Kidney Island facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kidney Island
Isla Celebroña
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Location of Kidney Island within the Falkland Islands
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| Country | Falkland Islands |
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| • Total | 0.33 km2 (0.13 sq mi) |
Kidney Island is a small island in the Falkland Islands. It gets its name because it looks a bit like a kidney! This island is located east of East Falkland, not far from the capital city, Stanley.
It's a special place because it's a nature reserve. This means its natural environment is protected. Unlike many other islands, Kidney Island is still covered in tall, thick tussac grass. This grass is very important for the animals living there. You can find amazing wildlife here, like penguins and sea lions. It's also one of only three spots in the Falkland Islands where king penguins have their babies.
History of Kidney Island
During the Falklands War in 1982, a small event happened near Kidney Island. On May 1st, an Argentine patrol boat called Islas Malvinas GC82 was damaged. This happened when a British helicopter from HMS Alacrity attacked it. The helicopter was also hit by fire from another Argentine ship.
A Home for Birds
Kidney Island is very important for birds. Along with a tiny island nearby called Cochon Island, it has been named an Important Bird Area (IBA). An IBA is a place recognized globally as critical for bird conservation.
Many different bird species live and breed here. Some of the important birds found on Kidney Island include:
- Falkland steamer ducks (about 15 pairs that have babies here)
- Southern rockhopper penguins (around 500 pairs)
- Magellanic penguins
- White-chinned petrels (about 1,000 pairs)
- Sooty shearwaters
- Blackish cinclodes
- Cobb's wrens
These birds rely on Kidney Island for safe places to nest and raise their young. Protecting this island helps these bird populations survive and thrive.
See also
In Spanish: Isla Celebroña para niños
