{{Short description|National park in Australia}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}} {{Use Australian English|date=September 2014}} {{Infobox protected area | name = Michaelmas and Upolu Cays National Park | image = Michaelmas Cay 01.jpg | image_caption = Michaelmas Cay | image_alt = | iucn_category = II | iucn_ref = | coordinates = {{coord|16|36|30|S|145|58|21|E|display=inline,title}} | map = Queensland | map_alt = | map_width = 200px | relief = | label = Michaelmas and Upolu Cays National Park | label_position = | location = Queensland | established = 1975 | area_ha = | area_km2 = 30 | area_ref = | visitation_num = | visitation_year = | visitation_ref = | nearest_city = Cairns | nearest_town = | governing_body = Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service | website = {{official|1=https://parks.desi.qld.gov.au/parks/michaelmas-upolu-cays/about}} }}
'''Michaelmas and Upolu Cays''' is a national park in Queensland, Australia, {{convert|1409|km|abbr=on}} north-northwest of Brisbane and {{convert|33|km|abbr=on}} east of Cairns. It comprises two small cays on Michaelmas Reef, which forms the north-eastern section of the Arlington reef complex, within the Great Barrier Reef.
==Flora and fauna== ===Plants=== The vegetation on Michaelmas Cay is characteristic of cays found on the outer barrier reef. Low-growing, it consists of beach spinifex, stalky grass, goatsfoot, bulls-head vine, sea purslane and tar vine. Nutrients fertilising the vegetation come from seabird droppings and carcasses. The smaller Upolu Cay is un-vegetated.<ref name=np>{{cite web |url=https://parks.desi.qld.gov.au/parks/michaelmas-upolu-cays |title=Michaelmas and Upolu Cays National Park |access-date=23 May 2024 |work=Michaelmas and Upolu Cays National Park |publisher=Queensland Government |archive-date=23 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240523012308/https://parks.desi.qld.gov.au/parks/michaelmas-upolu-cays |url-status=live }}</ref>
===Animals=== Michaelmas Cay is important as a breeding site for several species of terns. It has been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area (IBA) because it supports over 1% of the world populations of greater and lesser crested terns.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.birdata.com.au/iba.vm |title=IBA: Michaelmas Cay |access-date=2011-08-15 |work=Birdata |publisher=Birds Australia |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706102341/http://www.birdata.com.au/iba.vm |archive-date=6 July 2011 }}</ref> Sooty terns and common noddies also breed there. Other terns that have nested on the cay in the past include roseate and black-naped terns.<ref>BirdLife International. (2011). Important Bird Areas factsheet: Michaelmas Cay. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240303201308/https://www.birdlife.org/ |date=3 March 2024 }} on 15 August 2011.</ref>
Green turtles sometimes nest on the cays. The surrounding reefs have a rich marine fauna, including giant clams.<ref name=np/>
==See also== {{Portal|Queensland}} * Protected areas of Queensland
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Far North Queensland}} {{National Parks of Queensland}}
Category:National parks of Far North Queensland Category:Protected areas established in 1975 Category:Important Bird Areas of Queensland Category:Islands on the Great Barrier Reef Category:1975 establishments in Australia Category:Uninhabited islands of Australia