Cook Island Nature Reserve
# Cook Island Nature Reserve

Cook Island Nature Reserve is a protected area in the Australian state of new South Wales located on Cook Island about 600 metres (2,000 ft) off the coastline from the headland of Fingal Head and about 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) south-east of Tweed Heads on the state's north $coast.^{:2}$

The nature reserve consists of the full extent of Cook Island down to the Mean High Water Mark. The land under protection was first proclaimed as a fauna reserve under the Fauna Protection Act 1948 on 8 August 1959. It became a nature reserve under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1967 in 1967. It is surrounded by the Cook Island Aquatic $Reserve.^{:2}$ As of 2016, it covered an area of 5 hectares (12 acres).

In 1978, the nature reserve was described as follows:

   Cook Island provides a breeding habitat for seabirds, in particular the crested tern (Sterna bergii) and the wedge tailed shearwater (Puffinus pacificus). The crested tern is an international migratory bird.
   The island is well vegetated with closed scrub. This vegetation provides shelter for the nesting birds. The island has a large population of wedge tailed shearwaters. Due to difficulty of access on to the island the vegetation has maintained its natural condition…

The nature reserve is classified as an IUCN Category Ia protected area. In 1978, it was listed on the now-defunct Register of the National Estate.

