Ardley Island

Ardley Island is an island long, lying in Maxwell Bay close off the south-west end of King [George Island (Antarctica)|King George Island], in the South Shetland Islands of Antarctica. It was charted as a peninsula in 1935 by Discovery Investigations personnel of the Discovery II and named for Lieutenant R.A.B. Ardley, Royal Naval Reserve, an officer on the ship in 1929–31 and 1931–33. Aerial photography has since shown that the feature is an island with Braillard Point being the headland forming the northeast end of Ardley Island. It has been designated an Antarctic Specially Protected Area because of the importance of its seabird colonies.

Birds

The island has been identified as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International because it supports a breeding colony of about 4,600 pairs of gentoo penguins, as well as smaller numbers of Adélie and chinstrap penguins, southern giant petrels, Wilson's and black-bellied storm petrels, Cape petrels, brown and south polar skuas, and Antarctic terns.
A 2016 study examined lake guano sediments and studied penguin population dynamics over 7,000 years. Three of five population growth phases were terminated by a sudden crash, due to volcanic eruptions from the active volcano of Deception Island, 120 km to the southwest.

Research stations

Ballvé

There are also two Argentinean buildings in the area that make up the Ballvé Refuge, set up in 1953, approximately 50 meters east of Ripamonti I. An Argentinean radio beacon facilitates navigation, looking towards Maxwell Bay. All the structures described remain in the area year-round. The scientists come from King George Island for their expeditions.

Ripamonti I

There are two Chilean semi-permanent summer-only research shelters. Ripamonti I was established in 1982.

Ripamonti II

In the northern coast of Ardley, and Ripamonti II lies almost 100 metres southwest from Braillard Point on the south-eastern part, inside the penguin breeding colonies.