Chicken Island (Tasmania) facts for kids
 Chicken Island
Location in Tasmania
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| Geography | |
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| Location | South West Tasmania |
| Coordinates | 43°34′12″S 146°36′00″E / 43.57000°S 146.60000°E |
| Archipelago | Maatsuyker Islands Group |
| Adjacent bodies of water | Southern Ocean |
| Area | 1.95 ha (4.8 acres) |
| Administration | |
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Australia
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| State | Tasmania |
| Region | South West |
| Demographics | |
| Population | Unpopulated |
Chicken Island is a small, flat island located off the southwestern coast of Tasmania, Australia. It's part of a group of islands called the Maatsuyker Islands Group. This special island is also part of the Southwest National Park and the amazing Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Site. This means it's a protected area, important for nature and history. The island is about 1.95 hectares (about 4.8 acres) in size.
Amazing Plants and Animals
Even though Chicken Island is small, it's home to some interesting plants. The main types of plants you'll find there are Sarcocornia quinqueflora and Senecio pinnatifolius.
Birdlife on Chicken Island
Chicken Island is a very important place for many different kinds of birds. Lots of seabirds and waders come here to lay their eggs and raise their young.
Some of the birds that breed on Chicken Island include:
- Little penguins, which are the smallest penguins in the world.
- Short-tailed shearwaters, known for their long flights across the ocean.
- Fairy prions, small seabirds that fly close to the water.
- Common diving petrels, which can dive deep underwater to find food.
- Larger birds like the Pacific gull and silver gull.
- The sooty oystercatcher, a striking black bird with a bright orange beak.
- The Caspian tern, a large tern with a powerful flight.
These birds rely on the island's safe environment to survive and raise their chicks.
