AUSTRALIA’S IMPORTANT AREAS

Key sites for

Guy Dutson, Stephen Garnett and Cheryl Gole

Bird (RAOU) Conservation Statement No. 15, October 2009 1 IBAs Australia’s Important Bird Areas

Contents Australia’s Important Bird Areas: A Report Pages ustralia’s 314 Important Bird Areas (IBAs) are among Earth’s most What are exceptional places for and are priority sites for bird conservation. Important Bird Areas? ...... 3 ABy conserving these key areas, Australians can be more confident of Why identify the long-term survival of our birds. In this report, Birds Australia presents the Important Bird Areas? ...... 4–5 results of a three year project to identify Australia’s IBAs. The project owes its How are success to the contributions of over 1,000 volunteers. Important Bird Areas Almost half of the area covered by Australia’s IBAs has no existing formal identified? ...... 6–7 protection, thus representing an opportunity for conservation. Most of Australia’s Where are Australia’s IBAs face challenges such as invasive , development pressure, overgrazing Important Bird Areas? ...... 8–9 and inappropriate fire regimes, thus presenting a need for management. In only a Important Bird Areas and very small number of IBAs were no challenges identified. , land-use and Between 2005 and 2009, the IBA project designated 314 Australian sites ownership...... 10–11 of global significance for bird conservation. These sites encompass almost 44 Important Bird Areas and million hectares of land, which include: protected areas ...... 12–13 s IBAs in all Australian States and most Territories. Threatened species and

Important Bird Areas ...... 14–15 s Almost 26 million hectares of in 167 IBAs designated for globally threatened species (some IBAs are designated for more than one Waterbirds and threatened species). Important Bird Areas ...... 16–17

Shorebirds and s 121 IBAs in 31 million hectares designated for restricted-range (endemic)

Important Bird Areas ...... 18–19 species.

Seabirds and s More than ten and a half million hectares of habitat in 171 IBAs designated Important Bird Areas ...... 20–21 for congregations of waterbirds, including shorebirds.

Threats to s 98 IBAs designated at least partly for congregations of . Important Bird Areas ...... 22–23 s 87 IBAs designated mostly for seabirds. Monitoring and conservation Australia’s IBAs are concentrated in heavily cleared and fragmented of Important Bird Areas...... 25–25 landscapes, along coasts and on . All major forms of land ownership Important Bird Areas in are represented. For communities, organisations, industry and all levels and the

Australian Capital Territory ...... 26–27 of government, this provides a wealth of opportunity for involvement in the conservation and monitoring of Australia’s birds in the places where it Important Bird Areas in matters most. ...... 28–29

Important Bird Areas in

Queensland ...... 30–31 ‘Australia can hold ‘The Important Bird Important Bird Areas in its head high in the Area (IBA) program ...... 32–33 BirdLife International contributes signifi- Important Bird Areas in community, now that cantly to Australia’s ...... 34–35 we have identified conser- and documented our vation through Important Bird Areas in Important Bird Areas building knowledge ...... 36–37 (IBAs). In the 314 IBAs of birds and their Important Bird Areas in we have a national network of globally threats as well as identifying conser- ...... 38–39 significant sites for bird conservation, vation solutions. This provides value to providing a focus for research and conser- both policy makers and land managers. Acknowledgements ...... 40 vation efforts. Thanks to Rio Tinto for their Congratulations to Birds Australia and its generous support, BirdLife International staff large network of committed volunteers for their advice and encouragement, and who have enabled Australia’s IBAs to Dr Guy Dutson and the team who contributed be identified and documented in this their time, knowledge and enthusiasm.’ impressive report.’ Right: Graeme Hamilton. Photo by Jennifer Sutfin Graeme Hamilton, CEO, Steven Creese, Managing Director, Right: Steven Creese. Photo courtesy of Rio Tinto Birds Australia Rio Tinto Australia

2 What are Important Bird Areas? IBAs

Important Bird Areas (IBAs) are % %% % % sites that are recognised as % % % %%% % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % internationally important for % % % % % % % % % % % %% % % %% % % % % bird conservation and known % % % % % % % % %%%% % % % % % % % to support key bird species. In % %% % % % % %% % %% a partnership project funded % % % % % % % % % % % by Rio Tinto, between 2005 %% % % % % % %% and 2009 Birds Australia % % % % % % % %% % % % %% identified and selected % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % %%% % % % % Australia’s IBAs. To date, 314 %%% % % % % %%% % % % %%%% %% % % % % % % % % % % %%% % %% %% % % % %% sites have been designated %% % % % %%% % % % % % %% % % % % % %%% % % % %% %% % %% % % % % %% % % % as among the most important % %%% % % % % % %% %%% % % % % % %%% % % % for birds on this planet. This %%%% %% %%%%% %%%% % % % %%%% %%% %%%% report summarises the results %%%%% % % % %% %% of the project. % %%%%%% %% %

Above: Australia’s Important Bird Areas. Important Bird Areas (IBAs) are identified through the use of globally agreed criteria. Between 2005 and 2009, 314 IBAs were identified in Australia. They represent sites of critical conservation for Australia’s birds. IBAs in remote oceanic islands are not included on this map.

