of Cassard House. BBQ hut Take time to admire the “Essence of our Community” Imperial artwork on the south-facing wall then go through the gate cormorants Long to see a full Sei whale skeleton, above the beach, nestled 0 100 200 300 400 500 Gulch into the green. 2 Meters From here a route can usually be picked out along the Rockhopper shore in a northerly direction towards the shearing shed Short Gulch penguins and stock yards, taking in a pretty little bay with a variety First Is. of birds. If the weather is very wet and the shoreline muddy, Pebbly Bay an alternative is to walk back through the gate by the Tips: bar-b-que hut, down through the low valley via the wind Ask if anything is happening on the farm, to turbine and solar panels, then through two time the walk accordingly, but remember to gates along a clear track.
    [Show full text]
  • Species List
    Antarctica Trip Report November 30 – December 18, 2017 | Compiled by Greg Smith With Greg Smith, guide, and participants Anne, Karen, Anita, Alberto, Dick, Patty & Andy, and Judy & Jerry Bird List — 78 Species Seen Anatidae: Ducks, Geese, and Swans (8) Upland Goose (Chloephaga picta) Only seen on the Falklands, and most had young or were on nests. Kelp Goose (Chloephaga hybrid) On the beach (or close to the beach) at West Point and Carcass Islands. Ruddy-headed Goose (Chloephaga rubidiceps) Mixed in with the grazing Upland Geese on the Falklands. Flightless Steamer Duck (Tachyeres pteneres) Found on both islands that we visited, and on Stanley. Crested Duck (Lophonetta specularioides) Not common at all with only a few seen in a pond on Carcass Island. Yellow-billed (Speckled) Teal (Anas flavirostris) Two small flocks were using freshwater ponds. Yellow-billed Pintail (Anas georgica) Fairly common on South Georgia. South Georgia Pintail (Anas georgica georgica) Only on South Georgia and seen on every beach access. Spheniscidae: Penguins (7) King Penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) Only on South Georgia and there were thousands and thousands. Gentoo Penguin (Pygoscelis papua) Not as many as the Kings, but still thousands. Magellanic Penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus) Only on the Falklands and not nearly as common as the Gentoo. Macaroni Penguin (Eudyptes chrysolophus) Saw a colony at Elsihul Bay on South Georgia. Southern Rockhopper Penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome) A nesting colony among the Black-browed Albatross on West Point Island. Adelie Penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) Landed near a colony of over 100,000 pairs at Paulet Island on the Peninsula. Chinstrap Penguin (Pygoscelis antarcticus) Seen on the Peninsula and we watched a particularly intense Leopard Seal hunt and kill a Chinstrap.
    [Show full text]
  • A Review of the Abundance and Distribution of Striated Caracaras Phalcoboenus Australis on the Falkland Islands Micky Reeves &Am
    A review of the abundance and distribution of Striated Caracaras Phalcoboenus australis on the Falkland Islands Aniket Sardana Micky Reeves & Sarah Crofts Falklands Conservation, May 2015 The authors dedicate this report to Mr. Ian Strange and Mr. Robin Woods whose earlier surveys laid much ground work. This work was funded by: Falklands Conservation is a company limited by guarantee in England & Wales #3661322 and Registered Charity #1073859. Registered as an Overseas Company in the Falkland Islands. Roy Smith “These birds, generally known among sealers by the name of “Johnny” rook, partake of the form and nature of the hawk and crow… Their claws are armed with large and strong talons, like those of an eagle; they are exceedingly bold and the most mischievous of all the feathered creation. The sailors who visit these islands, being often much vexed at their predatory tricks, have bestowed different names upon them, characteristic of their nature, as flying monkeys, flying devils….” Charles Bernard 1812‐13 “A tameness or lack of wariness is an example of the loss of defensive adaptations.... an ecological naiveté…these animals aren’t imbeciles. Evolution has merely prepared them for a life in a world that is simpler and more innocent”…. where humans are entirely outside their experience. David Quammen (Island Biography in an age of extinction) 1996 1 ABSTRACT The Falkland Islands are globally important for the Striated Caracaras (Phalcoboenus australis). They reside mainly on the outer islands of the archipelago in strong associated with seabird populations, and where human interference is relatively low. A survey of the breeding population conducted in the austral summers of 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 indicates that the current population is likely to be the highest it has been for perhaps the last 100 years.
