Needle Rocks
43°39′45″S 146°15′19″E / 43.66250°S 146.25528°E / -43.66250; 146.25528
The Needle Rocks, also known as the Needles, are a group of five main rock islets located close to the south-western coast of Tasmania, Australia. With a combined area of approximately 10.5 hectares (0.041 sq mi), the islets are part of the Maatsuyker Islands Group, and comprise part of the Southwest National Park and the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Site.[1][2]
The Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse is located on Maatsuyker Island and illuminates the Needle Rocks.
Fauna
The vegetation is dominated by the pig face, a succulent plant.
The islets are part of the Maatsuyker Island Group Important Bird Area, identified as such by BirdLife International because of its importance as a breeding site for seabirds.[3] Recorded breeding seabird and wader species are the little penguin (40 pairs), short-tailed shearwater (860 pairs), fairy prion (10,600 pairs), Pacific gull, silver gull, sooty oystercatcher and black-faced cormorant. The metallic skink is present. Up to 1200 Australian fur seals use the rocks as a regular haul-out site.[2]
See also
References
- ^ a b "Small Southern Islands Conservation Management Statement 2002" (PDF). Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service. 2002. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 August 2006. Retrieved 20 July 2006.
- ^ a b Brothers, Nigel; Pemberton, David; Pryor, Helen; & Halley, Vanessa. (2001). Tasmania’s Offshore Islands: seabirds and other natural features. Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery: Hobart. ISBN 0-7246-4816-X
- ^ "Important Bird Area factsheet: Maatsuyker Island Group". Archived from the original on 23 May 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
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- Braddon (federal)
- Franklin (federal)
- Braddon (state)
- Franklin (state)
- Derwent Valley Council
- Huon Valley Council
- West Coast Council
Frankland Range |
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Arthur Range | |
King William Range | |
Prince of Wales Range (Tasmania) |
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parks and reserves
- Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park
- Melaleuca to Birchs Inlet Important Bird Area
- Port Davey/Bathurst Harbour Marine Nature Reserve
- Port Davey Islands Important Bird Area
- Southwest National Park
- South West Wilderness
- Tasman Fracture Commonwealth Marine Reserve
- Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area
Franklin controversy
- High Rocky Point
- Low Rocky Point
- Point Hibbs
- South Coast
- South West Cape
Railways |
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Natural | |
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Man-made |
- Bob Brown
- Peter Dombrovskis
- Helen Gee
- James Goodwin
- Brenda Hean
- Richard Jones
- Deny King
- Eric Reece
- Olegas Truchanas
- T. B. Moore
- Eddystone
- Hibbs Pyramid
- Inner Rocks
- Sidmouth Rock
Breaksea |
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Maatsuyker (group) |
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Swainson (group) | |
Mutton Bird (group) | |
Pedra Branca | |
Trumpeter |
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