Observations of penguins and other pelagic bird species in the Balleny Islands, Antarctica

Abstract

On 27–28 February 2014, at the Balleny Islands in Antarctica, penguins on two islands were observed by close approach via zodiac craft, and counts of all pelagic bird species were made from a passing ship. Most penguins on Sabrina Island and Chinstrap Islet were Adelie Penguins Pygoscelis adeliae. Percentage of Chinstrap Penguins P. antarcticus to Adelie Penguins was 7.3 on Sabrina Island and 10.7 on Chinstrap Islet. Four species—Campbell Albatross Thalassarche impavida, White-headed Petrel Pterodroma lessonii, Mottled Petrel P. inexpectata, and King Penguin Aptenodytes patagonicus—were recorded for the Balleny Islands for the first time.