The birds of Rothera, Adelaide Island, Antarctic Peninsula

The current status of birds at Rothera, Adelaide Land, Antarctica is presented. Of the 23 species recorded, Snow Petrel Pagodroma nivea, Wilson’s Storm Petrel Oceanites oceanicus, Antarctic Shag or Cormorant Phalocrocorax atriceps bransfieldensis, South Polar Skua Catharacta maccormicki, Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus and Antarctic Tern Sterna vittatta breed and of the remaining species eight are represented by less than five records each. This relatively low species richness is consistent with the high latitude. Continued monitoring is encouraged, in particular to assess distributional changes associated with climatic variation.