Albatross Island (Tasmania)

Albatross Island
(Tangatema)
Albatross Island (Tangatema) is located in Tasmania
Albatross Island (Tangatema)
Albatross Island
(Tangatema)
Location of the Albatross Island in Bass Strait
Geography
LocationBass Strait
Coordinates40°23′S 144°39′E / 40.383°S 144.650°E / -40.383; 144.650
ArchipelagoHunter Island Group
Area18 ha (44 acres)
Administration
StateTasmania

The Albatross Island, part of the Hunter Island Group, is an 18-hectare (44-acre) island and nature reserve located in Bass Strait, that lies between north-west Tasmania and King Island, Australia. The Peerapper name for the island is Tangatema.[1]

The island is part of the Albatross Island and Black Pyramid Rock Important Bird Area that is notable for its breeding colony of 5,000 pairs of shy albatross, some 40% of the world population of the species.[2][3]

Fauna

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Apart from shy albatross, breeding seabirds and shorebirds include little penguin, short-tailed shearwater, fairy prion, Pacific gull, silver gull and sooty oystercatcher. A pair of white-bellied sea eagles usually nests there annually. The island is visited regularly by Australian fur seals and New Zealand fur seals. Reptiles include the metallic skink and Tasmanian tree skink.[4]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Milligan, Joseph (1858). "On the dialects and languages of the Aboriginal Tribes of Tasmania, and on their manners and customs" (PDF). Papers of the Royal Society of Tasmania: 271.
  2. ^ "IBA: Albatross Island & Black Pyramid Rock". Birdata. Birds Australia. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
  3. ^ Small Bass Strait Island Reserves. Draft Management Plan, Department of Primary Industries,Water and Environment. Tasmania, October 2000, archived from the original on 30 March 2011, retrieved 4 February 2012
  4. ^ Brothers, Nigel; Pemberton, David; Pryor, Helen; & Halley, Vanessa. (2001). Tasmania’s Offshore Islands: seabirds and other natural features. Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery: Hobart. ISBN 0-7246-4816-X