Airdrops and king penguins: a potential conservation problem at sub-Antarctic Marion Island

ABSTRACT Evidence for the disturbance of king penguins ( Aptenodytes patagonicus ) and other seabirds at sub-Antarctic islands by fixed-wing aircraft making airdrops is reviewed. Based on direct observations of panicking birds at king penguin colonies at Marion Island as Lockheed C-130 Hercules airc...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Polar Record
Main Authors: Cooper, John, Avenant, Nico L., Lafite, Peter W.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1994
Subjects:
General Earth and Planetary Sciences
Ecology
Geography, Planning and Development
Antarctic
Hercules
Antarc*
King Penguins
Macquarie Island
Marion Island
Polar Record
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0032247400024530
https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0032247400024530
Description
Summary:ABSTRACT Evidence for the disturbance of king penguins ( Aptenodytes patagonicus ) and other seabirds at sub-Antarctic islands by fixed-wing aircraft making airdrops is reviewed. Based on direct observations of panicking birds at king penguin colonies at Marion Island as Lockheed C-130 Hercules aircraft flew past, it is postulated that the incident at Macquarie Island in 1990 when many king penguins were found dead shortly after a flypast was most likely caused by panic induced by the aircraft's passage. Visits by fixed-wing aircraft to sub-Antarctic islands should be kept to a minimum and no airstrips should be built on them. Specific recommendations are given for fixed-wing aircraft visits to Marion Island, in order to reduce disturbance to king penguins and other seabirds to the absolute minimum. These recommendations should be adopted at all sub-Antarctic islands.

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