Danco Island (DANC)
64˚44’S, 62˚37’W Magnetic declination: 15.5˚E Inventory subarea: NW Inventory acronym: DANC Site Sensitivity: LOW Location — History — Features A 1-mile-long island lying in the S part of the Errera Channel, off the W coast of the Antarctic Peninsula. It was first charted by Gerlache’s Belgian Antarctic Expedition (1897-9), and named for the Belgian geophysicist who died on board the Belgica in the Antarctic. Site of abandoned British Antarctic Survey hut. Landing Characteristics Substantial cobble beach. Zodiacs must closely observe rocks offshore. The hike from the beach to the gentoos is not steep. The hut is off limits to visitors. Snow cover may be extensive. Antarctic Site Inventory Effort Visits by Antarctic Site Inventory researchers, 1994-2003: 1. November 29, 1999 LB BP Cal Star 2. December 14, 2001 RN SF CE Endeavour Assessment and monitoring. Preliminary surveying, censusing, and photodocumentation (terrestrial). Fauna — Flora — Censuses Penguins & flying birds. Gentoo penguins are confirmed breeders. Snowy sheathbills, kelp gulls, blue-eyed shags also noted in the vicinity, but breeding on site not confirmed. Antarctic Site Inventory censuses: Gentoo penguin 2,300 N2 1999 Nov Recent gentoo penguin census data reported in Woehler & Croxall (1996): 1,637 N1, 1994, an increase of more than 800 pairs from 1986 nest counts. Seals. None observed. Flora. Snow algae observed. Conservation Aspects Site sensitivities. None. Visitation Aspects Numbers of tourist zodiac landings and participating visitors, 1989-2003:
Proximate visitor sites. Cuverville Island, the Orne Islands, Georges Point (Rongé Island), and Neko Harbor. |
