St Helens Island

View of St Helens Island
St Helens Island is on the right hand side of this aerial photo

St Helens Island is a granite island, with an area of 51 ha, part of the Waterhouse Island Group, lying close to the north-eastern coast of Tasmania. The island is a conservation area, though it has been burnt in the past and is still subject to severe rabbit grazing.[1] The island forms part of the St Helens Important Bird Area, identified as such by BirdLife International because of its importance as a breeding site for seabirds and waders.[2]

Fauna

Recorded breeding seabird species are little penguin, short-tailed shearwater, common diving-petrel, white-faced storm-petrel, Pacific gull and silver gull. European rabbits have been introduced. The metallic skink is present.[1]

Other islands in the Waterhouse Group with breeding seabirds include:[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 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
  2. "IBA: St Helens (Tasmania)". Birdata. Birds Australia. Retrieved 2011-10-24.


Coordinates: 41°20′S 148°20′E / 41.333°S 148.333°E / -41.333; 148.333


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