Data Zone
Country/territory: Australia
IBA Criteria met: A4i, A4ii (2009)
For more information about IBA criteria please click here
Area: 185 ha
Protection status:
| Most recent IBA monitoring assessment | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | Threat score (pressure) | Condition score (state) | Action score (response) |
| 2008 | medium | not assessed | not assessed |
| For more information about IBA monitoring please click here | |||
Site description
Betsey Island and Little Betsey Island are located just off the south-east coast of Tasmania between Tasman Peninsula and Bruny Island. Betsey Island (175 ha) has steep rocky cliffs on the east, south and west sides and a small rocky beach on the north. The west side has a gentler slope gradient and open sandy terrain which is more suitable for burrowing birds. Open woodlands consisting of Tasmanian Blue Gum cover most of the island. The main rock type is dolerite with some sandstone outcrops in the north-east. Little Betsey Island (0.75 ha) is a steep sided rock with a platform on the top. Old remains of buildings can be found from when the island was farmed (Brothers et al. 2001).
Key biodiversity
Other birds found on Betsey and Little Betsey Islands are the Kelp Gull (three pairs and 11 individuals recorded by Brothers et al. [2001] but higher numbers have been observed [E. Woehler in litt. 2008]) and White-bellied Sea-Eagle (one breeding pair recorded by Brothers et al. [2001]). Swamp Harriers also nest on the island (E. Woehler in litt. 2008).
Non-bird biodiversity: Other animals found on Betsey Island and Little Betsey Island are Rabbit, White's Skink and the She-oak Skink. Vegetation includes Eucalyptus globulus, Tetragonia implexicoma and the invasive weeds Cape Leeuwin Wattle and African Boxthorn (Brothers et al. 2001).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2020) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Betsey Island. Downloaded from
http://www.birdlife.org on 04/06/2020.
