Ninth Island
Encyclopedia
Ninth Island is an island, with an area of 32 ha
, in south-eastern Australia
. It is part of the Waterhouse Island Group, lying close to the north-eastern coast of Tasmania
. It is partly privately owned and has been badly affected in the past by grazing, frequent fires and, in July 1995, by the Iron Baron
oil spill
which killed between 2000 and 6000 Little Penguins. The island forms part of the Ninth and Little Waterhouse Islands Important Bird Area
(IBA), so identified by BirdLife International
because it holds over 1% of the world population of Black-faced Cormorant
s.
s and wader
s include the Little Penguin
, Short-tailed Shearwater
, Common Diving-Petrel, White-faced Storm-Petrel
, Pacific Gull
, Silver Gull
, Sooty Oystercatcher
and Crested Tern. Cape Barren Geese
also breed there, European Rabbit
s have been introduced and the Southern Grass Skink
is present.
Other islands in the Waterhouse Group with breeding seabirds include:
Hectare
The hectare is a metric unit of area defined as 10,000 square metres , and primarily used in the measurement of land. In 1795, when the metric system was introduced, the are was defined as being 100 square metres and the hectare was thus 100 ares or 1/100 km2...
, in south-eastern Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It is part of the Waterhouse Island Group, lying close to the north-eastern coast of Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
. It is partly privately owned and has been badly affected in the past by grazing, frequent fires and, in July 1995, by the Iron Baron
Iron Baron
MV Iron Baron was a 37,557 dwt bulk carrier built in 1985 and chartered by BHP. On 10 July 1995 it was nearing the end of a voyage transporting 24,000 tonnes of manganese ore from Groote Eylandt via Port Kembla to the port of Launceston in northern Tasmania, Australia. Weather conditions at the...
oil spill
Oil spill
An oil spill is the release of a liquid petroleum hydrocarbon into the environment, especially marine areas, due to human activity, and is a form of pollution. The term is mostly used to describe marine oil spills, where oil is released into the ocean or coastal waters...
which killed between 2000 and 6000 Little Penguins. The island forms part of the Ninth and Little Waterhouse Islands Important Bird Area
Important Bird Area
An Important Bird Area is an area recognized as being globally important habitat for the conservation of bird populations. Currently there are about 10,000 IBAs worldwide. The program was developed and sites are identified by BirdLife International...
(IBA), so identified by BirdLife International
BirdLife International
BirdLife International is a global Partnership of conservation organisations that strives to conserve birds, their habitats and global biodiversity, working with people towards sustainability in the use of natural resources...
because it holds over 1% of the world population of Black-faced Cormorant
Black-faced Cormorant
The Black-faced Cormorant , also known as the Black-faced Shag, is a medium-sized member of the cormorant family. Upperparts, including facial skin and bill, are black, with white underparts. It is endemic to coastal regions of southern Australia.-Ecology:The Black-faced-Cormorant feeds largely on...
s.
Fauna
As well as the Black-faced Cormorants, recorded breeding seabirdSeabird
Seabirds are birds that have adapted to life within the marine environment. While seabirds vary greatly in lifestyle, behaviour and physiology, they often exhibit striking convergent evolution, as the same environmental problems and feeding niches have resulted in similar adaptations...
s and wader
Wader
Waders, called shorebirds in North America , are members of the order Charadriiformes, excluding the more marine web-footed seabird groups. The latter are the skuas , gulls , terns , skimmers , and auks...
s include the Little Penguin
Little Penguin
The Little Penguin is the smallest species of penguin. The penguin, which usually grows to an average of in height and in length , is found on the coastlines of southern Australia and New Zealand, with possible records from Chile.Apart from Little Penguins, they have several common names...
, Short-tailed Shearwater
Short-tailed Shearwater
The Short-tailed Shearwater or Slender-billed Shearwater , also called Yolla or Moonbird, and commonly known as the muttonbird in Australia, is the most abundant seabird species in Australian waters, and is one of the few Australian native birds in which the chicks are commercially harvested...
, Common Diving-Petrel, White-faced Storm-Petrel
White-faced Storm-petrel
The White-faced Storm Petrel , also known as White-faced Petrel is a small seabird of the storm-petrel family. It is the only member of the monotypic genus Pelagodroma....
