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SAUNDERS ISLAND
A wealth of Falkland wildlife
www.falklandsconservation.com
SAUNDERS ISLAND
THE FALKLAND ISLANDS The Falkland Islands archipelago lies
GRAND JASON
N
350 km (280 miles) to the east of the South
American continent. It consists of two large
STEEPLE JASON
FLAT JASON
SEDGE ISLAND
JASON ISLANDS
ELEPHANT JASON Cape Dolphin
SAUNDERS PEBBLE ISLAND
islands, East and West Falkland, and more
SOUTH JASON KEPPEL Swan
ISLAND ISLAND
CARCASS Pond
ISLAND Foul Bay Ronda Macbride Head
DUNBAR Limpet
ISLAND
Creek
WEST Salvador Rincon Seal
than 750 small islands and islets.
Port
POINT Purvis Douglas Grande Bay Johnsons
ISLAND Byron Shallow Bay Port San Carlos Station Harbour
WEST Dunbar Sound Horseshoe Volunteer Point
MT CAROLINE Ajax Chata Bay Port Louis
SPLIT ISLAND Hill Cove Creek Eagle Point
Many Branch Bay
FALKLAND Roy Cove
MT ADAM
2297
San Carlos
Berkeley Sound
Teal Inlet Brookfield Long island
Crooked Inlet KIDNEY ISLAND
D
King
UN
PASSAGE George Port Grantham Port William
ISLANDS Howard
Bay MT USBORNE
SO
Sound
NEW Chartres 2312WICKHAM STANLEY Cape Pembroke
D
ISLAND Shag HEIGHTS
Dunnose Cove AN Mt Pleasant
Bluff Cove
Head Airport
KL
Darwin
L Fitzroy
FA
BEAVER
Queen
Spring Lake
SWAN
ISLANDS
Goose Green
A EAST
Charlotte I Bertha’s
ISLAND Bay Point Sulivan
N ChoiMare Harbour
seul Sound
Beach FALKLAND
el Port Lake
Fox Bay
West
Fox Bay
East
O Walker
WEDDELL ann Richards Double Hammond Creek
GREAT
F
ISLAND y Ch Creek ISLAND
A
ile LIVELY ISLAND
Sm South
L
RUGGLES
Harbour ISLAND
Port Edgar North Arm
ELEPHANT CAYS
Port Stephens MOTLEY ISLAND
TRISTE
BIRD ISLAND
Hoste Inlet
Port Albermarle SPEEDWELL
ISLAND
52°S
1500 ISLAND BLEAKER ISLAND
ARCH
ISLANDS
Cape Meredith
1000 GEORGE ISLAND Bull Point
Porpoise Point
500 BARREN ISLAND
SEA LION EASTERLY
Miles SEA LION ISLAND
0 0 10 20 30 40
Heights in feet
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
above sea level Kms
61°W 60°W 59°W 58°W
Saunders Island is situated just off the north coast the two bedrooms). The bathroom has a shower,
BEAUCHÊNE ISLAND
of West Falkland. It is about 145 km (90 miles) sink and toilet. This accommodation is isolated,
from Stanley. and you may not see anyone else from when
Saunders Island is reached by an hour’s flight from you are dropped off until early on the day of
Stanley, or Mount Pleasant Complex, with the your departure. A hand held radio is supplied for
Falkland Islands Government Air Service (FIGAS). emergency use only.
Passengers from cruise ships arrive by Zodiac Rookery Inn
at either the North or South Beach at the Neck, Located 10 km (6 miles) from the Settlement,
depending on weather conditions. close to southern rockhopper penguin and black-
Visitor Accommodation browed albatross colonies, Rookery Inn is a tourist
Four self-catering properties all have central cottage that can sleep up to four people in two
heating, gas cooker, fridge and all the crockery twin bedrooms. It has 24hr power, a bathroom
and utensils you will need for your stay. Bedding, with sink, toilet and shower. A hand held radio is
bed linen and towels are provided. supplied for emergency use only.
In the Settlement: Contact
The Main House, sleeps up to 10 in two twin, one David and Suzan Pole-Evans
Tel: +500 41298 Fax: +500 41296
single, one double and one triple room. There is a Email: saunders@horizon.co.fk
shower room, bathroom and toilet, plus a dining
room and sitting room with radio and TV. The
modernised Stone House, built in 1875, sleeps up
to six people in one double and two twin rooms.
There is a kitchen, utility room, toilet, a bath ‘with
bath and shower’, a washing machine, TV, and
radio and WiFi hotspot.
