Damon Mcknight
Middle Island is the name of at least three different islands in Australia. One Middle Island is located in South Australia, in Spencer Gulf within Pondalowie Bay on the Yorke Peninsula. Another Middle Island is located off the coast of north-west Western Australia, within the Lacepede Islands group. A third Middle Island is located off the coast of south-western Victoria, in Stingray Bay next to the city of Warrnambool. This island is known for its colony of little penguins and is the subject of the 2015 film Oddball. Australia has 8,222 islands within its maritime borders, including Tasmania and Kangaroo Island.
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What You'll Learn
Middle Island, Warrnambool, Victoria
Middle Island is a small island of around 1.5 to 2 hectares in size, located in Stingray Bay, close to the shore of south-western Victoria, Australia. It is situated near Warrnambool Harbour and is a wildlife sanctuary that is home to a variety of bird species, most notably a colony of Little Penguins (Eudyptula minor). The Little Penguin is the smallest of all penguin species, standing at about 40 cm tall and weighing around 1 kg. They are strong swimmers, capable of diving to depths of 50 meters and swimming at speeds of up to 8 km/h.
The island has a flattened upper surface that rises to about 17 meters above the high-tide mark and is vegetated with salt-tolerant shrubs and grasses, including introduced species such as African Boxthorn and Mirror Bush. The first records mentioning birdlife on Middle Island date back to 1855 when Warrnambool's first fully manned lighthouse station was constructed.
Middle Island has been a crucial habitat for the Little Penguins, providing them with nesting burrows and artificial nesting boxes to raise their young from August to February. However, in the early 2000s, the penguin population faced a significant threat from predators such as foxes and stray dogs, which could access the island during low tide. This led to a sharp decline in the penguin numbers, reaching a low of ten breeding pairs by 2005.
To address this issue, the Warrnambool City Council took several measures, including erecting a boardwalk to restrict public access and installing nest boxes to prevent cave-ins. Additionally, in 2006, they implemented a unique solution suggested by a local chicken farmer, Swampy Marsh, who proposed using Maremma guard dogs to protect the penguin colonies, just as he had successfully done for his free-range chickens. The introduction of these guardian dogs proved to be a huge success, with no reported fox attacks since their arrival and a steady increase in the penguin colony's size.
The story of Middle Island and its penguin colony has captured the imagination of many, even inspiring a movie, "Oddball" (2015), and a National Geographic documentary, "Oddball: The Nature of A Movie." The island continues to be a popular tourist destination for those wishing to catch a glimpse of these charming little penguins in their natural habitat.
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Middle Island, South Australia
Middle Island is an island located in the Australian state of South Australia. It is situated in Spencer Gulf within Pondalowie Bay on the south-western coast of Yorke Peninsula. With an approximate area of 28 hectares (69 acres), it is the largest of three islands within the bay. Middle Island was first established as a protected area for fauna conservation in 1967 and is now part of the Innes National Park.
The island is recognised as an important habitat for a variety of bird species, including the little penguin, black-faced cormorant, Caspian tern, and sooty oystercatcher. A 1996 survey of South Australia's offshore islands identified Middle Island as a breeding site for little penguins. To protect the island's biodiversity and conserve its vulnerable species, it has been designated a ''no-access' area for the general public.
Another Middle Island is located in Stingray Bay, off the shore of south-western Victoria, near the city of Warrnambool. This smaller Middle Island, covering about 2 hectares, is a wildlife sanctuary for breeding colonies of Australian little penguins and short-tailed shearwaters. Due to the threat posed by predators like foxes and stray dogs during low tide, this island is also closed to the public.
In 2006, a unique initiative was implemented on this island to protect the penguins from foxes by deploying Maremma Sheepdogs, specifically trained for this purpose. These dogs work in pairs and spend a significant portion of the breeding season on the island, safeguarding the penguins. Sadly, in 2021, Eudy, the first Maremma trained for penguin protection, passed away from bone cancer and was laid to rest on the island.
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Middle Island, Lacepede Islands
The Lacepede Islands, or simply the Lacepedes, are a group of four islands lying off the Kimberley coast of Western Australia, about 120 kilometres (75 miles) north of Broome. The islands were named by French explorer Nicolas Baudin in 1801, in honour of naturalist Bernard Germain de Lacepède, who described several Australian fish species. The islands were originally named Napoleon, Grant and Victoria Islands but are now known as West Island, Middle Island, Sandy Island and East Island.
