Goose Island (South Australia) facts for kids
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Australia
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Goose Island is a small, rocky island in South Australia. It's located in the Spencer Gulf, about 550 meters (that's half a kilometer!) from a bigger island called Wardang Island. Goose Island is about 2 hectares in size, which is like two football fields. It rises to a height of 26 meters, which is about as tall as an 8-story building.
The plants on the island are mostly a tough bush called African boxthorn. The ocean around the island is a special protected area called the Goose Island Aquatic Reserve. A school called Scotch College helps manage the island with the government.
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Plants and Animals of Goose Island
Island Plants
Over time, some plants on Goose Island have been damaged. This happened partly because of animals like wild goats eating them. By 2009, most of the island's plants were African boxthorn, which is not native to Australia.
Other plants that were brought to the island by people include common iceplant and Capeweed. But there are still native plants growing along the coast. These include nitre-bush and marsh saltbush. You can also find ruby saltbush, Australian hollyhock, and climbing lignum.
Island Animals
Goose Island is a great home for many seabirds. You can see black-faced cormorants, little penguins, and pied cormorants. There are also pied oystercatchers and sooty oystercatchers.
Crested terns and silver gulls also live and raise their young on the island. Reptiles like marbled geckoes and several types of skinks live here too. You might also spot sleepy lizards and tiger snakes.
The island is also a place where Australian sea lions come out of the water to rest. In the past, animals like cats, wild pigeons, goats, mice, and rabbits were on the island. But now, these introduced animals have been removed or their numbers are controlled.
Little Penguins
Little penguins are known to breed on Goose Island. People have seen them there since at least 1935. Back then, they were reported coming ashore "in great numbers" at night. They would then hide in burrows during the day. Visitors also saw them in 1950.
Other Names for the Islands
Some islands near Goose Island have different names. For example, what is officially called Cormorant Island is also known as Little Goose Island. The rocks called Seal Rocks are sometimes called The Scarles. Goose Island itself is sometimes referred to as Big Goose Island.
Scotch College and the Island
Scotch College has a special agreement to use Goose Island. Groups of Year 10 students from the school visit the island. They camp there and take part in many outdoor activities.
These activities are part of their outdoor education program. Students learn to sail, kayak, and study wildlife. They also help with land regeneration, which means helping native plants grow back. Other fun activities include snorkeling around shipwrecks and swimming with sea lions.
The school and the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources share the job of managing the island. This includes controlling wild animals and removing plants that don't belong there. Getting rid of the African boxthorn is a big part of their work.
Protected Areas Around Goose Island
Goose Island is part of the Goose Island Conservation Park. This means the land itself is protected. The waters around the island are also protected. They are part of the Goose Island aquatic reserve and the Eastern Spencer Gulf Marine Park. These protections help keep the island's plants and animals safe.
