Current view: Text account
Site description (2008 baseline):
Site location and context
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).
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).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Eradicate rabbits and manage Cape Leeuwin Wattle in a way that doesn't create excessive erosion or loss of substrate for burrow-nesting birds. Use of gill nets should be regulated to minimise impacts on penguins and cormorants.
Betsey Island Nature Reserve
State Government Nature Reserve
Site access / Land-owner requests
Permission should be sought from DPIW before visiting this Nature Reserve.
The nomination was prepared by Birds Australia. Rachael Alderman and Rosemary Gales of DPIW and Eric Woehler kindly commented on the nomination.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Betsey Island (Australia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/betsey-island-iba-australia on 23/11/2024.