Birds and other elements of biodiversity IBAs are non-government and are not distributed evenly. The IBA non-statutory program was developed by BirdLife IBAs are non-governmental and have been International to identify the most used across the world as a complementary important areas on Earth for birds, to process to governmental conservation. promote their significance for conser- In Australia, IBAs are identified and vation and to assist the prioritisation designated by Birds Australia. The IBA of conservation efforts and resources. identification process is totally independent IBAs are areas known to support key of government. While this means that IBA or ‘trigger’ bird species, as defined by designation has no statutory status or legal global scientific criteria. IBA boundaries implications and is not designed to have Below: Diamantina IBA in . Photo by Roger Jaensch ( International) are defined by these trigger species and any, it provides a means of communicating their habitat. the high conservation value of IBAs to the land managers responsible for them. IBAs are specific sites IBAs are sites: they are distinct areas or The IBA process is ongoing places that differ from surrounding areas The information in this report was current and can potentially be managed as a in June 2009. In the future, other sites that single unit. They greatly vary in size. For meet IBA criteria may come to attention example, some IBAs supporting colonies and with additional information more of nesting seabirds are less than one species at existing IBAs may be found to hectare in extent, while some are very meet the criteria. Conversely, some existing large. Ten Australian IBAs each exceed IBAs may lose their values if the threats to one million hectares, the largest being them are not addressed, or they become the 2.6 million hectare South-west Slopes lower priorities for conservation if the IBA in New South Wales. In general, ‘trigger’ species (the species of interest) conservation actions are best directed become more common. The database at these individual sites, but in some and websites will be updated regularly to instances species-specific management correct any errors but other revisions will will also be necessary. be undertaken at longer intervals.

3 IBAs Why identify Important Bird Areas?

IBAs have been selected to Australia’s birds are threatened Australia lacks site-based Australia is one of the most important conservation priorities identify priority places for countries in the world for birds and In some countries such as the United bird conservation. They are biodiversity. It supports 803 bird species, Kingdom, all sites of conservation of which 312 are endemic (found significance have been identified. Until of interest to communities nowhere else in the world) and is also now, the scale of the task and the because they have been globally important for many species inadequacy of baseline distributional of waterbirds, shorebirds and seabirds data have discouraged such projects in identified in close collaboration that are shared with neighbouring Australia and the lack of mapped priority with local experts, and they countries and . Australia is ranked areas, especially those off-reserve, fourteenth in the world for the number has been a hindrance to effective and are a resource for researchers, of globally threatened bird species and cost-efficient conservation. The IBA restricted-range species (those with small governments and policy-makers project is the first national site-scale geographical ranges) that occur here. conservation analysis for the country. because they are based on Many Australian birds are under The most important places for birds are threat and a great number continue to identified and then mapped using a best practice interpretation of decline. Some are close to . site-scale analysis. extensive knowledge about Information is sometimes poor, but the 2008 The State of Australia’s Birds report Why birds? Australian birds. IBAs are (available online at www.birdsaustralia. While site-scale mapping ideally promoted by Birds Australia com.au/soab/state-of--birds. encompasses all biodiversity, birds are html) suggests that about two-thirds of the only organisms for which we have because they can help focus our bird species are showing significant adequate information about distribution and facilitate conservation long-term declines. The 2009 IUCN/BirdLife across the whole of Australia. Birds can Red List classifies four Australian species often be used as indicators of wider action in the country’s most as globally Critically Endangered, 18 as biodiversity values. This relationship is Endangered and 25 as Vulnerable. important bird sites. strongest for islands and in areas such as Action is required if we are to arrest south-eastern Australia. The popularity and reverse the trajectory of continued and visibility of many birds also make threat and decline. them useful flagship species because their conservation is supported by large numbers of people.

A tool in the conservation toolbox IBAs have proved to be a useful conser- vation tool in other countries, and Birds Australia has, with Rio Tinto support, worked to implement this tool in Australia. Rio Tinto has also worked elsewhere in partnership with BirdLife International. In some developing countries, IBAs provide the only objective framework for national, site-based biodiversity conservation action. In , and in countries like the USA, IBAs have been used to lobby successfully for off-reserve conservation agreements with private landholders. IBAs have also become a focus for local management action by landholders and community support groups.

