Hunter Island Group Important Bird Area
Encyclopedia
The Hunter Island Group Important Bird Area comprises several islands in the Hunter and Trefoil Island Groups lying off the north-western coast of Tasmania
, Australia
. The islands are:
Hunter Island Group
Trefoil Island Group
Collectively, they have an area of 152 km2. They have been identified by BirdLife International
as an Important Bird Area
(IBA) because they support over 1% of the world populations of Cape Barren Geese
, Short-tailed Shearwater
s, Black-faced Cormorant
s, Sooty Oystercatcher
s and Pacific Gull
s. The IBA also supports the critically endangered
Orange-bellied Parrot
on its migration
route between Tasmania and mainland south-eastern Australia. Most of Tasmania's endemic bird species breed in the IBA.
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. The islands are:
Hunter Island Group
- Three Hummock IslandThree Hummock IslandThree Hummock Island is an island with an area of 70 km2 and a high point 237 m above sea-level, in Bass Strait, south-eastern Australia. It is part of Tasmania’s Hunter Island Group which lies between north-west Tasmania and King Island. The island is named after its three most...
- Hunter Island
- Steep Island
- Bird IslandBird Island (Tasmania)Bird Island is an island game reserve, with an area of 43.92 ha, in Bass Strait, south-eastern Australia. It is part of Tasmania’s Hunter Island Group which lies between north-west Tasmania and King Island...
- Stack IslandStack IslandStack Island is an island game reserve, with an area of 23.7 ha and a high point 54 m above sea-level, in Bass Strait, south-eastern Australia. It is part of Tasmania’s Hunter Island Group which lies between north-west Tasmania and King Island.-Fauna:...
- Penguin IsletPenguin Islet (Tasmania)Penguin Islet is a small island nature reserve with an area of 3.46 ha in Bass Strait, south-eastern Australia. It is part of Tasmania’s Hunter Island Group which lies between north-west Tasmania and King Island. It is notable as the only pelican colony in western Bass Strait.-Fauna:The island...
Trefoil Island Group
- Trefoil IslandTrefoil IslandTrefoil Island is an island with an area of 115.79 ha, in south-eastern Australia. It is part of Tasmania’s Trefoil Island Group, lying close to Cape Grim, Tasmania’s most north-westerly point, in Bass Strait...
- Little Trefoil IslandLittle Trefoil IslandLittle Trefoil Island is a small island with an area of 0.64 ha, in south-eastern Australia. It is part of Tasmania’s Trefoil Island Group, lying close to Cape Grim, Tasmania’s most north-westerly point, in Bass Strait.-Fauna:...
- Doughboy Island EastDoughboy Island EastDoughboy Island East is an island nature reserve, with an area of 7.01 ha, in south-eastern Australia. It is part of Tasmania’s Trefoil Island Group, lying close to Cape Grim, Tasmania’s most north-westerly point, in Bass Strait.-Fauna:...
- Doughboy Island WestDoughboy Island WestDoughboy Island West is an island nature reserve, with an area of 5.4 ha, in south-eastern Australia. It is part of Tasmania’s Trefoil Island Group, lying close to Cape Grim, Tasmania’s most north-westerly point, in Bass Strait.-Fauna:...
- Henderson Islets
- Harbour Islets (Tasmania)Harbour Islets (Tasmania)The Harbour Islets are a group of two adjacent small rocky islands, joined at low tide, with a combined area of 3.13 ha, in south-eastern Australia. They are part of Tasmania’s Trefoil Island Group, lying close to Cape Grim, Tasmania’s most north-westerly point, in Bass Strait.-Fauna:The islets...
- Murkay Islets
Collectively, they have an area of 152 km2. They have been identified 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...
as an Important Bird Area
Important Bird Area
An Important Bird Area is an area recognized as being globally important habitat for the conservation of bird populations. Currently there are about 10,000 IBAs worldwide. The program was developed and sites are identified by BirdLife International...
(IBA) because they support over 1% of the world populations of Cape Barren Geese
Cape Barren Goose
The Cape Barren Goose is a large goose resident in southern Australia. The species is named for Cape Barren Island, where specimens were first sighted by European explorers.-Taxonomy:...
, Short-tailed Shearwater
Short-tailed Shearwater
The Short-tailed Shearwater or Slender-billed Shearwater , also called Yolla or Moonbird, and commonly known as the muttonbird in Australia, is the most abundant seabird species in Australian waters, and is one of the few Australian native birds in which the chicks are commercially harvested...
s, Black-faced Cormorant
Black-faced Cormorant
The Black-faced Cormorant , also known as the Black-faced Shag, is a medium-sized member of the cormorant family. Upperparts, including facial skin and bill, are black, with white underparts. It is endemic to coastal regions of southern Australia.-Ecology:The Black-faced-Cormorant feeds largely on...
s, Sooty Oystercatcher
Sooty Oystercatcher
The Sooty Oystercatcher, Haematopus fuliginosus, is a species of oystercatcher. It is a wading bird native to Australia and commonly found on its coastline. It prefers rocky coastlines, but will occasionally live in estuaries....
s and Pacific Gull
Pacific Gull
The Pacific Gull is a very large gull, native to the coasts of Australia. It is moderately common between Carnarvon in the west, and Sydney in the east, although it has become scarce in some parts of the south-east, as a result of competition from the Kelp Gull, which has "self-introduced" since...
s. The IBA also supports the critically endangered
Critically endangered
Version 2010.3 of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species identified 3744 Critically Endangered species, subspecies and varieties, stocks and subpopulations.Critically Endangered by kingdom:*1993 Animalia*2 Fungi*1745 Plantae*4 Protista-References:...
Orange-bellied Parrot
Orange-bellied Parrot
The Orange-bellied Parrot is a small broad-tailed parrot endemic to southern Australia, and one of only two species of parrot which migrate. The adult male is distinguished by its bright grass-green upperparts, yellow underparts and orange belly patch. The adult female and juvenile are duller...
on its migration
Bird migration
Bird migration is the regular seasonal journey undertaken by many species of birds. Bird movements include those made in response to changes in food availability, habitat or weather. Sometimes, journeys are not termed "true migration" because they are irregular or in only one direction...
route between Tasmania and mainland south-eastern Australia. Most of Tasmania's endemic bird species breed in the IBA.