Point Danger (Portland)

Australasian gannet

Point Danger is a headland on the coast of south-western Victoria, Australia. It lies at the western end of Portland Bay, on the northern side of Bass Strait, about 6 km south-south-east of the city of Portland. Cape Nelson lies 2.5 km to the south-west and the Lawrence Rocks 2 km to the south-east.

Gannet colony

Maremma Sheepdog

Point Danger is home to a colony of Australasian gannets, largely a result of spillover from the nearby Lawrence Rocks colony exceeding its capacity.[1] Established in October 1996, it is Australia’s only mainland gannet colony; all others are on islands. However, in the first year of its existence no chicks were produced because of human disturbance and predation by foxes and feral cats. The gannets have subsequently been protected both by limiting public access to a viewing site overlooking the colony and by the presence of two Maremma Sheepdogs to deter predators. Colony size has grown to about 3000 birds.[2]

References

  1. ↑ "Project 2: Assessing geographic variation in the diet and foraging ecology of Australasian Gannets" (PDF). Honours Projects 2011 in Environmental and Biological Sciences. Deakin University. Retrieved 2012-09-07.
  2. ↑ Anon (Summer 2008/2009). "The Gannet Colony from Point Danger" (PDF). BSSA’s Field Guide. Biology Society of South Australia (37): 11–12. Check date values in: |date= (help)

Coordinates: 38°23′35″S 141°38′58″E / 38.39306°S 141.64944°E / -38.39306; 141.64944


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