    [Show full text]
  • The Falkland Islands by Dr. Madeline Kalbach Travel Study Is One of The
    December 2017 The Falkland Islands By Dr. Madeline Kalbach Travel study is one of the best ways to learn about wildlife and wildlife behaviour whether here on the Refuge or in far-away places. I was lucky enough to go on travel study with the University of Calgary for three weeks in October and November, 2017. This article covers the first two weeks of my wildlife study sojourn which took place in the Falkland Islands. The Falkland Islands are an Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom. They are self-governing and financially viable. The archipelago has its own constitution, and by it the UK is responsible for their defence and foreign affairs. The Falklands are a cluster of isles 350 kilometers east of Tierra del Fuego at the Southern tip of South America. East Falkland is the largest island in the archipelago, while West Falkland is the second largest. Other islands, of which there are more than 750, are scattered around the edges of East and West Falkland. The large and most visited of the outer islands offers something different, both in terms of flora, fauna, and natural beauty. The hospitality of the hosts on the outer islands and the wildlife have made it a trip to remember. It is a wonderful experience to be among and with folks who are conservation minded, hold the wildlife in high regard, and do everything they can to protect it. The lodges are located on working farms. Sheep are the mainstay for their wool as well as for meat. PHOTO: The King Penguin is the second largest of the penguins.
    [Show full text]
  • International Tours & Travel the Falkland Islands Travel Specialists
    Welcome to the Falkland Islands The Falkland Islands Travel Specialists International Tours & Travel www.falklandislands.travel FALKLAND ISLANDS Grand Steeple 1186 Jason Jason 779 Pebble Is. Marble Mt 909 Cape Dolphin First Mt 723 Carcass Is. THE ROOKERY THE NECK 1384 Kepple Is. Rookery Mt Elephant Saunders Is. Beach Farm West Point Is. 1211 Salvador Cli Mt Coutts Hill Douglas 926 Dunbar 751 Salvador Hill Johnson’s 1709 Mt Rosalie Port Station Volunteer Byron Heights Shallow 1396 San Carlos Harbour Mt D’Arcy Point Bay Bombilla Hill Hill Cove 1370 938 er S 648 v RACE POINT a Ri arrah n Port Louis W FARM C a r l o s Roy Cove R BERKLEY SOUND San Carlos i v e Teal Inlet Port r WEST FALKLAND KINGSFORD Long Island 2297 Howard VALLEY FARM Malo Hill 658 Crooked Mt Adam Mt Maria 871 KING 2158 River Mt Low Inlet Muer Jack Mt Marlo Murrell Passage Is. GEORGE 1796 Mt Kent Mt Longdon BAY D 1504 Smoko Mt Two Sisters Cape 2312 1392 Mt Tumbledown N Mt William Pembroke Chartres Saladero Mt Usborne Mt Wickham U 2056 Stanley O Blu Mt Moody Fitzroy River Dunnose Head 1816 S New Haven Mount Pleasant Cove New Is. Little Airport Fitzroy Chartres Darwin Mt Sulivan Spring Point 1554 Goose QUEEN D Lake Green Bertha’s CHARLOTTE Sulivan N Beach Beaver Is. BAY A LAFONIA CHOISEUL SOUND Weddell Is. L EAST FALKLAND 1256 Fox Bay (E) K Mt Weddell Fox Bay (W) Walker South L Harbour Creek A Lively Is. Port Edgar F Mt Emery Mt Young 1164 1115 North Port Arm Mt Alice Stephens 1185 Speedwell Is.
