Jump to content

Beauchene Island: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
Undid revision 723614579 by Bernardo F. Di Marco (talk) - intentional disruption
Rescuing 2 sources and tagging 0 as dead. #IABot (v1.2.6)
Line 82: Line 82:


The island has a natural anchorage on the east side of the island that can only be used in fair weather. There is no resident population and visitors require the permission of the Falkland Islands Executive Committee. A typical example was a request by [[Falklands Conservation]] to make three visits in October 2010, January 2011 and March 2011 for the purpose of taking a bird census. In their application, it was noted that nobody had set foot on the island since a visit by the Shallow Marine Survey Group (SMSG) in December 2009.<ref name=permisssion>{{cite web
The island has a natural anchorage on the east side of the island that can only be used in fair weather. There is no resident population and visitors require the permission of the Falkland Islands Executive Committee. A typical example was a request by [[Falklands Conservation]] to make three visits in October 2010, January 2011 and March 2011 for the purpose of taking a bird census. In their application, it was noted that nobody had set foot on the island since a visit by the Shallow Marine Survey Group (SMSG) in December 2009.<ref name=permisssion>{{cite web
|url = http://www.falklands.gov.fk/assembly/documents/139-10.pdf
|url=http://www.falklands.gov.fk/assembly/documents/139-10.pdf
|title = Request to visit Beauchene Island for Falklands Conservation five-year census.
|title=Request to visit Beauchene Island for Falklands Conservation five-year census.
|date = 24 June 2010
|date=24 June 2010
|author = Environmental Planning Officer
|author=Environmental Planning Officer
|accessdate = 2010-07-26}}</ref>
|accessdate=2010-07-26
|deadurl=yes
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308121909/http://www.falklands.gov.fk/assembly/documents/139-10.pdf
|archivedate=2012-03-08
|df=
}}</ref>


==History==
==History==
Line 109: Line 114:
The island is a [[natural nature reserve]].<ref>http://www.falklandsconservation.com/jdownloads/IBAs/iba_beauchene.pdf</ref> It is covered in [[tussac grass]] and is known for its caves and for its [[peat]], which forms around ten times faster than anywhere else in the world.{{Citation needed|date=July 2010}} Apart from the tussac, plants found on the island include [[Apium australe|wild celery]], [[Callitriche antarctica|Antarctic starwort]] and [[Cardamine glacialis|bittercress]].<ref name=bli/>
The island is a [[natural nature reserve]].<ref>http://www.falklandsconservation.com/jdownloads/IBAs/iba_beauchene.pdf</ref> It is covered in [[tussac grass]] and is known for its caves and for its [[peat]], which forms around ten times faster than anywhere else in the world.{{Citation needed|date=July 2010}} Apart from the tussac, plants found on the island include [[Apium australe|wild celery]], [[Callitriche antarctica|Antarctic starwort]] and [[Cardamine glacialis|bittercress]].<ref name=bli/>


The island has been identified by [[BirdLife International]] as an [[Important Bird Area]]. Over 30 species have been recorded, including [[gentoo penguin]]s (750 breeding pairs), [[southern rockhopper penguin]]s (60,000 pairs), [[macaroni penguin]]s, [[Magellanic penguin]]s, [[black-browed albatross]]es (100,000 pairs), [[fairy prion]]s (10,000 pairs), [[sooty shearwater]]s, [[Wilson's storm-petrel]]s, [[grey-backed storm-petrel]]s, [[common diving petrel]]s, [[southern giant petrel]]s, [[imperial shag]]s (2500 pairs), [[striated caracara]]s (65 pairs), [[blackish cinclodes]], [[Cobb's wren]]s and [[white-bridled finch]]es. [[South American sea lion]]s breed in small numbers on the island, which is a major [[hauling out|haulout]] site for non-breeding animals.<ref name=bli>{{cite web |url= http://www.birdlife.org |title= Beauchêne Island |accessdate=2012-09-29 |work= Important Bird Areas factsheet |first= |last= |publisher= BirdLife International |year= 2012}}</ref>
The island has been identified by [[BirdLife International]] as an [[Important Bird Area]]. Over 30 species have been recorded, including [[gentoo penguin]]s (750 breeding pairs), [[southern rockhopper penguin]]s (60,000 pairs), [[macaroni penguin]]s, [[Magellanic penguin]]s, [[black-browed albatross]]es (100,000 pairs), [[fairy prion]]s (10,000 pairs), [[sooty shearwater]]s, [[Wilson's storm-petrel]]s, [[grey-backed storm-petrel]]s, [[common diving petrel]]s, [[southern giant petrel]]s, [[imperial shag]]s (2500 pairs), [[striated caracara]]s (65 pairs), [[blackish cinclodes]], [[Cobb's wren]]s and [[white-bridled finch]]es. [[South American sea lion]]s breed in small numbers on the island, which is a major [[hauling out|haulout]] site for non-breeding animals.<ref name=bli>{{cite web|url=http://www.birdlife.org |title=Beauchêne Island |accessdate=2012-09-29 |work=Important Bird Areas factsheet |first= |last= |publisher=BirdLife International |year=2012 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5QE8rvIqH?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.birdlife.org |archivedate=2007-07-10 |df= }}</ref>