At the Neck
Although only 16 km (10 miles) from the Settlement,
it takes about an hour by Land Rover to reach
The Neck, a superb wildlife location. The Cabin
here, which has 24-hour power, can sleep up to
eight people (two sets of bunk beds in each of Rookery Inn
cover photo: Black-browed albatrosses
About Saunders Island Saunders Island (12,400 ha, 30,640 acres) Saunders Island has exceptional wildlife. is the second largest offshore island in the It contains one of the most accessible black- Falklands and is named after the 18th century browed albatross colonies in the Falkland British Admiral Sir Charles Saunders. In 1765 Islands. King, southern rockhopper, it (Port Egmont) was chosen as the first British Magellanic and gentoo penguins all breed settlement in the Falkland Islands. Today it is here. Many waterbirds are found on the owned by the Pole-Evans family, who run it as ponds, including silvery grebes. Saunders a traditional farm (principally for wool) with Island is internationally recognised as an 6,000 sheep. Important Bird Area (FK14). It has a complex shape with dramatic scenery, The Island is sheltered and has a slightly milder being about 21 km (13 miles)from east to west climate than elsewhere in the Falklands and and almost as wide from north-east to south- as a result many native plants thrive here. It is west. The highest point (457 m, 1,462 ft) is the an Important Plant Area (IPA15) with 9 of the summit of Mount Richards. There are wetlands 14 Falkland endemic plants and 6 nationally and permanent lakes, sand dunes and steep threatened species. cliffs – particularly towards the northern and These include populations of the striking western coasts. A narrow waist of sand, silvery buttercup and hairy daisy. The Neck, leads to Mount Harston and Elephant Point.
Elephant
SAUNDERS ISLAND Point N
Cliff Point
Bird checklist Black-browed
Southern See albatross
The
King penguin enla
elephant Mt. Harston on P rgemen
seals for m age 7 t
Gentoo penguin
Ho
Ci ore
1421 deta
ly
EGMONT
Macaroni penguin ty il Rookery Mt.
Southern rockhopper penguin The East
N 1384 Point
Magellanic penguin eck
White-tufted grebe
Please follow the guidelines
PORT
Silvery grebe MAINTAIN A DISTANCE of Mt. Richards
Black-browed albatross 6 m (20 ft) between you and >6 m
Southern giant petrel any wildlife at all times. First British
Mt. Egmont Settlement
Rock cormorant WILDLIFE HAVE RIGHT OF WAY
King cormorant 1500 ve
AT ALL TIMES. Do not block wildlife Co
ea ler
Black-crowned night heron from returning or entering the sea. 1250 S SAUNDERS
Black-necked swan no smoking SETTLEMENT
Kelp goose TAKE CARE on steep slopes and 1000 Bluff Pt.
Brett Hill BR Sand Pt.
Upland goose slippery rocks. ET Piano Point
750 TH Big
Ruddy-headed goose LEAVE GATES as you find them. AR Pond Magellanic
500 B OU Red Point penguins
Flying steamer duck no fires
Falkland steamer duck BE AWARE of biosecurity. R
250 Horse Island
Chiloë wigeon Do not introduce invasive species
to the area. 0 Ranee Bay
Speckled teal
Crested duck BE CAREFUL not to trample the Height in feet
Yellow-billed pintail burrows of nesting seabirds, do not litter above sea level
Cinnamon teal particularly those of Magellanic Mt. Rees
Turkey vulture penguins. Avoid walking across
areas of high burrow density. Penarr
Variable hawk Sand Bow Pt.
each
Crested caracara no flash Penarrow Pt.
Kilometres
Striated caracara Penguin 0 1 2 3 4 5
Peregrine falcon Island
Magellanic oystercatcher LAMBING SEASON KEY
Blackish oystercatcher 0 0·5 1 2 3 4
The lambing season is from October to Beach Miles
Two-banded plover December. During this time visitors are asked to
Rufous-chested dotterel take extra care not to disturb ewes as they may Wildlife
Falkland skua abandon lambs if startled. viewing area
Kelp gull
Dolphin gull Wire fence
Brown-headed gull
Vehicle track
South American tern
Tussacbird Road
Dark-faced ground-tyrant
Falkland pipit
Falkland thrush
Falkland grass wren
Long-tailed meadowlark
White-bridled finch
Black-chinned siskin Vanilla daisy Variable hawk Falkland woolly ragwort
The Black-browed Albatross
The largest albatross colony on Saunders Island Young albatrosses head out into the southern
stretches along the steep northern slopes of ocean, ranging over the Patagonian Shelf and
Mt Richards. Every spring in mid-September beyond in search of fish and squid. Some travel
around 12,000 pairs of albatrosses return here to as far as the coast of southern Brazil. After
breed, with a preference for elevated sites where fledging, it will be at least five years before the
updrafts assist their take-off and landing. young birds return to their colony. Black-browed
The adults are very large; mainly white, with albatrosses are known to live up to 30 years.
a blackish back and upper wings, a grey tail Colonies of black-browed albatross exist at 12
and a distinctive black ‘eyebrow’ streak over Falkland Islands sites and make up the majority
and through the eye. Their heavy, hooked pale (70%) of the world population. In 2011 the
orange bill is used to catch prey. They are black-browed albatross was re-classified from
magnificent birds with a 2·5 m (8 ft) wingspan Endangered to Near Threatened as it is no
that enables them to glide effortlessly over the longer estimated to be undergoing such a rapid
southern seas. population decline. However, they are still at
Black-browed albatrosses return to the same nest risk from commercial fisheries where they can
in the same colony and mate for life. Their nest is be caught on hooks and drowned. Although the
a 50 cm (20") tall solid pillar made of mud and Falkland fishery employs methods to minimise
guano with some tussac grass and seaweed that these problems, the species remains at risk across
has a depression in the top. A single large egg is the southern ocean, where they live between
laid in early October with incubation lasting up April and September. They are listed under the
to 72 days. international Agreement on the Conservation of
Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP).
