Coffin Island
Encyclopedia
Coffin Island is an island
that is located in the Great Southern region of Western Australia
. The island is 300 metres (984 ft) offshore from Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve
and the island is also a protected area making up part of the reserve.. With an area of 28 hectares (69 acre) the island is made up mostly of granite.
, identified as such by BirdLife International
because of its significance in the conservation of several rare and threatened bird species. The island is recognised as a breeding site for Great-winged Petrel
s. Other seabirds such as Flesh-footed Shearwater
s and Little Penguin
s also have colonies on the island . The island also provides haul-out
sites for New Zealand Fur Seal
s with a population
of approximately 100 being recorded on the island in 1990. Australian Sea Lion
s also make use of the island in smaller numbers.
accumulated over its surface to support Berry Saltbush
heathland
.
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
that is located in the Great Southern region of Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
. The island is 300 metres (984 ft) offshore from Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve
Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve
Two Peoples Bay is a protected area east of Albany. The area is accessible by 2WD vehicles. The bay itself, including two small secluded beaches, faces due east and is protected from the Southern Ocean by a headland formed by the granite massif of Mount Gardiner...
and the island is also a protected area making up part of the reserve.. With an area of 28 hectares (69 acre) the island is made up mostly of granite.
Fauna
Coffin Island forms part of the Two Peoples Bay and Mount Manypeaks Important Bird AreaTwo Peoples Bay and Mount Manypeaks Important Bird Area
The Two Peoples Bay and Mount Manypeaks Important Bird Area is a 261 km2 tract of coastal and subcoastal land east of the city of Albany in south-west Western Australia. It is an important site for the conservation of several rare and threatened birds....
, identified as such by BirdLife International
BirdLife International
BirdLife International is a global Partnership of conservation organisations that strives to conserve birds, their habitats and global biodiversity, working with people towards sustainability in the use of natural resources...
because of its significance in the conservation of several rare and threatened bird species. The island is recognised as a breeding site for Great-winged Petrel
Great-winged Petrel
The Great-winged Petrel or Grey-faced Petrel, Pterodroma macroptera, is a petrel. In New Zealand it is also known by its Māori name oi and as a muttonbird.- Taxonomy :...
s. Other seabirds such as Flesh-footed Shearwater
Flesh-footed Shearwater
The Flesh-footed Shearwater, Puffinus carneipes, is a small shearwater. Its plumage is black. It has pale pinkish feet, and a pale bill with a black tip. Together with the equally light-billed Pink-footed Shearwater, it forms the Hemipuffinus group, a superspecies which may or may not have an...
s and Little Penguin
Little Penguin
The Little Penguin is the smallest species of penguin. The penguin, which usually grows to an average of in height and in length , is found on the coastlines of southern Australia and New Zealand, with possible records from Chile.Apart from Little Penguins, they have several common names...
s also have colonies on the island . The island also provides haul-out
Hauling-out
Hauling-out is the behaviour associated with pinnipeds , of temporarily leaving the water between periods of foraging activity for sites on land or ice...
sites for New Zealand Fur Seal
New Zealand Fur Seal
The Australian fur seal , or New Zealand fur seal or southern fur seal, is a species of fur seal found around the south coast of Australia, the coast of the South Island of New Zealand, and some of the small islands to the south and east of there...
s with a population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
of approximately 100 being recorded on the island in 1990. Australian Sea Lion
Australian Sea Lion
The Australian Sea Lion , also known as the Australian Sea-lion or Australian Sealion, is a species of sea lion that breeds only on the south and west coasts of Australia...
s also make use of the island in smaller numbers.
Flora
The island has sufficient soilSoil
Soil is a natural body consisting of layers of mineral constituents of variable thicknesses, which differ from the parent materials in their morphological, physical, chemical, and mineralogical characteristics...
accumulated over its surface to support Berry Saltbush
Rhagodia baccata
Rhagodia baccata, commonly known as Berry Saltbush, is a species of shrub endemic to Western Australia.-Description:It is a spreading shrub up to two metres high, with elliptical leaves, and flowers that occur in a panicle. It bears red berries....
heathland
Heath (habitat)
A heath or heathland is a dwarf-shrub habitat found on mainly low quality acidic soils, characterised by open, low growing woody vegetation, often dominated by plants of the Ericaceae. There are some clear differences between heath and moorland...
.