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 12:34, 29 October 2016

Beauchene Island
Isla Beauchene
Seal hunters in rookery on Beauchene Island, 1833
Seal hunters in rookery on Beauchene Island, 1833
CountryFalkland Islands
Named fornamed for Jacques Gouin de Beauchêne
Area
 • Total1.72 km2 (0.66 sq mi)
Highest elevation
70 m (230 ft)
Population
 (2001)
 • Total0
 • Density0.0/km2 (0.0/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC−3 (FKST)
If shown, area and population ranks are for all islands and all inhabited islands in the Falklands respectively.
Beauchene Island depicted on an 18th-century map, much further west than actual position (R.W. Seale, c. 1745, fragment)

Beauchene Island is the southernmost of the Falkland Islands, lying about 54 kilometres (34 mi) south of Porpoise Point in Lafonia.[1][2] It was discovered in 1701 by Jacques Gouin de Beauchêne in whose honour it was named.

Geography

Beauchene is the most isolated island of the Falkland archipelago. It is uninhabited, free of introduced predators and, because it is so remote, has been protected from disturbance. It is 172 hectares (430 acres) in area. The north of the island is covered in dense tussac grass with boulder beaches on the western coast and sloping up gently to about 30 metres (100 ft) in height. In the south of the island the land rises to around 70 metres (230 ft). There are higher cliffs on the eastern coast and the "southern quarter of the island is almost bare of vegetation."[2][3]

The island has a natural anchorage on the east side of the island that can only be used in fair weather. There is no resident population and visitors require the permission of the Falkland Islands Executive Committee. A typical example was a request by Falklands Conservation to make three visits in October 2010, January 2011 and March 2011 for the purpose of taking a bird census. In their application, it was noted that nobody had set foot on the island since a visit by the Shallow Marine Survey Group (SMSG) in December 2009.[4]

History

Anthony de la Roché may have sighted Beauchene Island as early as April 1675. However this is by no means certain: de la Roché had rounded Cape Horn and was blown off course. The island visited is usually said to be South Georgia, which fits his descriptions better, particularly of high ice-covered mountains and bays, in one of which he anchored for a fortnight (see the Seixas y Lovera narrative), but supporters of Argentina's claim to South Georgia more often claim it was Beauchene.

A while after its official discovery in 1701 by Jacques Gouin de Beauchêne, seal trappers tried unsuccessfully to settle the island.

In 1834, the American McArthur landed 100 people on the island, driving the local sea lions to extinction (they have since returned).[5]

Although the island is uninhabited, there are ruins of a group of houses built in the 1830s on the west side of the island.

The first proper[clarification needed] scientific expedition landed in 1951 by helicopter, staying for a month.[5]

During the Falklands War, there was an Argentine wreck on a reef just south of the islands, and British soldiers lived for around four weeks there.[5]

Flora and fauna

The island is a natural nature reserve.[6] It is covered in tussac grass and is known for its caves and for its peat, which forms around ten times faster than anywhere else in the world.[citation needed] Apart from the tussac, plants found on the island include wild celery, Antarctic starwort and bittercress.[7]

The island has been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area. Over 30 species have been recorded, including gentoo penguins (750 breeding pairs), southern rockhopper penguins (60,000 pairs), macaroni penguins, Magellanic penguins, black-browed albatrosses (100,000 pairs), fairy prions (10,000 pairs), sooty shearwaters, Wilson's storm-petrels, grey-backed storm-petrels, common diving petrels, southern giant petrels, imperial shags (2500 pairs), striated caracaras (65 pairs), blackish cinclodes, Cobb's wrens and white-bridled finches. South American sea lions breed in small numbers on the island, which is a major haulout site for non-breeding animals.[7]

References

  1. ^ Shtepenko, Olga; Archer, Samantha; Clark, James (September 2011). "Exploration Drilling: Environmental Impact Statement" (PDF). Falkland Oil and Gas Ltd. pp. 5–116. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
  2. ^ a b "Important Bird Areas factsheet: Beauchêne Island". BirdLife International. 2012. Retrieved 3 November 2012.
  3. ^ White, R W; Gillon, K W; Black, A D; Reid, J B (2002). "The distribution of seabirds and marine mammals in Falkland Islands waters" (PDF). Peterborough, United Kingdom: Joint Nature Conservation Committee. p. 11. ISBN 1 86107 534 0. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
  4. ^ Environmental Planning Officer (24 June 2010). "Request to visit Beauchene Island for Falklands Conservation five-year census" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-08. Retrieved 2010-07-26. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ a b c Wolfgang Schippke, DC3MF. "Beauchene Island / Falkland". Retrieved 2010-07-20. For more details compare W.Schippke,'Der historische Hintergrund des Falklandkrieges von 1982', München 1982{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ http://www.falklandsconservation.com/jdownloads/IBAs/iba_beauchene.pdf
  7. ^ a b "Beauchêne Island". Important Bird Areas factsheet. BirdLife International. 2012. Archived from the original on 2007-07-10. Retrieved 2012-09-29. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)