West Moncoeur Island
West Moncoeur Island is located in Tasmania
West Moncoeur Island
West Moncoeur Island
Geography
LocationBass Strait
Coordinates39°14′0″S 146°30′20″E / 39.23333°S 146.50556°E / -39.23333; 146.50556
Area9 ha (22 acres)
Administration
StateTasmania

West Moncoeur Island is a granite island, ringed by steep cliffs, with an area of 9.18 ha, in south-eastern Australia. It is part of Tasmania’s Rodondo Group, lying in northern Bass Strait south of Wilsons Promontory in Victoria. It is a nature reserve.[1][2]

The island was sighted by Lieutenant James Grant on 9 December 1800 from the survey brig HMS Lady Nelson and named after "Captain Moncur of the Royal navy".[3]

Fauna

Recorded breeding seabird and wader species include short-tailed shearwater, fairy prion, common diving-petrel, Pacific gull, and sooty oystercatcher.[1] The island is part of the Wilsons Promontory Islands Important Bird Area, identified as such by BirdLife International because of its importance for breeding seabirds.[4] The metallic skink is present. The island holds an important breeding colony of Australian fur seals, with about 250 pups being born there annually.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c 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. ^ Small Bass Strait Island Reserves. Draft Management Plan, Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment. Tasmania, October 2000, retrieved 4 February 2012
  3. ^ Grant, James (1803). The narrative of a voyage of discovery, performed in His Majesty's vessel the Lady Nelson, of sixty tons burthen: with sliding keels, in the years 1800, 1801, and 1802, to New South Wales. Printed by C. Roworth for T. Egerton. p. 77. ISBN 978-0-7243-0036-5. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
  4. ^ "IBA: Wilsons Promontory Islands". Birdata. Birds Australia. Retrieved 29 November 2011.
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