Neko Harbor, Andvord Bay (NEKO)
64˚50’S, 62˚33’W Magnetic declination: 15.5˚E Inventory subarea: NW Inventory acronym: NEKO Site Sensitivity: MODERATE
Note : Restricted space at elevation, in vicinity of nesting gentoo penguins Location — History — Features A small bay indenting the E shore of Andvord Bay, 6 miles SE of Beneden Head, along the W coast of the Antarctic Peninsula. First seen and roughly charted by Gerlache’s Belgian Antarctic expedition, 1897-9, and named for Messrs. Chr. Salvesen’s floating factory ship, Neko , which operated in the South Shetlands and Antarctic Peninsula in 1911-2 and 1923-4, and often used this bay. Unmanned Argentine hut on site. Landing Characteristics A small beach leads to an elevated hillside with nesting gentoos, skuas, and kelp gulls. The skuas offer a strong defense of their nests and visitors are advised to keep clear. From the elevation of gentoo colonies 2 and 4, there are excellent, scenic views of Andvord Bay and the Gerlache Strait. The area seems prone to relatively frequent glacier calving. Antarctic Site Inventory Effort Visits by Antarctic Site Inventory researchers, 1994-2003: 1. January 25, 1996 RD RP Livonia 2. February 3, 1996 RN RD RP BH Livonia 3. February 12, 1996 BH RP Livonia 4. January 23, 1999 RD ST Vavilov 5. December 16, 1999 SF Shuleykin 6. January 24, 2000 RN Shuleykin 7. December 11, 2002 RN Endeavour 8. January 11, 2003 SF Endeavour 9. January 25, 2003 RD Endeavour 10. February 14, 2003 MB Endeavour Assessment and monitoring. Preliminary surveying, censusing, mapping, and photodocumentation. More thorough ground-survey of floral communities needed. Fauna — Flora — Censuses Penguins & flying birds . Gentoo penguins, kelp gulls, and skuas, spp. are confirmed breeders. Antarctic Site Inventory censuses: Gentoo penguin 934 C1 1996 Feb 625 C1 1999 Jan 844 N1 1999 Dec 1,072 N1 2002 Dec 1,042 N1 2003 Jan Recent gentoo penguin census data reported in Woehler (1993): 250 C1, 1987. Seals . Weddell and crabeater seals have hauled-out on the site during Inventory visits. Flora . Snow algae and Prasiola crispa noted, with some patches of moss, spp. exposed after late summer snow melt. Conservation Aspects Site sensitivities. Nesting gentoo penguins, skuas, spp., and kelp gulls are easily approached and disturbed. Pointers for avoiding disruptions.
Visitation Aspects Numbers of tourist zodiac landings and participating visitors, 1989-2003:
Proximate visitor sites . Danco Island, Cuverville Island, Orne Islands, and Georges Point, Rongé Island are the closest alternative visitor sites. |
