Eco Tourisim

Turtle Season 2008

We are right in the middle of the Turtle season. Turtles can be seen leaving the water every day to make their way up the beach and lay their eggs. Guest's at this time of year get a real treat as the beach in front of the cabins is covered with Turtles, making viewing just a short stroll down the beach.

The hatching is well under way and many baby Turtles have been seen making their way down to the beach. A few guests have also reported seeing some of the little ones lost and heading the wrong way up near the cabins.

These lucky few have been helped to make their way back to the waters edge.

It's still not too late to head up to the Mackerel's to experience this wonderful act of nature. Turtles will still be hatching up to the end of March.

Eco Tourisim

The Mackerels are not just about fishing and diving. Whales, dolphins, dugongs, turtles, stingrays, and birds also inhabit the area and hours can be spent watching what nature has to offer.

Thevenard Island is a gazetted nature reserve. The ever-changing nature of the shore reveals shells and rock formations during a walk along the beautiful clean beaches. A colourful variety of sea life is to be discovered in these tropical waters and the island is home to many bird species.

The Mackerels are an annual breeding ground for turtles and at the right time of year, you can watch the turtles lay their eggs on the beach — a truly moving experience — or see the fragility of life when the baby turtles hatch and make their treacherous journey to the water's edge. Flat Back and Green Turtles can be seen laying eggs on the beaches from around mid-October and baby turtles can be seen hatching and making their way to the water's edge from around Christmas, right through until March or April.

Several species of dolphins inhabit the waters surrounding Thevenard including the bottlenose, spinner, striped, common and humpback dolphins. It is rare to have a day out on the water without seeing dolphins close by.

Whales that have been observed in the area include the pilot whale, false killer whale, sei whale, Bryde’s whale and humpback whale. Humpbacks migrate south from June to October, with calving taking place in August. It is common for visitors to the island to sight whales.

Dugongs are also found in waters around the island and can be observed feeding and calving in waters less than 5-metres deep. Dugong breeding occurs from September to April. Sightings are often reported by people using dinghies in the shallow waters within 1km of the island.

Twenty-four species of land birds have been recorded on Thevenard Island. In addition, there are up 31 species of migratory birds occurring in the Thevenard Island area, including kestrels, godwits, plovers, sandpipers and harriers. Some birds migrate from remote northern hemisphere locations such as Siberia and are protected by international treaties.

Seabirds, such as terns and shearwaters, nest from October to January.

The only native land mammal on the island is the Forrest’s mouse. The domestic mouse also inhabits the island and is most likely to have been introduced. A total of nine reptile species have been recorded on the island including goannas, dragons, skinks and geckos. No rare or endangered reptiles have been recorded.