Heritage Expeditions
Bounty Islands
Bounty Islands
Discovered and named by Capt. Bligh of the Bounty in 1788, he described them as “bare and desolate, with the inability to afford any vegetable production”. There might not be any vegetation but during the spring and summer the islands are breeding grounds for thousands of sea birds including Salvins Albatross and the endemic Erect Crested Penguin.
Geographical Information:
47º 42’S, 179º 03’E, in the South Pacific Ocean, 700 km east-south-east of New Zealand
Area:
135 ha
Maximum Altitude:
88 m
Physical Features:
Bounty Islands
The Bounty Islands comprise over 20 small islands, islets and rocks, in three groups: Main, Centre and East. They are granite composition, of early Jurassic age. They are bare and spray-swept, with no soil development. Guano deposits accumulate in summer.
Map:
Historical Features:
The Bounty Islands were discovered on 19 September 1788 by Captain William Bligh and named by him after his ship.
In 1807 a Sydney vessel, the Santa Anna, called in at the Bay of Islands (Northern New Zealand) and took on board a Maori chief, Ruatara, whose great ambition was to visit King George III. On arriving at the Bounty Islands, Ruatara and thirteen others were left to kill seals while the Santa Anna went off on further business. By the time it returned three of the men had died from hunger, thirst and exposure on the water less and barren Island. The others had survived on seal meat and sea birds. They had amassed a total of 8000 skins.
The Bounty Islands certainly lived up to their name as far as seals were concerned. In the first two years of sealing some 50,000 seals were killed at a profit of some £40,000 . But by 1831 at the height of the breeding season Captain John Biscoe could only find five fur seals.
Flora and Vegetation:
No terrestrial vegetation has been described, although lichens and green algae reportedly occur on a few sheltered rock faces.
Birding Highlights:
Erect-Crested Penguin
No landings are permitted but great views of the erect crested penguin and the endemic cormorant can be had from a zodiac criuse. There can also be great views of the Salvins albatross.
Click here for detailed Bird Checklist
Further Reading:
- Taylor, R - Straight through from London, Heritage Expedition, Christchurch.
- Chilton, C (Ed) - The Sub Antarctic Islands of New Zealand Vol 1& 2 Philisophical Insitute of Canterbury, Wellington, 1909.
- Fraser, C - Beyond the Roaring Forties, Woolmore Printing Ltd, Auckland 1986.
- Higham, T (Ed) - Sub Antarctic Islands: A Guide Book, Craig Printing Co Ltd, Invercargill 1991.
- Thomas, M C - Forgotten Islands of the South Pacific - the Story of New Zealands Sub Antarctic Islands by Rosaline Redwood. A H and A W Reed, Wellington.
- Shirihai Hadoram - A Complete Guide to Antarctic Wildlife. Alula Press Oy, Finland 2002.
- Dept of Conservation: Subantarctic Islands Heritage. (Nomination of the New Zealand Subantarctic Islands by the Government of New Zealand for inclusion in the World Heritage List. Wellington. 1997.
