Bushy Island facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bushy Island Queensland
Bushy Island Location in Queensland

Bushy Island is a special kind of island called a coral cay in Queensland, Australia. It's part of the amazing Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. This island is covered in plants, which is why it's called "vegetated."

Bushy Island is located about 70 kilometers (about 43 miles) east of a city called Mackay. It's quite unique because there aren't any other vegetated cays for a very long stretch—over 600 kilometers (about 370 miles)—between Bushy Island and Green Island.

What Makes Bushy Island Special?

Bushy Island is home to a unique type of coral called Acropora bushyensis. This coral is part of a larger group known as Acropora corals. You'll find most of this specific coral living in the lagoon around Bushy Island. It's very rare to see it in other parts of the eastern Great Barrier Reef, and it doesn't appear at all in the western part.

How Was Bushy Island Formed?

Bushy Island was created from tiny pieces of living things, like shells and coral, that built up over time. Scientists call this "biogenic sediment." It's similar to how Heron Island was formed. The island has been stable enough for plants to grow and create a green landscape.

Tiny Creatures That Help Build the Island

A big part of the sand on Bushy Island comes from tiny, single-celled creatures called Foraminifera. These are a type of amoeboid protist, which means they are very simple living things that can change their shape. The sand made from Foraminifera can be easily washed away from the island by waves and currents.

Bushy Island sits on a raised, flat area of the reef. Sometimes, parts of the island can be worn away by the ocean because of its location.