Protecting coastal habitat since 1996
Point Danger Committee of Management
Who we are
The Point Danger Committee of Management is a ministerial appointment every three years of members representing key stakeholder groups for the Reserve and neighbouring land areas contributing significantly to the overall ecology of the area by extending the habitat range for species and providing greater habitat connectivity.
Where we are
The Point Danger Coastal Reserve is 182 Ha of coastal crown land along the uniquely rugged coastlines in Southwestern Victoria.
Its not just about the Gannets…
This coastal reserve serves as vital habitat for numerous native species of plants and animals and a unique opportunity for visitors to experience them.
What we do
The protection and regeneration of endangered and rare remnant coastal scrub and heathlands including the only recognized site of the threatened Melblom’s Orchid.
The removal of exotic weeds including Pampas Grass, Boneseed, Gorse and Cape Tulip by established methods.
Burning, mulching and follow up measures for invasive vegetation including Coastal Wattle and Coastal tea.
The use of defensive measures to protect the diverse fauna of the area including the only mainland colony of the Australasian Gannet, and environs of the Short Tailed Shearwater, Hooded Plover, Rufous Bristle Bird and Emu Wren.
Recognizing and protecting the indigenous cultural aspects of the area.
Providing for and the maintenance of designated access roads, parking areas, lookouts and recreation areas for board riding, walking and a rifle range.
Our history
In the late 1840s, early European settlers began to harvest guano from Lawrence Rocks, not far from Point Danger. The island had already been a site used by sealers, but with the town of Portland gaining traction and as farms began to spring up, the need for fertilizer grew and Gannets had created quite the supply. Summer weather yielded the calmest seas and unfortunately coincided with breeding season where guano harvesters would shovel entire nests into their ships. This, likely paired with the harvesting of Gannets, significantly reduced their population. For around 100 years, this continued until the eventual protection of Lawrence Rocks as a wildlife reserve in 1948. The slow recovery had begun. By the mid-1990s, the island had evidently reached somewhat of a carrying capacity and gannets, desperate to nest, found the rocky outcropping at Point Danger appealing. In the spring of 1995, several dozen Australasian Gannets began roosting at Point Danger, however their numbers began to drop, likely because of fox predation and human disturbance. The following year, in 1996, with the assistance of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, and Portland Aluminium, a predator-proof chain-link fence was erected around the perimeter of the colony. During the 1996-1997 breeding season, approximately 150 Gannets returned to the site and several birds attempted to breed. These nests were unsuccessful due to ravens and other predators, and the colony was abandoned by January. Nevertheless, that same year Point Danger Committee of Management was established to oversee this area. Despite these shaky beginnings, a few hundred Gannets returned to breed successfully in the following season. As time progressed, the committee decided to try other methods to further increase fecundity success; adding Maremma dogs to protect the Gannet chicks was proposed and led to a 5-year experiment. Unfortunately, the dogs proved to be ineffective at reducing predation. When appropriate funding was reached several years later, an electric fence was established around the breeding area of the Gannets. This is the current iteration of protective measures for the Gannets, in addition to ongoing monitoring, predator control, and habitat management. The Gannet colony now boasts more than 300 breeding pairs and has become an iconic tourist attraction in the greater Portland, Victoria region.
Australasian Gannets
Australasian Gannets (Morus serrator) are a large and distinctive seabird common to the waters of southern Australia. Males and females look virtually identical and are of very similar size making differentiation nearly impossible based on viewing alone. They are approximately 84cm to 95cm long with a wingspan up to 1.8 meters; their body, covert, and outer tail feathers are white, their primary, secondary flight, and central tail feathers are black, and their head is a buff-yellow; immature birds are a mottled brown and white. Under their beak and along the top portion of their neck is a black gular stripe which can be contrasted to a similar looking species known as the Cape Gannet (Morus capensis), which has a gular stripe nearly three times as long. They are often seen roaming the coastal waters of Southern Australia and New Zealand as they look to capture small fish such as pilchards (Sardinus pilchardus). A fantastic headfirst dive, reaching speeds up to 100KPH aids them in their hunt, where they proceed to dive 15-20 metres into the water. Their webbed feet propel and a flapping action with their wings them further and then up to the surface, by which time they have often already swallowed their prey. They evolved hidden nostrils and an aerodynamic shape to aid them in this extreme hunting strategy.
Gannets, like most other seabirds, spend the majority of their lives at sea and only return to land for the breeding season. Point Danger is unique in this regard as many individuals choose to roost at this site year round; most others sleep on the water in their nonbreeding season. The global population of Australasian Gannets is increasing, which has led to the establishment of additional rookeries such as Point Danger near Portland, Victoria. This site is overflow from the larger Lawrence Rocks colony which is occupied by more than 6,200 adults birds. Generally speaking, Gannets have a high degree of nest site fidelity, returning to the site where they were born. Juveniles may remain at sea for 4-8 years before returning to these nest sites, where they would begin their courtship rituals. Courtship for Gannets typically begins towards the end of winter, though has a wide timeframe that can occur from July through December. The courting and nest building process includes site selection, which is highly competitive. Central locations are most sought after as they likely provide additional protection from predation and from the elements. One partner will reserve a nest site while the other collects sea-dwelling vegetation. The vegetation is evaluated by the remaining partner and often is rejected in an amusing display of throwing the unwanted pieces. If accepted, the vegetation is incorporated into the nest alongside earth, guano, and feathers. After several days, a mound begins to take shape and after copulation, a single egg is laid in the nest.
The incubation period for Australasian Gannets is approximately 44 days; the chicks are born featherless and predominantly black in colour. Within days white feathers overtake their bodies and they become white and fluffy. Gannets are efficient co-parents, with both male and female contributing to the development of their young. Between 103 and 105 days later, the young birds fledge, fully able to fly. This period, much like the courtship and mating period, is highly ambiguous with birds hatching as early as September and fledging as late as April. Throughout this time, the parents will only raise one chick.
Gannets can live between 30 and 40 years in the wild and often mate for life, though research suggests that partnership may occasionally only last for several years before they look for new partners.
