Michaelmas Cay

I have guided and escorted various groups over the last ten years to Michaelmas Cay. It was also an important site for many of the photographs and observations for the bird chapter of the Ecosystem Guides book "Tropical Seashores of Australia".

Background:

Michaelmas Cay is located about 40 kilometres north-east from Cairns. It is only a small island, covering 1.8 hectares and reaching a height of three and a half meters above sea level. Its main attraction and value is due to the fact that it is an important nesting site for many species of sea birds.

The Cay has so far survived quite a few potential disasters, including egg collection for pastry cooks on the mainland, and its use as target practice by aircraft in World War 2. Today, only a very small part of the northern beach is open to visitors.

Nature appreciation and wildlife watching:

This cay is considered the fifth biggest such colony of seabirds on the Great Barrier Reef. Sooty Terns are the most numerous birds on the island, with a peak of 10,000 breeding pairs recorded over the summer.

The Common Noddy, the Crested Tern and the Lesser Crested Tern may also nest there in the thousands. I've also seen Ruddy Turnstone, Brown Booby, Black Noddy, Black-naped Tern and of course Silver Gulls. Only a very small area of the island is roped off for visitor access, but even this allows great close up looks at the birds, and the chance to watch their behaviours.

The birds recognize the boundaries as well, sitting right on the ropes and nesting right up to the marker poles.

I took many of the images for the bird chapter of "Tropical Seashores of Australia" were taken there. And of course another feature of Michaelmas Cay is the snorkelling in the surrounding coral reef.

Getting there: