Tay Head, Joinville Island (TAYH)

63˚21’S, 55˚34’W

Magnetic declination: 10.3˚E

Inventory subarea: NE

Inventory acronym: TAYH

Species Diversity: LOW

Site Sensitivity: LOW

 

Location — History — Features

A rocky headland located 6 miles E of Mt. Alexander and extending into the Firth of Tay, on the S coast of Joinville Island. Named derives from the Firth of Tay.

Landing Characteristics

Broad cobble landing beach, which, during Inventory visits in 2002, was overrun with fur seals. Once above the cobble beach, a broad, flat stretch of terrain extends inland and N to a large glacier. Adélie penguin colony located W of the landing beach.

Antarctic Site Inventory Effort

Visits by Antarctic Site Inventory researchers, 1994-2003:

1.    January 25, 2002        RD LS        Endeavour

2.    February 4, 2002        MM        Endeavour

3.    February 20, 2002    RN        Endeavour

Assessment and monitoring . Only preliminary censusing and ground photodocumentation has been accomplished.

Fauna — Flora — Censuses

Penguins & flying birds . Adélie penguins, skua, spp., and Antarctic terns are confirmed breeders. Southern giant petrels observed on the landing beach, but nests not observed. Molting, likely 2-year-old, emperor penguin observed in January and February 2002 on the glacier, one mile inland from the landing beach.

Antarctic Site Inventory censuses :

Adélie penguin

15-20,000     N3     2002 Jan/Feb

Seals . Weddell seals hauled-out on landing beach and on ice floes offshore. Leopard seal observed on the landing beach during the January 2002 visit; leopard and crabeater seals observed offshore on January 25, 2002 and February 4, 2002 visits. Fur seals hauled-out on landing beach during all 2002 visits, with an estimated 1,500+ observed on February 20, 2002.

Flora . Xanthoria , spp., Caloplaca , spp., Usnea , spp., and snow algae noted.

Conservation Aspects

Site sensitivities . If large numbers of fur seals, access inland may be impeded. Breeding Adélie penguins are easily approached. Antarctic terns nesting opportunistically between the landing beach and N toward the glacier, on available, open ground, are skittish, defensive, and very easily disturbed, even from a distance.

Pointers for avoiding disruptions:

• Walk slowly and carefully around nesting, crèching, or molting penguins.
• Avoid and stay clear of wallowing elephant seals.
• Avoid and stay clear of Antarctic fur seals, which should be given a wide berth and should not be approached.
• Stay clear — and do not approach — nesting terns.

Visitation Aspects

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

 

 

Proximate visitor sites . Heroína Island.