Kathleen Island facts for kids
 Kathleen Island
Location in Tasmania
Location off the south western coast of Tasmania
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| Geography | |
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| Location | Port Davey |
| Coordinates | 43°18′00″S 145°57′36″E / 43.30000°S 145.96000°E |
| Archipelago | Breaksea Islands Group |
| Adjacent bodies of water | Southern Ocean |
| Area | 11.35 ha (28.0 acres) |
| Highest elevation | 72 m (236 ft) |
| Administration | |
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Australia
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| State | Tasmania |
| Region | South West |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 0 |
Kathleen Island is a small island off the coast of Tasmania, Australia. It has steep cliffs and is found inside Port Davey, which is like a big bay. The island is about 11.35 hectares in size. That's roughly the size of 28 football fields! Kathleen Island is part of the amazing Southwest National Park. This park is also part of the Tasmanian Wilderness, a special place recognized as a World Heritage Site. It's also protected as part of the Port Davey/Bathurst Harbour Marine Nature Reserve.
Exploring Kathleen Island
Kathleen Island is part of a group of islands called the Breaksea Islands Group. The highest point on the island is about 72 meters above sea level. Imagine a building about 24 stories tall! A deep, narrow valley, called a gulch, almost cuts the island in two.
Wildlife and Nature
Kathleen Island is a very important place for birds. It's part of the Port Davey Islands Important Bird Area. This means BirdLife International has identified it as a crucial spot for seabirds to breed. Most of the island is covered in thick bushes and rainforest.
Amazing Seabirds
Two main types of seabirds make their homes here:
- The little penguin: Between 1 and 200 pairs of these cute penguins live and raise their young on the island.
- The short-tailed shearwater: A huge number of these birds, about 67,000 pairs, also breed here!
These birds dig burrows in the ground to lay their eggs. All this digging can sometimes cause the soil to wear away, which is called erosion.
Other Animals
Besides the birds, you can also find the metallic skink on Kathleen Island. This is a type of lizard that lives in the area.