The chicks are covered in grey down at first, is
reared for about 17 weeks, until it leaves the nest
in April.
Wildlife Gentoo
WARNING
Keep outside of
Hike Distances
King penguin hike – 0·7 km (0·4 miles)
Rockhopper hike – 1·1 km (0·7 miles)
and penguins
WARNING
fence surrounding
king penguins
Albatross hike – 1·4 km (0·9 miles)
Southern rockhopper
Black-browed
Walks
Keep noise WARNING penguins
Imperial albatross
levels down Keep back from cormorants
rockhopper landing point
Magellanic Southern
penguins The Neck rockhopper
The narrow, sandy isthmus King
penguins Sealers Trypot
penguins
at The Neck is crowded
x
x
with gentoo, Magellanic 1250
x
Magellanic
penguins WARNING
and king penguins. Take care, steep,
x
1000 Hut slippery slope
Shorebirds here include 750
N
Saunders
Magellanic and blackish 500 Settlement
oystercatchers, kelp 250
16 km
(10 miles)
Kilometres
0 0·5 1
Key
geese and Falkland 0 Hiking route
steamer ducks. Striated Height in feet
above sea level
Kelp 0
Miles
0·25 0·5 0·75
caracaras roam around
in search of prey. There is a long but worthwhile walk from here
to Elephant Point where there are elephant seals and a variety
of waterfowl, including silvery grebes, on the small ponds.
Watch out for Commerson’s and Peale’s dolphins near the
shore and on rare occasions fin and sei whales farther out to
sea. A hike to the top of Mount Harston and back to The Neck
will reward you with fine views across to Carcass Island, West
Point Island and, on a clear day, the Jason Islands to the north-
west.
Along the northern slopes of Mount Richards (which can
be approached from The Neck or the east) are nesting sites
of the black-browed albatross, which stretch for several
kilometres. Close to The Neck along this rocky coastline are
king cormorants and southern rockhopper penguins. Southern rockhopper penguin
A stream running off the mountain provides the penguins with a
refreshing shower! Watch out for deep claw marks in the rocks
where the birds have been making their way to and from the sea
for many thousands of years. Further colonies of penguins and
albatross are to the north and east of Rookery Mountain.
The historic ruins of the first British settlement at Port Egmont
(marked with a plaque) are a 30 minute walk along the coast
from the present Settlement. Here are the newly restored graves of
Royal Marines killed during a battle with the Spanish who briefly Commerson's Dolphin
took possession of Port Egmont in the 1770s. The south western
part of the Island has many pools and ponds which are home to both silvery and white-tufted
grebes, and the occasional black-necked swan.Protecting wildlife from invasive species
The presence of cats and mice on Saunders Island has reduced the number of songbirds here,
though some survive in the more sheltered and shrubby valleys. The chicks of ground-nesting
birds, such as the Falkland skua (above) are also at risk. It is crucial that areas of wildlife
importance in the Falkland Islands are kept free of invasive species.
To prevent the spread of invasive species and diseases, you are asked to comply
with a few simple measures when travelling around the islands: make sure all of
your clothing, equipment and luggage is free from soil, animal faeces, seeds, insects
and rodents, and scrub your footwear before each visit to a new wildlife
site or seabird colony. If you have any questions about biosecurity, or wish to
report diseased wildlife, please speak to the landowners or call
the Department of Agriculture 27355 / Falklands Conservation 22247 for advice.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Photos: Alan Henry, Ali Liddle, Tim Mason, David Pole-Evans and Kevin Schafer.
Maps by Jeremy Smith and Robert Still.
Published by Falklands Conservation July 2016. Designed by Eye on The Ball Ltd +44 1256 478309.
Registered Office: Bridge House, 4 Borough High Street, London, SE1 9QR, UK.
Falklands Conservation is a company limited by guarantee in England and Wales No 03661322 and registered charity
No 1073859. Falklands Conservation is registered as an Overseas Company in the Falkland Islands.
Falkland Office: Jubilee Villas, Ross Road, Stanley FIQQ 1ZZ | UK Office: The Gatehouse, The Lodge, Sandy, Beds SG19 2DL
Falklands Conservation works to conserve the wildlife of the Falkland Islands.
To find out more about us and how you can support what we do, visit us at
Jubilee Villas, Ross Road, Stanley or go to our website:
www.falklandsconservation.com
Information about other areas of outstanding wildlife and scenery, can be
found in A Visitor's Guide to the Falkland Islands.
@FI_ConservationFalklands Conservation
Partnering with the local and international community to
conserve the Falkland Islands’ natural environment.
Falklands Conservation rely on donations and public support to carry out
our work in the Falkland Islands. If you would like to join those already
supporting our work, please consider becoming a member or adopting a
penguin via our website
www.falklandsconservation.com
Or contact ukadmin@conservation.org.fk for more options.
For regular updates on our work, follow us online
@FalklandsConservation @FI_ConservationYou can also read
