Everything about Montague Island totally explained
Montague Island is 9 kilometres offshore from
Narooma on the south coast of
New South Wales,
Australia.
Lighthouse
On the island is a
lighthouse maintained by the
Australian Maritime Safety Authority. The lighthouse was designed by
James Barnet and built in 1881. It was automated in 1986 and demanned in 1987. The lighthouse is 21 metres tall and the light is 80 metres above sea level with a nominal range of 20 nautical miles (37 km) and a geographic range of 17 nautical miles (31 km).
Intending visitors to the lighthouse (both day visitors and overnight stays ) must first check with the
National Parks and Wildlife Service
The next lighthouse to the north is the
Burrewarra Point lighthouse.
Location:
|
Latitude 36° 15' S. Longitude 150° 14' E |
Characteristic:
|
White flash every 7.5 Seconds |
Range:
|
20 nautical miles |
Date Established:
|
1880 |
Date Present Tower Built:
|
1881 |
Description of Tower:
|
The conical grey tower is constructed of locally hewn interlocking granite blocks which were quarried on the island. It is fitted with a bronze handrail. |
Tower Height:
|
21 metres |
Elevation of Light:
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80 metres above sea level |
Wildlife
Forty nine species of fauna have been recorded on the island by the New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service.
(Wildlife atlas)
Little Penguins
The island is home to a large colony of
Little Penguins on the island. As the island has no foxes or feral cats, the penguins have no predators other than other sea birds and seals. With the restoration of native habitat and the provision of penguin breeding boxes, penguin numbers have increased, and there are now approximately 12000 on the island. The female usually lays two eggs, and during a good year, both chicks will survive. The birds come ashore at dusk after feeding at sea, and visitors to the island can watch the birds from a platform near the jetty.
Crested Terns
Crested terns,
Sterna bergii, have brilliant white feathers covering the body while the head is completely black.
Shearwaters
Shearwaters, also known as mutton birds, nest on the island. Species recorded are:
Seals
The northern tip of the island is the seasonal home to a seal bachelor colony. Due to the site's remoteness, it's only possible for visitors to see them from a boat.
The majority of the seals are
Australian Fur Seals,
Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus.
New Zealand Fur Seals
(Arctocephalus forsteri),
Subantarctic Fur Seals
(Arctocephalus tropicalis), and
Australian Sea Lions
(Neophoca cinerea) have also been observed.
Environmental restoration
Weeds
Kikuyu is a major weed. Originally introduced in the early 19th century to help feed the animals kept by the lighthouse keepers and their families, it spread to cover most of the south island. The NPWS officers poison a section, then burn, before replanting with some help from volunteers. In the less accessible areas of the northern and eastern parts, an aerial spraying program is used to manage the kikuyu where it infests shearwater breeding sites. The kikuyu is a barrier for the shearwaters and penguins who can't penetrate it to move or to burrow.
Plantings
Various native species are used to replant areas after the kikuyu grass has been controlled
Further Information
Get more info on 'Montague Island'.
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