Current view: Text account
Site description (2008 baseline):
Site location and context
The IBA is identical to Goose Island Conservation Park, which consists of a small group of islands situated between the Yorke Peninsula and the 2000 ha Wardang Island in Spencer Gulf. Goose Island (2 ha), which is located 4.5 km from the mainland but only 550 m from Wardang Island, rises to a height of 26 m and is dominated by African Boxthorn on clay and calcarenite soils. Little Goose Island, White Rocks and Seal Rocks are small rocky reefs close to Goose Island that consist of exposed rock with a few African Boxthorn shrubs. Rocky Island, to the south-west, midway between Wadang Island and the mainland, is also mostly rocky with few stunted bushes growing from guano deposits. The intervening Green Island has a few birds, and is not a part of the conservation park or the IBA.
An unknown number of Pacific Gulls bred on Little Goose Island in 1981 (Copley 1996).
Non-bird biodiversity: The IBA contains breeding and refuge habitat of the Australian Sea-lion, which is listed as a threatened species under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Numbers and nesting success of Black-faced Cormorants should be monitored.
Goose Island Conservation Park extends to the low water mark. Goose Island Aquatic Reserve protects the waters surrounding Goose Island.
South Australian State Government with management the responsibility of the Department for Environment and Heritage.
The nomination was prepared by Birds Australia with assistance from Peter Copley. Emma Ginman provided comments on the nomination.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Goose Island (Spencer Gulf) (Australia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/goose-island-(spencer-gulf)-iba-australia on 23/12/2024.
