Flat Witch Island, also known as Little Witch Island, is an island located close to the south-western coast of Tasmania, Australia. The 64-hectare (0.25 sq mi) island is part of the Maatsuyker Islands Group, and comprises part of the Southwest National Park and the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Site.[1][2]

Flat Witch Island
Nickname: Little Witch Island
Detailed map of the Maatsuyker Islands Group, showing Flat Witch Island in the centre.
Flat Witch Island is located in Tasmania
Flat Witch Island
Flat Witch Island
Location off the southern coast of Tasmania
Geography
LocationSouth West Tasmania
Coordinates43°37′12″S 146°17′24″E / 43.62000°S 146.29000°E / -43.62000; 146.29000
ArchipelagoMaatsuyker Islands Group
Adjacent toSouthern Ocean
Area64 ha (160 acres)[1]
Highest elevation100 m (300 ft)
Administration
Australia
StateTasmania
RegionSouth West
Demographics
PopulationUnpopulated

The island's highest point is 100 metres (330 ft) above sea level.

Fauna

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The island is part of the Maatsuyker Island Group Important Bird Area, identified as such by BirdLife International because of its importance as a breeding site for seabirds.[3] Recorded breeding seabird and wader species are the little penguin (400 pairs), short-tailed shearwater (500,000 pairs), fairy prion (10,000 pairs), common diving-petrel (100 pairs), Pacific gull, silver gull and sooty oystercatcher. The swamp antechinus has been recorded. Australian and New Zealand fur seals use a haul-out site on the south side of the island, and the latter species has bred there in small numbers. The Tasmanian tree skink is present.[2]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Small Southern Islands Conservation Management Statement 2002" (PDF). Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service. 2002. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 August 2006. Retrieved 20 July 2006.
  2. ^ a b Brothers, Nigel; Pemberton, David; Pryor, Helen; & Halley, Vanessa. (2001). Tasmania’s Offshore Islands: seabirds and other natural features. Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery: Hobart. ISBN 0-7246-4816-X
  3. ^ "Important Bird Area factsheet: Maatsuyker Island Group". Archived from the original on 23 May 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2023.