Middle Island is part of a 12-kilometre (7.5 mi) long chain of islands that are small, low spits of coarse sand and coral rubble, lying atop a platform coral reef. The islands are treeless but support low vegetation and the average annual rainfall is about 750 mm.
The Lacepedes were mined for guano in the 19th century, with much of the mining conducted by Western Australian industry. However, there was also extensive unauthorised mining by trading ships from other countries, especially the United States. This led to a diplomatic row known as the "American Incident" or "Lacepede Islands Incident", which was eventually resolved with the Western Australian government enacting legislation requiring all guano mining to be licensed.
Today, the Lacepede Islands are an A-class Nature Reserve, recognised as one of the most significant breeding grounds in the world for a number of bird species. They are also an important breeding site for green turtles and have been identified as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International because they support over 1% of the world's population of brown boobies and roseate terns. The islands are also home to "Ta-Ta Lizards" and have frequent sightings of humpback whales during their northern migration in winter and early spring.
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Middle Island's bird and wildlife
The Mud Islands reserve, located within Port Phillip, about 90 km southwest of Melbourne, Australia, is home to a diverse range of bird and wildlife. The reserve consists of three low-lying islands, surrounded by a shallow tidal lagoon, and was formed to protect and manage wildlife, particularly the white-faced storm petrel. The isolation of the islands provides a safe haven for breeding seabirds, with around 5,500 white-faced storm petrels nesting in burrows during the summer months.
The Mud Islands are part of the Swan Bay and Port Phillip Bay Islands Important Bird Area, recognised by BirdLife International. The islands provide essential breeding, feeding, and roosting grounds for seabirds and waders, with approximately 70 bird species recorded. Pied oystercatchers and red-capped plovers breed undisturbed, while the rare orange-bellied parrot, a migratory bird from Tasmania, has been spotted on the islands during the winter.
The islands also support a variety of other wildlife. The surrounding seagrass meadows, sand dunes, mudflats, and salt marshes provide habitats for marine invertebrates, fish, and birds. The islands' shape is constantly evolving due to wind and tide, but the presence of a salt marsh helps stabilise the land.
Access to the Mud Islands is only possible by boat, with Queenscliff and Sorrento being the most convenient departure points. Day visits are permitted, but overnight camping is not allowed. Visitors must exercise caution when landing due to the shallow waters surrounding the islands.
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Protecting Middle Island's birds and wildlife
Middle Island, a small island in southwestern Victoria, Australia, is home to a variety of bird species, including the Australian little penguin and short-tailed shearwaters. Due to its proximity to the coast, the island is vulnerable to predators such as foxes and stray dogs, which has led to a decline in the penguin population. To address this issue, a project was initiated in 2006 to protect the birds using Maremma Sheepdogs, specifically trained to safeguard penguins. These dogs work in pairs and spend a significant portion of the breeding season on the island, serving as a deterrent to foxes.
Middle Island's status as a wildlife sanctuary and the efforts to conserve its bird population are not limited to the use of guardian dogs. The island has been closed to general public access to minimise human disturbance and ensure the penguins' safety. Additionally, conservationists employ captive management techniques, where birds are kept in protected environments, fed specialised diets, and carefully monitored during breeding. This approach has been successful in boosting the chances of survival for various bird species.
The conservation of Middle Island's bird species is an ongoing commitment. The island sanctuary requires constant monitoring to prevent re-invasions of mammalian predators and ensure the safety of the bird population. This dedicated conservation effort is similar to initiatives in other regions, such as New Zealand, where native bird species face similar threats. By utilising techniques like predator-proof fencing, eradication of pests, and translocation of populations, conservationists aim to protect and enhance the genetic diversity of bird species.
The protection of Middle Island's birds and wildlife involves a combination of strategies, including the use of guardian dogs, restricted public access, captive management techniques, and ongoing monitoring. These measures reflect the importance of preserving the island's unique ecosystem and the vulnerable species that call it home. The success of these conservation efforts is vital for the survival of the Australian little penguin and other bird species that depend on Middle Island as their habitat.
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Frequently asked questions
Middle Island is a small island lying close to the shore of southwestern Victoria, in Stingray Bay next to the city of Warrnambool.
Middle Island is an island in the Australian state of South Australia, located in Spencer Gulf within Pondalowie Bay on the southwestern coast of Yorke Peninsula.
Yes, there is a Middle Island within the Lacepede Islands group, about 30 kilometres off the coast of the Dampier Peninsula in northwestern Western Australia.
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