Middle Island (South Australia) facts for kids
 Middle Island
Location in South Australia
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| Geography | |
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| Location | Spencer Gulf |
| Coordinates | 35°12′52″S 136°49′53″E / 35.21444°S 136.83139°E |
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Australia
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Middle Island is a special island in the Australian state of South Australia. It's located in Spencer Gulf, inside a beautiful area called Pondalowie Bay. This bay is found on the south-western coast of the Yorke Peninsula.
Middle Island is the largest of three islands in Pondalowie Bay. It's about 28 hectares in size. That's like 28 football fields!
Protecting Middle Island
Middle Island has been a protected area for a long time. It first became a "fauna conservation reserve" on March 16, 1967. This means it was set aside to protect the animals living there.
Today, Middle Island is part of the Innes National Park. National parks are important places that protect nature. The island is also inside a "habitat protection zone" of the Southern Spencer Gulf Marine Park. This marine park helps protect the ocean and sea creatures around the island.
Because Middle Island is so important for wildlife, the DEWNR says that the public is not allowed to visit the island. This helps keep the animals safe and undisturbed.
Animals of Middle Island
Scientists did a survey of Middle Island's animals in November 1982. They found many interesting bird species living there.
Some of the birds recorded include:
In a 1996 survey of South Australia's islands, scientists also found that Little penguins use Middle Island as a breeding site. This means they build nests and raise their young on the island. It's a very important home for these small penguins!