    [Show full text]
  • MAMMALS on the FALKLAND ISLANDS 24 Feb- 2 Mar 2013
    MAMMALS ON THE FALKLAND ISLANDS 24 Feb- 2 Mar 2013 For a week in February and March this year I was fortunate enough to spend a few days on the Falkland Islands as part of a group of wildlife journalists. I stayed in four places: Darwin (East Falkland), Carcass Island, West Point Island, Sealion Island and Port Stanley (East Falkland). This brief report will hopefully pass on a few nuggets of information for other keen mammal-watchers who visit. House Mice DQG%URZQ5DWVRFFXURQVRPHLVODQGVEXW,GLGQ¶WORRNIRUWKHVH We saw Brown Hare at Darwin and some Rabbits on Carcass Island. PATAGONIAN FOX Dusicyon griseus Introduced to a few islands, one of which is Weddell Island. They are easy to see there. On our trip we touched down on Weddell Island for 10 minutes on the way to somewhere else (24 Feb), but still managed to see a fox on the runway. SOUTHERN ELEPHANT SEAL Mirounga leonina Localised, but easy to see. We were shown colonies on Carcass Island and Sealion Island. Their sheer bulk, their innate aggression, and the hilarious flatulent noises they make (albeit through the nose) make them great entertainment. The above animals were on Sealion Island (28 Feb). They are around for the breeding season, when the human visitors come. SOUTHERN SEALION Otaria flavescens These are quite common and we saw them both from Carcass Island and Sealion Island, as well as on a whale-watching trip from Stanley. The males are distinctive and quite grotesque. Adult male Southern Sealion on its eponymous island, 27 Feb 2013. &200(5621¶6'2/3+,1Cephalorhynchus commersonii ,IWKHUH¶VRQHPDPPDO-watching reason to go to the Falklands, it has to be to see this wonderful cetacean, which is common around the islands.
    [Show full text]
  • Follow an Island Parish to the Falklands
    Follow An Island Parish to the Falklands As the BBC2 documentary series returns to the Southern Hemisphere, two seasoned islanders explain why you should look past this far-flung archipelago's chequered history. By Claire Webb Radio Times "Holiday" isn't the first word that springs to mind when you think of the Falklands, but anyone with a soft spot for the BBC2 series An Island Parish – which returns to the Southern Hemisphere this week – will have been captivated by its rugged beaches and spectacular wildlife. Two stars of the show, Richard Hines and Hattie Kilmartin, tell us why they fell in love with this remote corner of the Southern Hemisphere, and why adventurous travellers should sample their archipelago's many charms. Hattie runs the Sea Cabbage Cafe with her husband Kevin, while Richard recently retired to the UK following a seven-year stint as the Falkands' vicar. How did you end up in the Falklands? Richard: My wife Jen and I had made what for us was a courageous decision, effectively to sell up and leave all in UK behind us, and commit ourselves to serve a small and quite close- knit island community. How would we fit in? Would we cope? What would we do if it all went wrong? But that sense of being at home quickly grew and we soon began to take the island community to heart. Hattie: I grew up in the Cumbria. After university I discovered that cooking was a great way of seeing remote parts of the world – I cooked in Outer Mongolia on horseback treks, in northern Russia in fishing camps, and 19 years ago I came to the Falklands to cook in a wildlife and fishing lodge for six months.
    [Show full text]
  • Census of the Black-Browed Albatross Population of the Falkland Islands 2000 and 2005
    Census of the Black-browed Albatross population of the Falkland Islands 2000 and 2005 Nic Huin & Tim Reid Falklands Conservation June 2006 Falklands Conservation is a company limited by guarantee in England and Wales no 3661322, a Registered charity no 1073859 and registered as an Overseas Company in the Falkland Islands. Registered office: 1 Princes Avenue, Finchley, London N3 2DA, UK Visit our website: www.falklands-nature.demon.co.uk SUMMARY The first two complete censuses of the Black-browed Albatross population of the Falkland Islands were conducted in November 2000 and 2005. The albatross breeds on twelve different islands to the west and south of the archipelago. Colony size ranged from 30 to 181,000 breeding pairs. The total number of breeding pairs in the Falklands changed from 414,268 ± 12,160 in 2000 to 399,416 ± 9,743 in 2005. This represents a decline of 0.7% per annum of original numbers. Although no previous complete census exists, combining historical data showed that the population consisted of around 437,855 pairs in 1995. This represents a total loss of 38,439 pairs in the last ten years, or a decrease of just below 1% per annum. Such changes are not consistent between seasons and sites. The creation of a photographic database helped in identifying areas of the colonies that have shrunk due to the reduction in breeding numbers. The Falkland Islands now holds 65% of the world population of this species, which should retain its status of Endangered species. This decrease is linked with increased mortality at sea due to fishing activities such as longlinning and trawling, not only in Falklands waters, but throughout its range in the southern hemisphere.
    [Show full text]