Jason Islands

The Jason Islands are located in the extreme north-west of the Falklands’ archipelago, towards Patagonia. This small group of islands, named after the survey vessel HMS Jason, forms a rocky-ridged chain with some of the most breathtaking scenery and wildlife you can imagine. Names include “Steeple”, “Grand”, “Elephant” and “Flat”, conjuring alluring and romantic images.

Unfortunately the Jasons are not easy to reach. The Falkland Island Government Air Service does not land on any of the islands and permission is needed to visit. But some small cruise vessels do offer landings on Grand Jason and Steeple Jason. These trips are an unforgettable experience.

Grand Jason is the largest of the islands and is home to a large colony of black-browed albatrosses. Southern rockhopper penguins, gentoo and Magellanic penguins can also be seen on the island. Southern giant petrels breed on the south-east coast.

Steeple Jason rises steeply from the shore to a series of dramatic rocky peaks, the highest at 290m (952 feet), with an isthmus separating two main areas of land. It is home to the world’s largest black-browed albatross colony with over two hundred and fifty thousand breeding pairs. The main part of the colony is about 200 m (218 yards) wide and stretches for a staggering 5 km (3 miles) along the southwestern seaboard of Steeple Jason West.

The Jason Island group supports many breeding pairs of striated caracaras, known locally as ‘Johnny Rooks’. These ever-curious birds will follow you as you walk. Grand Jason is one of the five most important sites across the Falklands for these birds. Small ground-nesting birds are also numerous. You are likely to see Cobb’s wren, the only endemic Falkland songbird, along the shorelines and in the tussac. Look out for other endemic subspecies such as the black-crowned night heron, upland goose, short-eared owl, dark-faced ground tyrant, sedge wren, austral thrush and long-tailed meadowlark. The invertebrate population is also large and varied.

Amongst the albatross are nesting southern rockhopper penguins and imperial cormorants.

Striated caracaras nest in remarkable proximity to each other along the tussac verges and many of the smaller passerine species can also be seen. Brown skuas breed here in large numbers and both they and the caracaras can be very aggressive and may attack in defence of their territories. Please beware and avoid invading their space.

Similarly, respect the breeding areas of southern giant petrels, the largest of all petrels. These magnificent birds also fly elegantly along the shoreline but are quick to leave nests if disturbed, exposing their young to the predatory caracaras and skuas.

It’s likely that the large numbers of birds here were noticed by early explorers who saw the penguins as an excellent source of oil. A few remnants of these dark days, such as large rusting trypots, can be found in the sheltered harbours. Today, these practices are long gone and the islands are an uninhabited nature reserve, a birding paradise.