Shag Island (South Australia)

Shag Island
Shag Island
Geography
Location Spencer Gulf
Administration
Australia

Shag Island is a low island located at the mouth of Fisherman's Bay in Spencer Gulf, South Australia. It is approximately 22 ha (54 acres) in size[1] with a peak elevation of approximately 4 metres (13 feet).[2] It is uninhabited by humans but is home to thousands of cormorants which roost and breed there. It is also an important nursery-ground for fish.[3] In April 2013, the discovery of several sick and dead cormorants near Fisherman's Bay raised public concerns for the health of the Shag Island colony.[4] The discovery coincided with significant fish and dolphin mortality events around the state, mostly concentrated in Spencer Gulf and Gulf St. Vincent.[5]

Wildlife

The following birds have been recorded at Shag Island: great cormorant, little black cormorant, pied cormorant, little pied cormorant, red-necked stint, sharp-tailed sandpiper, red-capped plover, banded stilt, bar-tailed godwit, grey plover, common greenshank and masked lapwing.[6]

References

  1. ↑ Map of Shag Island, SA Bonzle.com. Accessed 2014-01-18.
  2. ↑ Shag Island (island) Geoview.info Accessed 2014-01-18.
  3. ↑ "Port Broughton Fishing Charter" Postcards (2009-05-03). Retrieved 2014-01-18.
  4. ↑ Mooney, Mark "Bird deaths have locals puzzled" 7 News Adelaide, South Australia (2013-04-30). Retrieved 2014-01-18.
  5. ↑ "Fish & Dolphin Mortalities in South Australia March-April 2013 - Final Report" PIRSA, Government of South Australia (2013-05-31). Retrieved 2014-01-18.
  6. ↑ Explore Your Area > Shag Island Atlas of Living Australia. Accessed 2014-01-18.

Coordinates: 33°33′30″S 137°55′09″E / 33.55833°S 137.91917°E / -33.55833; 137.91917

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.