Fauna of Bare Sand Island
(Click on each photo for more information)
Dr. Michael Guinea created and still runs the BSI Project. His other interests include sea snakes and watch mechanisms! Photo credit: Claire & Nige
Crocodylus porosus. Common name: Saltwater Crocodile. An apex predator they are just as comfortable in freshwater, and are found in rivers in large numbers across northern Australia. Sea turtles are often taken by crocodiles in northern waters. Photo credit: Lisa Raith
A nesting female Flatback returning to the sea. Described as Australia's own sea turtle as it is only found in Australian waters. A minor colony of Flatbacks nest on BSI.
Flatback hatchlings. These were found trapped in a hatched nest in the morning and were released when darkness fell that night. Photo credit: Andrew Raith
A small number of Olive Ridleys nest on BSI, usually early in the peak of the Flatback season.
Olive Ridley hatchling. Much smaller than the Flatback hatchlings they have (on average) twice as many eggs laid per nest.
Juvenile Greens forage in and around the reefs of BSI. Photo credit: Dieter Berghans
Juvenile Hawksbill sea turtles forage in the shallow waters around BSI. Photo credit: Andrew Raith
A sub species of Homo sapien. Often frequents BSI in the cooler months.
Common name: White-bellied Sea Eagle. Often does daylight aerial surveys of BSI, looking for sea turtle hatchling stragglers. Photo credit: Peter Jackson
Common name: Crested Tern. Has recently established a colony on a sandy isle adjacent to BSI, which has built up over the last decade. Photo credit: Peter Jackson
Common name: Little Corella. These were photograghed on adjacent Quail Is, but are often seen foraging in flocks on the inner swales of BSI. Photo credit: Lisa Raith
Common name: Silver Gull. Persist in small numbers on BSI, they have become accustomed to investigate our activities.
Common name: Ruddy Turnstones. Frequent the seaward zones on the beaches of BSI and Quail Island. Photo credit: Lisa Raith
Photo Credit: Peter Jackson