Bird Island is roughly three hectares in size and connected to the mainland of Lambert’s Bay by a breakwater. It is one of just six breeding colonies of Cape gannets on Earth and is also an important nesting and roosting site for a variety of other seabirds. Cape cormorants and kelp gulls are common.

A hide-cum-interpretation centre has been built at the site where visitors can observe and film at close quarters the activities of these resolute birds.