Half Moon Island (HALF)
62˚00’S, 59˚55’W Magnetic declination: 12.5˚E Inventory subarea: SH Inventory acronym: HALF Location — History — Features A 1.25-mile-long, crescent-shaped island lying in the entrance to Moon Bay on the E side of Livingston Island. The island was known by sealers as early as 1821. The Argentine Camara Station is located on the island’s SW side. Half Moon is the site of the Argentine Camara Station, and at one point was the locus for a joint tourism impact study run by U.K., Argentine, and Chilean interests. Station personnel and biologists from the Argentine Antarctic Institute continue to monitor the island’s penguin and flying bird populations. From the regular landing beach on the NE shore, marked by a rotting old dory, it is necessary to climb toward a navigation tower on the ridge above in order to reach the pathway leading to the major chinstrap colonies on the E extremity of the island. There may be heavy snow cover, which makes hiking difficult. On the pathway to the E spit, Wilson’s storm-petrels, Antarctic terns, sheathbills, and kelp gulls may be encountered. Landing Characteristics Landing beach on NE side strewn with cobble, algae, and a derelict dory. Access is uphill and slippery. Visitor space restricted by difficult terrain, snow cover (which may be extensive), and numbers of penguins tramping well-worn paths, moving to and from the water. The Argentine Camara Station lies W-SW of the landing beach. The beach on the far NE side may be accessed by hiking E from the dory beach, winding uphill and over ridges; in heavy snow, hiking is difficult. Antarctic Site Inventory Effort Visits by Antarctic Site Inventory researchers, 1994-2003: 1. December 6, 1994 RN BH Alla Tarasova 2. November 29, 1995 BH W. Discoverer 3. December 15, 1995 LB Explorer 4. December 2, 1996 RN SF W. Discoverer 5. November 26, 1998 RN SF Explorer 6. January 22, 2000 RN Shuleykin Assessment and monitoring. This site has not been frequently visited by the Inventory. Preliminary surveying, mapping, censusing, and photodocumentation have been accomplished. Fauna — Flora — Censuses Penguins & flying birds . Confirmed nesting species include chinstrap penguins, blue-eyed shags, Wilson’s storm-petrels, kelp gulls, snowy sheathbills, Antarctic tern, and Antarctic brown skua. Recent (1995) surveys indicate a minimum breeding population of 3,342 pairs of chinstrap penguins, an increase from 2,500 pairs counted in 1987 (Woehler & Croxall, 1996). Seals . Southern elephant, Weddell, and Antarctic fur seals regularly haul-out on Half Moon’s beaches. Flora . Crustose lichens, spp. noted. Conservation Aspects Site sensitivities. Chinstrap penguins nesting above the landing beach 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. If snow cover is heavy, visitor space is restricted further. Kelp gulls nesting immediately E of the landing beach, and at other scattered locations, are easily approached and disturbed; in November and early December adults will be incubating eggs and, subsequently, guarding and provisioning chicks.
[HALF OR Map]
Antarctic terns nesting opportunistically on available, open ground are skittish, defensive, and very easily disturbed, even from a distance. Blue-eyed shags nesting on the far E tip are easily approached and disturbed; in November and December adults will be incubating eggs and, subsequently, guarding and provisioning chicks. Wilson’s storm-petrels nest in loose scree. Antarctic fur seals frequently haul-out on the far NE beach. Pointers for avoiding disruptions.
Visitation Aspects Numbers of tourist zodiac landings and participating visitors, 1989-2003:
Proximate visitor sites. Yankee Harbor and Fort Point on Greenwich Island; Robert Point and Mitchell Cove on Robert Island; and the Aitcho Islands. |
