Malgas Island is a small, 8.3 hectares (21 acres), uninhabited island lying in the northern part of the entrance to Saldanha Bay, in the Western Cape province of South Africa. It lies about 800 metres (2,600 ft) from the mainland in the Benguelaupwelling system. It is circular in shape and flat, with the highest point about 9 metres (30 ft) above sea level. It is known for its large breeding colony of Cape gannets.[1]
Malgas was subject to guano removal in 1845, an activity which also resulted in the presence of low retaining walls, paths and, on the eastern side, several buildings and a jetty. Since 1986 it has been part of the West Coast National Park.[1]
Birdsedit
Most of the central part of the island is occupied by the Cape gannet colony, one of only six in the world, and which, with some 20,000 breeding pairs, holds 25% of the world population.[2] Other breeding seabirds include bank and Cape cormorants, kelp and Hartlaub's gulls, and African penguins. African black oystercatchers are also resident.[1] The island forms part of the West Coast National Park and Saldanha Bay Islands Important Bird Area, identified as such by BirdLife International.[2] Therefore, only select researchers will be allowed to go ashore. The Cape gannets have been studied intensely, and their breeding success is watched over by Honorary Rangers.
Referencesedit
^ abcNavarro, René (2002-09-09). "Malgas Island". Seabird Colonies. Avian Demography Unit, University of Cape Town. Archived from the original on 2012-12-25. Retrieved 2012-05-07.
^ abBirdLife International. (2012). Important Bird Areas factsheet: West Coast National Park and Saldanha Bay islands. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 2012-05-07
January 01, 1970
malgas, island, small, hectares, acres, uninhabited, island, lying, northern, part, entrance, saldanha, western, cape, province, south, africa, lies, about, metres, from, mainland, benguela, upwelling, system, circular, shape, flat, with, highest, point, about. Malgas Island is a small 8 3 hectares 21 acres uninhabited island lying in the northern part of the entrance to Saldanha Bay in the Western Cape province of South Africa It lies about 800 metres 2 600 ft from the mainland in the Benguela upwelling system It is circular in shape and flat with the highest point about 9 metres 30 ft above sea level It is known for its large breeding colony of Cape gannets 1 Malgas IslandGannets on Malgas IslandGeographyLocationLambertsbaai South AfricaCoordinates33 03 10 S 17 55 31 E 33 05278 S 17 92528 E 33 05278 17 92528AdministrationSouth AfricaHistory editMalgas was subject to guano removal in 1845 an activity which also resulted in the presence of low retaining walls paths and on the eastern side several buildings and a jetty Since 1986 it has been part of the West Coast National Park 1 Birds editMost of the central part of the island is occupied by the Cape gannet colony one of only six in the world and which with some 20 000 breeding pairs holds 25 of the world population 2 Other breeding seabirds include bank and Cape cormorants kelp and Hartlaub s gulls and African penguins African black oystercatchers are also resident 1 The island forms part of the West Coast National Park and Saldanha Bay Islands Important Bird Area identified as such by BirdLife International 2 Therefore only select researchers will be allowed to go ashore The Cape gannets have been studied intensely and their breeding success is watched over by Honorary Rangers References edit a b c Navarro Rene 2002 09 09 Malgas Island Seabird Colonies Avian Demography Unit University of Cape Town Archived from the original on 2012 12 25 Retrieved 2012 05 07 a b BirdLife International 2012 Important Bird Areas factsheet West Coast National Park and Saldanha Bay islands Downloaded from http www birdlife org on 2012 05 07 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Malgas Island amp oldid 1091829597, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
