Current view: Text account
Site description (2008 baseline):
Site location and context
The Bountiful Islands are a group of small islands (6808ha) in the southern Gulf of Carpentaria. North Bountiful supported a large colony of Crested Terns; south-east Bountiful supported a large colony of Roseate Terns. Some of these islands were formerly covered with Pisonia grandis, but they are now largely grassy supporting substantial breeding populations of seabirds and sea turtles. They are generally low-lying but are based on a laterised ironstone which forms low cliffs along one side of North Bountiful Island. The climate is monsoonal with rain from December to April and a long dry season from May to November.
Small colonies of Bridled Tern, Little Tern, Caspian Tern, Silver Gull and Australian Pelican also occur on these islands (Walker 1992).
Non-bird biodiversity: The island is one of the largest known breeding sites of Green Turtles, with turtles emerging during the day between breeding attempts (Walker 1992).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Monitor tourism and numbers of nesting terns.
Traditional owners are Lardil people: Bountiful Island is known as Meldan or Meldanga. http://www.environment.gov.au/indigenous/publications/pubs/thuwathu-bujimulla-plan.pdf. Native title exists over the islands.
Site access / Land-owner requests
Permission to visit islands should be sought from Mornington Island Shire Council.
Nomination prepared by Stephen Garnett.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Bountiful Islands (Australia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/bountiful-islands-iba-australia on 23/11/2024.
