Five Islands Nature Reserve

Five Islands Nature Reserve is a 26 ha reserve comprising five small islands close to Port Kembla, New South Wales, Australia. The islands - Flinders Islet, Bass Islet, Martin Islet, Big Island and Rocky Islet - lie between 0.5 and 3.5 km off the coast. The reserve was originally dedicated as a Fauna Reserve in 1960; it is considered significant for its biological and Aboriginal heritage values and is managed by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.Anon. (2005). "Five Islands Nature Reserve – Plan of Management". Dept of Environment & Conservation (NSW). ISBN 1-74122-051-3 [http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resources/parks/POMFinalFiveIslandsNR.pdf] ]

History

At the height of the last ice-age some 18,000 years ago, with a lower sea-level, the islands were part of the mainland. When Europeans first visited the area around and immediately south of Sydney in the late 18th century, the mainland coast opposite the Five Islands was occupied by the Tharawal (or Dharawal) people.

Cattle and rabbits were introduced to the islands before 1861. In 1867 a house was built on Big Island by the Perkins family, who lived there until 1872, grazing cattle and catching sharks. In the early 20th century the sea floor to the west of Big Island was mined for shells.

Flora and fauna

The vegetation communities of the Five Islands, and especially Big Island have been degraded because of previous human usage and the introduction of exotic species of animals and plants. A major problem is the presence of Kikuyu grass on Big Island, which hinders the recovery of native vegetation and the burrowing activities of petrels.

The reserve is important for seabirds, on which ongoing research is carried out by the Southern Oceans Seabird Study Association. Species recorded as breeding on one or more islands of the reserve include the Sooty Oystercatcher, Little Penguin, Wedge-tailed Shearwater, Short-tailed Shearwater, Crested Tern, White-faced Storm-petrel, Silver Gull, Kelp Gull and Australian Pelican. Reptiles present in the reserve include the Eastern Water Skink, Common Garden Skink, Weasel Skink and Three-toed Skink. Marine mammals recorded as occasionally hauling-out on the intertidal fringes of the islands include the Australian Fur Seal and the Leopard Seal.

References

External links

* [http://www2.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/parks.nsf/ParkContent/N0428?Opendocument&ParkKey=N0428&Type=Xo Five Islands Nature Reserve]