Point Danger Committee of Management
The Colony of Australasian Gannets breeding at Point Danger is unique being Australia’s only breeding site fr this species
Australasian Gannets are a large and distinctive seabird common to the waters of southern Australia. They are often seen roaming coastal waters looking fro small fish such as pilchards, which they capture by plunge diving into the water at great speeds, reaching depths of up to 15- 20 metres further propelling themselves under water by flapping their wings.
Australasian Gannets, like other sea birds spend most of their lives at sea, only returning to land to breed.Gannets breed in large coastal colonies in Port Phillip Bay, at Point Danger and Lawrence Rocks near Portland and on islands of Tasmania’s southern coast.
Typically, Gannets return to breed where they were born. finding a partner which they will breed with for life. Breeding takes place once a year commencing around September and extends through until late February during which time they will raise one chick. In recent years the number of Gannets breeding in Australian waters has been increasing leading to the establishment of new breeding colonies.
Point Danger is also home to;
Southern Brown Bandicoot
The Southern Brown Bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus) occurs across southern and eastern Australia as a series of isolated regional populations. Historical records and recent surveys conducted indicate that it has disappeared or decreased significantly from many parts of its former range. Vegetation clearance, habitat fragmentation, feral predators and fire have all been implicated in the decline of the species.
The field surveys demonstrate that Isoodon obesulus occur in the Portland region as a series of local populations. each local population is associated with a patch of remnant native vegetation separated from neighboring patches by dispersal barriers. Within these habitat remnants the occurrence of the species is sporadic. Approximately 69% of the potential habitat is managed by the Dept of Sustainability and Environment, 31% is managed by Parks Victoria. and less than 0.5% is held under other tenures.
For more information on the Australasian Gannets at Point Danger, contact the Portland Visitor Information Centre. Ph. 1800 035 567 Email [email protected]