Gibbon Bay (GIBB)
60˚39’S, 45˚11’W Magnetic Declination: 2.3˚ E Inventory subarea: SO Inventory acronym: GIBB Site Sensitivity: LOW Location — History — Features A one-mile-long and wide bay along the E coast of Coronation Island. It was first observed in 1821 by Capt. George Powell and Capt. Nathaniel Palmer, recharted in 1933 on Discovery II and named for that ship’s surgeon. Landing Characteristics Very few landings have been reported and no regular locations for zodiac landings are known. Preliminary Inventory data and information were collected via zodiac, which was the most efficient means for surveying this long, wide bay. Antarctic Site Inventory Effort Visits by Antarctic Site Inventory researchers, 1994-2003: 1. February 19, 2003 MB Endeavour Assessment and monitoring . Very preliminary surveying. No aerial photodocumentation. Fauna — Flora — Censuses Penguins & flying birds . Chinstrap penguins are confirmed breeders, and Snowy Sheathbill and Wilson’s storm-petrel likely breeders. Kelp gull, southern giant petrel, skua spp., blue-eyed shag, and pintado petrel also observed. Seals . Leopard seals obsewrved offshore. Flora . None noted Conservation Aspects Site sensitivities . None noted Visitation Aspects Numbers of tourist zodiac landings and participating visitors, 1989-2003:
Proximate visitor sites . Laurie Island (Cape Dundas), Gosling Islands, Signy Island, Coronation Island (Gibbon Bay, Shingle Cove, Iceberg Bay). |
