Mount Dutton Bay Conservation Park is a
protected area
Protected areas or conservation areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognized natural or cultural values. Protected areas are those areas in which human presence or the exploitation of natural resources (e.g. firewood ...
in the Australian state of
South Australia
South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a States and territories of Australia, state in the southern central part of Australia. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories by area, which in ...
located on the west coast of
Eyre Peninsula
The Eyre Peninsula is a triangular peninsula in South Australia. It is bounded by the Spencer Gulf on the east, the Great Australian Bight on the west, and the Gawler Ranges to the north.
Earlier called Eyre's Peninsula, it was named after e ...
on islands located on waters in the sector between the north west to the east of the town of
Coffin Bay.
The conservation park consists of a number of islands located in the following bays subsidiary to
Coffin Bay - Port Douglas,
Mount Dutton Bay and
Kellidie Bay. Three of the islands are located in Port Douglas, being The Brothers and an unnamed group immediately west of
Horse Peninsula and Rabbit Island immediately west of Coffin Bay township. Another island is located at the north end of Mount Dutton Bay, while Goat Island immediately north of Coffin Bay township in the channel connecting Port Douglas to Kellidie Bay.
The land in the conservation park first received protection as ''fauna conservation reserves'' under the ''Crown Lands Act 1929'' on 16 March 1967.
[ On 27 April 1972, the land under protection was reconstituted as the ''Mount Dutton Bay Conservation Park'' upon the proclamation of the '' National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972''.]
These islands were declared a reserve because of their significance as breeding grounds for seabirds, including the uncommon reef heron, sooty oyster catcher, crested and caspian terns, fairy penguins, pacific and silver gulls. All five species of cormorant utilize the islands including large roosting colonies of black-faced and large pied cormorants. Rock parrots, silvereyes and the little grass bird are also known to nest here...
Several small, low-lying, limestone and sand islands in Coffin Bay. Natural vegetation has largely been replaced by introduced grasses and shrubs...
With the exception of the unnamed island at the mouth of Dutton Bay, which is linked to the Mainland at low tide, the islands, in the absence of introduced predators offer secure breeding and roosting sites.
The conservation park is classified as an IUCN
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. Founded in 1948, IUCN has become the global authority on the status ...
Category Ia protected area.[ In 1980, it was listed on the now-defunct ]Register of the National Estate
The Register of the National Estate was a heritage register that listed natural and cultural heritage places in Australia that was closed in 2007. Phasing out began in 2003, when the Australian National Heritage List and the Commonwealth Heri ...
.
References
*
External links
Mount Dutton Bay Conservation Park webpage on protected planet
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mount Dutton Bay Conservation Park
Conservation parks of South Australia
Protected areas established in 1967
1967 establishments in Australia
Eyre Peninsula
South Australian places listed on the defunct Register of the National Estate