Baily Head (Rancho Point), Deception Island (BAIL)
62˚58’S, 60˚30’W Magnetic declination: 13.0˚E Inventory subarea: SH Inventory acronym: BAIL Site Sensitivity: LOW Location — History — Features The derivation of the name “Baily” is unclear. Rancho Point is a conspicuous rock headland of 170 meters, marking the E extremity of Deception Island. The landing beach is an extraordinarily long, straight black-sand beach that extends nearly 7 kilometers along the E side of the island. Directly up against this beach is the ice cliff of Deception's E-side ice cap, which controls the shape of this beach. A stream with a substantial flow of water flows through a narrow gap between Baily Head and the ice cliffs. This stream drains a large, elongated, bowl-shaped valley (“amphitheater”) with hummocky topography. This valley, entirely on the outer slope of the Deception caldera, provides nesting territory for an estimated 100,000 pairs of chinstrap penguins. Within the penguin rookery, a soil up to several inches thick has formed on volcanic material, the thick guano, and other organic debris. In early November the entire area may be covered with snow, which is deep in the lower parts of the valley, but relatively thin on the upper slopes. By December, all the snow may be gone, and the amphitheater of penguins becomes flush with a green swatch of Prasiola crispa . On these upper slopes, there is relatively little black, red, and gray pyroclastic debris from recent eruptions. The ice wall behind the 7-kilometer-long beach forms a substantial ridge along the E side of the island. The beach itself has a very steep face against the Bransfield Strait, which produces a heavy swell and surf and makes zodiac landings dangerous. The beach is made up of black and red pyroclastic material, mainly coarse ash and lapilli in size, and basaltic in composition. Along the nearby coast, there are several sea stacks, which appear to be erosional remnants of an offshore, eruptive center and cone. The primary rock is well-layered tuff. Back from the shore are more recent deposits of black ash, probably from Deception’s recent eruptions. The penguin amphitheater appears to consist of lateral morainal material and ice. The ice at the lower end of the glacier is covered with substantial volcanic ash. Also known as Rancho Point, the Baily Head colony of chinstrap penguins is located on the SE side of Deception Island. From the black sand landing beach that faces Livingston Island to the N, the chinstrap colony rises in an amphitheater toward a ridge line that is 150 feet or more above the surf below. A melt stream runs down through the amphitheater. There is a constant flow of many hundred penguins up and down along this route. The black, white, and brown geologic scenery is spectacular, and contrasts strikingly with the green Prasiola and the pink, guano-laden chinstrap colonies. An alternative landing beach lies below this high ridge, but should only be used by researchers who are properly permitted and skilled in moving without interference past hordes of chinstraps moving between the rim and the bay. This bay offers excellent zodiac cruising, and the chance to see leopard seals patrolling for chinstraps entering the sea. Landing Characteristics Zodiac landings at S end of long, black-sand beach forming SE side of Deception Island, crowded with chinstrap penguins moving back and forth, and prone to heavy swell and surf because the beach drops steeply into the sea. Large numbers of chinstrap penguins nest inland and uphill to the SW, within an impressive, bowl-shaped, volcanic valley rising to a high ridge line and drained by a substantial, often vigorously flowing, melt stream. May be extensive snow cover early (perhaps, into January); extensive guano, mud, and snow melt later; and at all times slippery. Antarctic Site Inventory Effort Visits by Antarctic Site Inventory researchers, 1994-2003: 1. December 9, 1994 RN BH Alla Tarasova 2. December 14, 1994 RN BH Livonia 3. January 14, 1995 RN RD Livonia 4. November 18, 1995 BH W. Discoverer 5. November 29, 1995 RN LB Explorer 6. November 30, 1995 SF W. Discoverer 7. December 