Bald Island facts for kids
Bald Island is a special island located in the Great Southern region of Western Australia. It's about 1.5 kilometers (0.9 miles) away from Cheynes Beach. This island is a protected area, looked after by the Department of Parks and Wildlife.
Bald Island is considered a very important nature reserve by the World Conservation Union. This means it's a place where nature is highly protected. The island covers about 8.09 square kilometers (2,000 acres), making it one of the largest islands off the South Coast.
The island is mostly made of granite rock. It rises steeply from the ocean, reaching a height of up to 310 meters (1,017 feet). Bald Island became separated from the mainland around 10,000 years ago when sea levels rose.
Plants on Bald Island
Bald Island is home to 104 different kinds of plants. On the sheltered upper slopes, you can find large groups of peppermint trees (Agonis flexuosa). Lower down, there are forests of Rottnest Island teatree (Melaleuca lanceolata).
The Bald Island marlock (Eucalyptus conferruminata) grows in thick patches in some areas. In more open spots, you'll see low-growing plants and grasses, as well as dense shrubs like Melaleuca microphylla.
Animals on Bald Island
Bald Island has a healthy population of reptiles. You can find four types of skinks and one kind of gecko here. One skink species, Ctenotus labillardieri, has even developed unique features on the island. There are no snakes on Bald Island, which makes it a safer place for other animals.
Marine mammals like New Zealand fur seals and Australian sea lions live around Bald Island. A few mainland mammals, including the quokka, also live here. A group of Gilbert's potoroos is also being settled on the island.
Bald Island is part of the Two Peoples Bay and Mount Manypeaks Important Bird Area. This area is recognized by BirdLife International because it's important for protecting rare and endangered bird species. The island is a key breeding ground for great-winged petrels and little penguins.
Moving Animals to the Island
Bald Island is very special because it's hard to reach, so it remains almost untouched by humans. Because of this, it's a great place to move endangered animals to help them survive.
In August 2005, some Gilbert's potoroos were moved to Bald Island from the Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve. More of these rare animals were brought in 2007, making the total population seven. The island was chosen because it doesn't have predators like cats, foxes, or snakes that might harm the potoroos.
Another endangered bird, the noisy scrub-bird, was also moved to Bald Island. In 1992, five male noisy scrub-birds were taken from the Two Peoples Bay area and brought to the island. A survey in 1993 showed that at least two of them had survived. Later in 1993, three more males and three females were moved to Bald Island. By 2004, it was estimated that there were 59 calling male noisy scrub-birds on the island.
