Albatross Island (Tasmania)

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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