Heroína Island (HERO)

63˚24’S, 54˚36’W

Magnetic declination: 9.7˚E

Inventory subarea: NE

Inventory acronym: HERO

Species Diversity: MEDIUM

Site Sensitivity: LOW                               Note : Restricted visitor space

 

Location — History — Features

This small island marks the NE end of the Danger Islands group. It is named by the Argentine Antarctic expedition of 1948-49 for the expedition ship Heroína.

Landing Characteristics

Uncharted water offshore and near shore. Passage may be totally blocked by ice. Hazardous rocks along the shoreline may be exposed, depending on tide. Landing on rocks along W side of the island; coast may be packed with ice, depending on wind and swell, and snow cover may be extensive. Very restricted visitor space because of difficult terrain, slippery conditions, and extremely high density of penguins.

Antarctic Site Inventory Effort

Visits by Antarctic Site Inventory researchers, 1994-2003:

1.    December 1, 1996    RN SF        W. Discoverer

2.    January 21, 2000        RN        Shuleykin

Assessment and monitoring. Preliminary surveying and population estimates. Regular Adélie penguin census colonies not identified. Preliminary ground level and aerial photodocumentation. More complete ground survey of floral communities is needed.

Fauna — Flora — Censuses

Penguins & flying birds. Adélie and gentoo penguins are confirmed breeders. Large numbers of snowy sheathbills suggest breeding, but no nests observed. Kelp gulls, skuas (spp.), and blue-eyed shags observed, but no nests discovered. The gentoo penguins breed on the “tabletop” of this island, representing the first recorded gentoo breeding site in the Weddell Sea, and the easternmost gentoo nesting site in the Antarctic Peninsula. All of the gentoos were on eggs, with only 2-egg clutches noted. On the January 2000 visit, Inventory researchers found Adélie penguin chicks were at 3-4 weeks of age and beginning to crèche, and that gentoo penguin chicks were tightly crèched; however, time constraints prevented a site-wide census on this occasion.

Woehler (1993) reports ≥5 Adélie colonies in the Danger Island group, but without a specific estimate or census listed for Heroína Island. From aerial photodocumentation of the Danger Island group in January 1999, very large (20,000 to 99,999 breeding pairs) to extra large (>100,000 breeding pairs) numbers of Adélie penguins appear to be present on Beagle Island and Darwin Island in the Danger Islands group. With respect to other islands in this group, large (7,500 to 19,999 breeding pairs) numbers of Adélie penguins appear to be present on Platter Island, while Comb Island appears to have small (100 to 999 breeding pairs) to medium (1,000 to 7,499 breeding pairs) numbers of Adélie penguins breeding on its eroding slopes.

Antarctic Site Inventory censuses:

Gentoo penguin (site-wide)              

215    N1    1996 Dec

Adélie penguin (site-wide)    

285,115 –305,165    N2     1996 Dec

These represent the first-reported penguin population data for this site.

Seals. A single Weddell seal observed on the landing beach.

Flora. None noted.

 

Conservation Aspects

Site sensitivities. Adélie penguins nest in enormous numbers, occupying much of the available space on slopes and ridges leading to the flat top of the island; 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. Gentoo penguins nest on the flat top of the island; 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. Antarctic fur seals may be present.

Pointers for avoiding disruptions .

3. Avoid congestion by alternating zodiac tours with brief landings, at staggered intervals, ashore.

4. Walk slowly around all nesting penguins, ensuring at all times that penguins’ access up and down the slopes is not impeded.

7. Do not impede penguins’ access to and from the water.

5. Strictly control any hikes uphill by organizing guided, well spaced groups, all following the same path, and not allowing any free wandering.

6. Avoid and stay clear of Antarctic fur seals, which should be given a wide berth and should not be approached.

Visitation Aspects

Numbers of tourist zodiac landings and participating visitors, 1989-2003:    

 

 

Note : These numbers do not include 7 visits and 240 visitors to the “Danger Islands” that are listed in the NSF compilations for the 1996-97 season, because it is unclear whether Heroína Island or another island in this group was visited.

Proximate visitor sites. Heroína Island is located approximately 35 miles E-NE of Eden Rocks.