Isla Magdalena National Park
Basic ecotouristic information on Isla Magdalena National Park (Chile) which can be visited together with Albatros Travel and Expeditions - localization, access, characteristic, fauna and flora, possible activities.
Localization
Southern Chile, about 35 km from the city of Punta Arenas
Access
Easy - by boat from Punta Arenas
Characteristic
1576 km2; One bigger mountainous island and many small islets. The highest point of the park is Mentolat Volcano at 1,660 m. Typical ecosystems: evergreen Valdivian rainforest (temperate zone forest), coastal and volcanic biotopes. Very important place of concentration and nesting place for many sea birds.
Fauna + Flora
Mammals:
Rodents - Coypus (Myocastoridae): Nutria
Carnivores - Weasels, Otters, Badgers, Skunks (Mustellidae): Marine Otter; Southern River Otter
- Cats (Felidae): Kodkod
Seals, Sea-Lions and Walruses - Eared Seals (Otariidae): South American Fur Seal; South American Sea Lion
Whales - Finner Whales (Balaenopteridae): Blue Whale
Even-toed Ungulates - Deers (Cervidae): Southern Pudu
Birds:
Sphenisciformes - Penguins (Spheniscidae): Magellanic Penguin - more than 60 000 nesting couples
Podicipediformes - Grebes (Podicipedidae): Great Grebe; Silvery Grebe; White-tufted Grebe
Tubenoses - Storm Petrels (Hydrobatidae): Wilson's Storm-petrel
- Fulmars, Prions, Shearwaters and Gadfly Petrels (Procellariidae): Southern Fulmar; Antarctic Giant-Petrel; White-chinned Petrel; Sooty Shearwater
- Diving Petrels (Pelecanoididae): Common Diving-Petrel; Magellanic Diving-Petrel
- Albatrosses (Diomedeaidae): Black-browed Albatross
Pelecaniformes - Cormorants and Shags (Phalacrocoarcidae): Neotropic Cormorant; Red-legged Cormorant; Imperial Shag; Rock Shag
Ciconiiformes - Herons, Egrets and Bitterns (Ardeidae): Black-crowned Night-Heron
Anseriformes - Gees, Swans and Ducks (Anatidae): Crested Duck; Kelp Goose; Upland Goose; Yellow-billed Pintail; Flying Steamerduck; Chiloe Wigeon
Birds of Prey - Hawks, Eagles, Buzzards, Kites and Old World Vultures (Accipitridae): Cinereous Harrier
- Falcons and Caracaras (Falconidae): Crested caracara
Gruiformes - Rails, Crakes, Coots and Gallinules (Rallidae): Red-gartered Coot
Charadriiformes - Plovers (Charadriidae): Southern Lapwing
- Oystercatchers (Haematopodidae): Magellanic Oystercatcher
- Sheathbills (Chionididae): Snowy Sheathbill
- Skuas and Jaegers (Stercorariidae): Chilean Skua; Southern Skua
- Gulls (Laridae): Brown-hooded Gull; Dolphin Gull; Franklin's Gull; Kelp Gull
- Terns (Sternidae): South American Tern
Strigiformes - Owls (Strigidae): Magellanic Horned Owl
Perching Birds - Tapaculos (Rhinocryptidae): Chestnut-throated Huet-huet; Chucao Tapaculo
- Tyrants (Tyrannidae): Rufous-backed Negrito
- Blackbirds, Orioles and Cowbirds (Icteridae): Long-tailed Meadowlark
- Buntings, American Sparrows, Juncos, etc. (Emberizidae): Rofous-collared Sparrow
- Finches (Fringillidae): Black-chinned Siskin
Plants:
Ferns:
Polypodiales - Blechnaceae: Midsorus Fern (Blechnum chilensis)
Gleicheniales - Gleicheniaceae: Dicranopteris quadripartita
Conifers:
Cupressales - Cupressaceae: Pilgerodendron uviferum - dominant forest tree
Podocarpales - Podocarpaceae: Podocarpus nubigenus - dominant forest tree
Dicotyledons:
Laurales - Atherospermataceae: Laurelia phillippiana - dominant forest tree
Canellales - Winteraceae: Drimys winteri - dominant forest tree
Gunnerales - Gunneraceae: Gunnera tinctoria - dominant plant species
Rosales - Rosaceae: Beach Strawberry (Fragaria chiloensis) - dominant plant species
Oxalidales - Cunoniaceae: Weinmannia trichosperma - dominant forest tree; Caldcluvia paniculatta - dominant underbrush plant species
Fagales - Nothofagaceae: Southern Beech Nothofagus nitida - dominant forest tree
Proteales - Proteaceae: Embothrium coccineum - dominant forest tree; Lomatia ferruginea - dominant underbrush plant species
Myrtales - Myrtaceae: Amomyrtus luma; Tepualia stipularis - dominant forest trees
- Onagraceae: Hardy Fuchsia (Fuchsia magellanica) - dominant underbrush plant species
Cornales - Hydrangeaceae: Hydrangea (Hydrangea intergenima)
Lamiales - Gesneriaceae: Mitraria coccinea
Monocotyledons:
Poales - Grasses (Poaceae): Bengrass (Agrostis magellanica); Yorkshire Fog (Holcus lanatus); Argentinian Quila (Chusquea quila) - dominant grass species
Liliales - Philesiaceae: Philesia magellanica
Possible activities
Birdwatching - especially penguins during nesting season
Sailing
Note
On the island no infrastructure exists.
Best time to visit - X-III - during penguins nesting period
Picture - source theconservationlandtrust.com
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