, Pacific Gull
Pacific Gull
The Pacific Gull is a very large gull, native to the coasts of Australia. It is moderately common between Carnarvon in the west, and Sydney in the east, although it has become scarce in some parts of the south-east, as a result of competition from the Kelp Gull, which has "self-introduced" since...
, Silver Gull
Silver Gull
The Silver Gull also known simply as "seagull" in Australia, is the most common gull seen in Australia. It has been found throughout the continent, but particularly coastal areas. The South African Hartlaub's Gull and the New Zealand Red-billed Gull The Silver Gull (Chroicocephalus...
, Sooty Oystercatcher
Sooty Oystercatcher
The Sooty Oystercatcher, Haematopus fuliginosus, is a species of oystercatcher. It is a wading bird native to Australia and commonly found on its coastline. It prefers rocky coastlines, but will occasionally live in estuaries....
and Crested Tern. Cape Barren Geese
Cape Barren Goose
The Cape Barren Goose is a large goose resident in southern Australia. The species is named for Cape Barren Island, where specimens were first sighted by European explorers.-Taxonomy:...
also breed there, European Rabbit
European Rabbit
The European Rabbit or Common Rabbit is a species of rabbit native to south west Europe and north west Africa . It has been widely introduced elsewhere often with devastating effects on local biodiversity...
s have been introduced and the Southern Grass Skink
Southern Grass Skink
The Southern Grass Skink is a skink endemic to Australia, where it is found in the south-east of the continent, as well as in Tasmania and the islands of Bass Strait. Although it occurs in a variety of habitats, it is most commonly found in open grassy woodlands.The Southern Grass Skinks gives...
is present.
Other islands in the Waterhouse Group with breeding seabirds include:
- Tenth IslandTenth IslandTenth Island is a small island nature reserve, sometimes called "Barrenjoey", with an area of 900 m2, in south-eastern Australia. It is part of the Waterhouse Island Group, lying close to the north-eastern coast of Tasmania...
- Waterhouse Island
- Little Waterhouse IslandLittle Waterhouse IslandLittle Waterhouse Island is a small island, with an area of 2.5 ha, in south-eastern Australia. It is part of the Waterhouse Island Group, lying close to the north-eastern coast of Tasmania. Most of the island is bare rock...
- Maclean IslandMaclean IslandMaclean Island is a small island, with an area of 1.11 ha, in south-eastern Australia. It is part of the Waterhouse Island Group, lying close to the north-eastern coast of Tasmania.-Fauna:...
- Baynes IslandBaynes IslandBaynes Island is a group of three islets, connected at low tide, with a combined area of 1.62 ha, in south-eastern Australia. It is part of the Waterhouse Island Group, lying close to the north-eastern coast of Tasmania.-Fauna:...
- Cygnet Island
- Foster IslandsFoster Islands (Tasmania)The Foster Islands are two small islands, connected at low tide, with a combined area of 48 ha, in south-eastern Australia. They are part of the Waterhouse Island Group, lying close to the north-eastern coast of Tasmania...
- Swan IslandSwan Island (Tasmania)Swan Island is a granite island, with an area of 239 ha , in south-eastern Australia. It is part of the Waterhouse Island Group, lying close to the north-eastern coast of Tasmania. Part of the island is privately owned and it contains an automated lighthouse, several houses and an airstrip. It...
- Little Swan IslandLittle Swan IslandLittle Swan Island is an island, with an area of 12.64 ha, in south-eastern Australia. It is part of the Waterhouse Island Group, lying close to the north-eastern coast of Tasmania.-Fauna:...
- Bird RockBird RockBird Rock is a small granite island, with an area of about 1 ha, in south-eastern Australia. It is part of the Waterhouse Island Group, lying close to the north-eastern coast of Tasmania.-Fauna:...
- George RocksGeorge RocksGeorge Rocks comprises three adjacent granite islets with their associated reefs, with a combined area of about 7 ha, in south-eastern Australia...
- St Helens IslandSt Helens IslandSt Helens Island is a granite island, with an area of 51 ha, in south-eastern Australia. It is 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...
- Paddys IslandPaddys IslandPaddys Island is a flat granite island, with an area of 4.6 ha, in south-eastern Australia. It is part of the Waterhouse Island Group, lying close to the north-eastern coast of Tasmania...