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Michaelmas Cay

Cairns, Queensland  >  Australia

This small and vegetated coral reef island is a National Park and a protected sanctuary for migratory seabirds.

Added* by Andrea2
Most recent update 3 December 2023

Description

Michaelmas Cay is a low lying vegetated sand cay encircled by a spectacular fringing reef. The vegetated coral reef island is 360m long and 50m wide and rises to a height of 3.5m above sea level. It is home to at least 23 species of seabirds which makes the island one of the most significant bird sanctuaries on the Great Barrier Reef. At the height of nesting and breeding season (during Summer months) up to 20,000 birds have been observed. The island supports over 1% of the world populations of Lesser Crested Tern and Greater Crested Tern. Sooty Tern and Brown Noddy also breed on the island.

Details

Access

Michaelmas Cay is located on the western tip of Michaelmas Reef 43 km north-east of Cairns and 17 km north of Green Island. From Cairns you have to book an organized tour to get to the island. See the links below.

Terrain and Habitat

Sea

Conditions

Flat , No shadow

Circular trail

No

Is a telescope useful?

No

Good birding season

All year round

Best time to visit

Summer

Difficulty walking trail

Easy

Accessible by

Boat

Birdwatching hide / platform

No

Links

View other birding spots in the area that are published on Birdingplaces

Map

Top 5 birds

Greater Crested Tern
1. Greater Crested Tern
(Thalasseus bergii)
Lesser Crested Tern
2. Lesser Crested Tern
(Thalasseus bengalensis)
Brown Noddy
3. Brown Noddy
(Anous stolidus)
Black-naped Tern
4. Black-naped Tern
(Sterna sumatrana)
Brown Booby
5. Brown Booby
(Sula leucogaster)

Other birds you can see here

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