12, 1995 BH W. Discoverer 8. January 13, 1996 RN BH Endurance 9. January 27, 1996 RD RP Livonia 10. December 3, 1996 RN W. Discoverer 11. February 21, 1997 RN Explorer 12. December 3, 1997 RN SF Explorer 13. December 7, 1998 RN SF Explorer 14. January 12, 1999 RN SF Endurance 15. January 20, 1999 RD ST Vavilov 16. December 19, 1999 SF Shuleykin 17. January 11, 2001 SF Cal Star 18. January 24, 2001 RN RD Cal Star 19. January 26, 2001 RN RD Cal Star 20. January 17, 2002 RP WT Endeavour 21. February 18, 2002 RN Endeavour 22. December 8, 2002 RN Endeavour 23. December 30, 2002 RP Endeavour 24. January 9, 2003 SF Endeavour 25. January 22, 2003 RD Endeavour 26. February 2, 2003 MM Endeavour 27. February 15, 2003 MB Endeavour Assessment and monitoring. Surveyed and mapped. Terrestrial photodocumentation accomplished, more thorough aerial photodocumentation needed. Regular censusing of four staked chinstrap penguin groups at higher reaches of the site, which were originally staked by Dr. Wayne Trivelpiece and other researchers in 1992. More thorough ground survey of floral communities needed. Fauna — Flora — Censuses Penguins & flying birds . Chinstrap penguins, Antarctic brown skuas, and pintado petrels are confirmed breeders. Recent census data reported in Woehler (1993) and Woehler & Croxall (1996): 100,000 N4/5, 1989, and a decrease in the overall chinstrap population at Deception Island between 1992-96. Antarctic Site Inventory censuses: Chinstrap penguin (group #7) 63 N1 1992 Dec 80 N1 1993 Dec 93 N1 1994 Dec 130 C1 1995 Jan 126 N1 1995 Nov 120 N1 1995 Dec 153 C1 1996 Jan 186 N1 1996 Dec 143 N1 1997 Dec 171 N1 1998 Dec 268 C1 1999 Jan 187 N1 1999 Dec 205 N1 2001 Jan 307 C1 2001 Jan 267 C1 2002 Jan 214 N1 2002 Dec 228 C1 2003 Jan 242 C1 2003 Feb Chinstrap penguin (group #8) 205 N1 1992 Dec 200 N1 1993 Dec 189 N1 1994 Dec 173 C1 1995 Jan 257 C1 1995 Jan 233 N1 1995 Nov 219 N1 1995 Dec 245 C1 1996 Jan 230 N1 1996 Nov 220 N1 1997 Dec 229 N1 1998 Dec 326 C1 1999 Jan 223 N1 2001 Jan 001 C1 2001 Jan 252 C1 2002 Jan 252 N1 2002 Dec 269 C1 2002 Jan 289 C1 2003 Feb Chinstrap penguin (group #9) 355 N1 1992 Dec 400 N1 1993 Dec 398 N1 1994 Dec 444 C1 1995 Jan 418 N1 1995 Nov 400 N1 1995 Dec 496 C1 1996 Jan 397 N1 1996 Dec 000 N1 1997 Dec 412 N1 1998 Dec 548 C1 1999 Jan 346 N1 1999 Dec 397 N1 2001 Jan 537 C1 2001 Jan 429 C1 2002 Jan 382 N1 2002 Dec 476 C1 2002 Jan 355 C1 2003 Feb Chinstrap penguin (group #10) 560 N1 1992 Dec 572 N1 1993 Dec 458 N1 1994 Dec 571 C1 1995 Jan 552 N1 1995 Nov 519 N1 1996 Dec 556 N1 1997 Dec 492 N1 1998 Dec 881 C1 1999 Jan 541 N1 1999 Dec 524 C1 2002 Jan 684 C1 2003 Feb Seals . Antarctic fur seals often haul-out along Baily Head’s black beach in late spring and summer. Weddell, southern elephant, and crabeater seals also may haul-out on this beach. Flora . Snow algae noted on the annual snow cover, which reveals extensive Prasiola once it begins to melt. Colorful crustose lichens may be found on the rocks along the upper reaches of the penguin amphitheater. Occasional moss, spp. patches also noted.
Conservation Aspects Site sensitivities. Chinstrap penguins nest in large, tightly packed colonies scattered throughout this natural, volcanic amphitheater; they are easily approached and disturbed, especially in November and early December when adults will be incubating eggs; subsequently, adults will be guarding and provisioning chicks at the nest, then in crèche. Heavy congestion along the melt stream, with large numbers of penguins moving back and forth. The landing beach is favored by Antarctic fur seals, which increase in numbers through the season. Highest ridges are eroding and are heavily crevassed, in some cases, severely. Cliff edges are eroding and crumbling. Rock falls are evident. Pointers for avoiding disruptions.
Visitation Aspects Numbers of tourist zodiac landings and participating visitors, 1989-2003:
Proximate visitor sites. The interior of Deception Island affords three other visitor landing sites: Whaler’s Bay, Pendulum Cove, and Telefon Bay. Vapour Col is located on W, seaward side of the island. |
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