Turret Point, King George Island (TURR)

62˚05’S, 57˚55’W

Magnetic declination: 11.0˚E

Inventory subarea: SH

Inventory acronym: TURR

Species Diversity: MEDIUM

Site Sensitivity: HIGH

 

Location — History — Features

A point marked by conspicuous high rock stacks that form the E limit of King George Bay on the S coast of King George Island. The point was first charted by personnel of the Discovery II expedition in 1937. To the E lies Three Sisters Point, which is marked by three conspicuous boulders and form the W side of the entrance to Sherratt Bay.

Landing Characteristics

Uncharted water near shore. Hazardous rocks along the shoreline may be exposed, depending on the tide. Landings on broad cobble beach on S coast, which may be packed with ice depending on wind and swell; difficult to negotiate when snow-covered or wet, and especially if Antarctic fur seals are present. Melt pools inland. Extensive, heavily crevassed glacier above and behind the landing beach.

Antarctic Site Inventory Effort

Visits by Antarctic Site Inventory researchers, 1994-2003:

1.    November 20, 1995    BH        W. Discoverer

2.    November 28, 1995    BH        W. Discoverer

3.    December 11, 1995    BH        W. Discoverer

4.    December 20, 1995    BH        W. Discoverer

5.    November 26, 1997    RN SF        W. Discoverer

Assessment and monitoring. Only preliminary surveying, mapping, and photodocumentation has been accomplished. Documentation needs include: more thorough censusing of nesting kelp gulls and skuas, and ground survey of floral communities.

Fauna — Flora — Censuses

Penguins & flying birds . Confirmed breeding species include chinstrap and Adélie penguins, southern giant petrels, kelp gulls, blue-eyed shags, and Antarctic terns. Skuas, spp. and snowy sheathbills also noted, but no nests discovered.

Antarctic Site Inventory censuses:

Adélie penguins

1,077    N1    1997  Nov

Recent historic Adélie penguin census reported in Woehler (1993): 1,918 N1, 1980. Woehler (1993) also lists 6,202 pairs of Adélie penguins at nearby Three Sisters Point (62˚05’S 57˚55’W); no site-specific chinstrap penguin breeding population is listed.

Seals . Southern elephant seals frequently haul-out in large numbers. Weddell seals also hauled-out during Inventory visits.

Flora . Cushion moss, spp., and crustose lichens Xanthoria , spp. and Caloplaca , spp. noted. Moss appears to be heavily damaged by the elephant seals.

Conservation Aspects

Site sensitivities. Wallowing southern elephant seals on the W and E ends are easily approached and disturbed. Southern giant petrels nesting on the W and E ends of the cobble beach are easily approached and disturbed; in November and December they will be incubating eggs. Adélie penguins nesting on slopes and ridges inland and to the E 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. Kelp gulls on widely scattered nests are easily approached and disturbed; in November and early December adults will be incubating eggs and, subsequently, guarding and provisioning chicks. Antarctic fur seals may be found on the beach and inland, often in large numbers. Glacier is unstable.

 

Pointers for avoiding disruptions.

• Avoid and stay clear of southern giant petrels nesting on the SW end and on slopes and ridges inland and to the E.
• Avoid and stay clear of wallowing southern elephant seals.
• Walk slowly and carefully around nesting, crèching, or molting penguins.
• Avoid and stay clear of Antarctic fur seals, which should be given a wide berth and should not be approached.
• Stay clear of — and do not hike upon or wander over — the glacier.

Visitation Aspects

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

 

 

Proximate visitor sites. Penguin Island lies S.