Location off the
south western coast of
Tasmania | |
Geography | |
---|---|
Location | South western Tasmania |
Coordinates | 43°20′24″S 145°57′00″E / 43.34000°S 145.95000°E |
Archipelago | Swainson Islands Group |
Adjacent to | |
Total islands | 5 |
Area | 2.72 ha (6.7 acres) [1] |
Administration | |
Australia | |
State | Tasmania |
Region | South West |
Demographics | |
Population | Unpopulated |
The Shanks Islands form a group of five small rocky islets located close to the south-western coast of Tasmania, Australia. Situated near where the mouth of Port Davey meets the Southern Ocean, the islets have a combined area of 2.72 hectares (6.7 acres) and are part of the Swainson Islands Group. They comprise part of the Southwest National Park and the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Site. [1] [2]
The islets are part of the Port Davey Islands Important Bird Area, so identified by BirdLife International because of its importance for breeding seabirds. [3] Recorded breeding seabird and wader species are the little penguin, short-tailed shearwater (8,700 pairs), fairy prion (5,000 pairs), silver gull, sooty oystercatcher and Caspian tern. [2]