Prion Island facts for kids
Prion Island is a small island located about 2.4 kilometers (1.5 miles) north-northeast of Luck Point. It sits within the beautiful Bay of Isles in South Georgia. The island was first mapped in 1912-1913 by Robert Cushman Murphy, an American scientist who was on a ship called the Daisy. He named the island "Prion Island" because he saw many prions, which are a type of seabird, living there.
The government of South Georgia has declared Prion Island a special protected area. This is because the island is free of rats, which can be very harmful to native birds. It is also a very important place where wandering albatrosses come to breed and raise their young. Because there are no rats, other ground-nesting birds like South Georgia pipits and burrowing petrels can also safely raise their families here.
Why Prion Island is Protected
Prion Island is a safe haven for many birds, especially the large and majestic wandering albatross. These birds need quiet, safe places to nest and lay their eggs. Since the island has no rats, the eggs and chicks are safe from predators that might eat them. This makes Prion Island a vital spot for these amazing birds to survive and grow their populations.
Scientists visit the island every year to count the number of wandering albatrosses. This helps them understand how well the birds are doing and if they need more protection.
Visiting Prion Island
To protect the delicate environment and the birds, visits to Prion Island are carefully controlled. You need a special permit to go there, and the island must be specifically named on your visit application.
- The island is closed to visitors between November 20 and January 7. This is to avoid disturbing the fur seals that breed on the landing beach during this time.
- Only two visits are allowed per day to keep the disturbance to a minimum.
- Visitors must land only at the special designated beach.
- Everyone must stay on the wooden boardwalks. These boardwalks were built in 2008 to stop people from accidentally stepping on and damaging the burrows where prions live, and to prevent soil erosion.
- For commercial tours, there must be at least one staff member for every ten passengers.
- No more than 50 people can be on the island at any one time.
- Each visit cannot last longer than five hours.
- Before anyone lands, very strict checks are done to make sure no unwanted plants or animals (like rats or seeds) are brought onto the island. This is called "biosecurity" and it helps keep the island rat-free.
See also
In Spanish: Isla Prión para niños
