Table of Contents

Map of South Georgia showing site locations inside front cover A Message from Nigel Haywood 7 Foreword by Keith Shackleton 9 About this Guide 10 TIPS FOR VISITORS 11 NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH GEORGIA * Oceans and Climate 16 * Geology 18 * Glaciers and Landforms 20 * Vegetation 22 * Wildlife 24 * Introduced species 29 A BRIEF HISTORY OF SOUTH GEORGIA* The Discovery of South Georgia 32 * The Sealers 33 * The Explorers 34 * Carl Anton Larsen and the Whaling Industry 36 * The Discovery Investigations 38 * Duncan Carse and the South Georgia Surveys 1951-57 39 * Establishing British Antarctic Survey Research 40 * South Georgia, A Diplomacy Case 41 CURRENT ACTIVITIES* Stamps 42 * Government Administration 44 * Tourism 45 * South Georgia Fisheries 47 * Fisheries Research at King Edward Point 48 * Seabird and Seal Research 50 * Longline Fisheries and Seabirds 52 THE APPROACH TO SOUTH GEORGIA 54 KEY TO SITE MAPS 56 KEY INFORMATION * Wandering Albatrosses 66 * Burrowing Petrels 82 * Life at Leith Harbour 92 * Southern Elephant Seals 116 * King Penguins 138 * Fur Seals 156 THE SITES* Elsehul 58 * Prion Island 62 * Salisbury Plain 70 * Prince Olav Harbour 74 * Fortuna Bay 78 * Hercules Bay 84 * Leith Harbour 88 * Shackleton Walk 94 * Stromness Harbour 98 * Husvik 102 * Jason Harbour 106 * Grytviken & King Edward Point 108 * Maiviken 118 * Cobblers Cove 122 * Godthul 126 * Ocean Harbour 130 * St. Andrews Bay 134 * Moltke Harbour 140 * Will Point & Brisbane Point 144 * Gold Harbour 148 * Cooper Bay 152 * Drygalski Fjord & Larsen Harbour 158 * King Haakon Bay 162 Checklist of the Fauna and Flora of South Georgia 164 Bird Breeding Calendar 171 Bibliography 172 Useful Addresses and Websites 174 Photo/Art Credits 175 Acknowledgements 178

About the Author

Sally Poncet conducts research on seabirds, invasive species, and habitat restoration in the Falkland Islands and South Georgia. Kim Crosbie worked as a naturalist and guide to South Georgia for more than twelve years and now works for the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators.

Reviews

"A must have for those visiting the island."--Ian Paulsen, Birdbooker Report, Guardian "If your dream is to visit Antarctica, this book will give you a whole new appreciation for the small island of South Georgia, which lies nearby and shares the same climate and much of the same endemic flora and fauna."--Devorah Bennu, GrrlScentist "I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking to visit the island but I would also recommend it to people like me who just enjoy great images and writing about distant lands. It is full of great information and (I don't think I have emphasized this enough yet) some wonderful photographs, it really was a joy to read and review."--Ashley Beolens, Fat Photographer