Birds of Macquarie island
Macquarie Island is flourishing with birds that come from around the surrounding ocean for it provides a safe haven for them to breed and rest. During earlier years many of these birds were hunted and due to the introduction of rats and other pest their numbers were cut down to an endangered level and it was only when Tasmania declared it a protected wildlife sanctuary in 1928 that these bird began to steadily build up their population again. Some of the main bird species that are seen on Macquarie island include: The Macquarie shag, Wandering Albatross, Sooty Albatross, Grey Headed Albatross, Black Browed Albatross and many different species of petrels and other birds. Unfortunately the Macquarie Parakeet became extinct in 1891 due to the pests that were brought to the island. Macquarie Island was also identified by Bird Life International because it supports around 3.5 million individual seabirds of 13 different species.