IBAs can be used to conserve birds in Australia Knowledge about the location of IBAs, together with IBA maps and other supporting materials can be used to help conserve Australia’s birds. With information on IBAs:

4 Why identify Important Bird Areas? IBAs

“Birds are beautiful, come in a wide variety of species, enrich our lives and are endlessly fascinating to watch. They are near the top of the food chain and are a barometer for the health of the ecosystems they live in. Monitoring and collecting data about birds can tell us a lot about what is happening to the insects, frogs, mammals, reptiles and other food sources they depend upon. Working on the IBA project over the last six years has been very rewarding and will contribute to the conservation of birds and their habitat for future generations.” Alan Briggs, Above: IBAs form a worldwide network of sites for the conservation of birds. Note that IBAs shown include Birds Australia Capricorna only those entered into the World Bird Database. With the completion of the IBA project in Australia, in June 2009 over 10,000 IBAs will have been designated in more than 200 countries and Territories. Map courtesy of BirdLife International.

s Birds Australia, other non-government not been identified at sea, nor in organisations and the wider every overseas country within these community can focus conservation species’ range. and monitoring efforts in areas of s IBAs are based on a set of ‘trigger’ highest priority. bird species. In most cases, other s Private land owners and managers more common species will also can learn about bird conservation be adequately conserved within values and conservation management IBAs. Some common species, such options. as birds of native , are under-represented in IBAs. s Government land-use planners and policy makers can identify areas that s IBAs are based on bird species, not are best safeguarded through wise subspecies. land-use planning, policies, incentives s IBAs are priorities for site-based and regulations. conservation. Some bird species s Business can identify areas to avoid are best conserved by larger-scale or mitigate their impacts, and to planning and actions. invest in offsets. s IBAs are mapped without buffers. Conservation of IBAs, especially Areas outside IBAs are also wetlands, requires appropriate important management of buffer zones and The IBA process is an objective catchments. prioritisation tool best used with an s IBAs are mapped as discrete sites understanding of its limitations. In but in some landscapes their particular, areas outside IBAs may also connectivity across non-IBA land have conservation importance: may be important. Conservation Left: The Forty-spotted Pardalote is one of Tasmania’s endemic birds. Four IBAs have action may include management or s IBAs are priorities in the global been designated for this Endangered species. provision of corridors. context. Other areas may have Photo by Chris Tzaros national, regional or local importance. s With future change, priorities Top: Three IBAs, two of them across State s Some species and regions are poorly will change, habitats will eventually boundaries, have been designated for the known, and further research may shift or change and species must be Endangered Black-eared Miner. Photo by Dean Ingwersen identify additional IBAs. allowed to move across the broader landscape. Above: Four IBAs for the threatened Gouldian s Some species are poorly known, or Finch have been identified in Western leave land or Australia, at certain Despite their limitations, IBAs are accepted Australia and the Northern Territory. stages of their life cycle. IBAs have globally as a very useful prioritisation. Photo by Dean Ingwersen

5 IBAs How are Important Bird Areas identified?

For any site proposed as an Identifying IBAs: the process five per cent of the population of a The identification of IBAs combines bird with a small geographic range is IBA, information is needed bottom-up local expert knowledge with designated as an IBA); and to show whether it meets at the use of global standards. The process s More than one per cent of the world requires the participation of many population of one or more congre- least one of three criteria. people consulted via a number of means, gatory species. including the conducting of workshops Obtaining this information is For threatened and congregatory birds, around regional Australia. Potential site or IBA boundaries are independent a thorough process involving IBAs are identified by local experts and of land ownership and all sites meeting supporting information is provided by extensive input from local the criteria are identified as IBAs. For experts and gleaned from the published endemic birds and where there is no experts. The three criteria are and unpublished literature and databases. alternative boundary, IBAs may match Considerable effort is invested into locating protected areas. based on threshold numbers adequate information – sometimes from Elsewhere in the world IBAs have relatively obscure sources – to justify every of globally threatened species, been identified that support represen- IBA. Draft descriptions are circulated for tative populations of biome-restricted restricted-range species or expert comment and evaluated where species, or near-threatened birds, or the necessary by a project Technical Advisory congregatory bird species. regular occurrence of 20,000 waterbirds. Committee. Final descriptions are checked In Australia there was either a complete by Birds Australia and BirdLife International overlap with IBAs identified under experts and associates. Landholders and other categories or the information was other significant stakeholders are also too scarce to identify such areas with invited to comment. confidence, particularly in the arid zone and tropical savannas, so these criteria IBA criteria were not used. All Australian IBAs meet global criteria developed by BirdLife International. Each IBA meets at least one of the following 1. Threshold numbers of globally threatened species Threatened Species Recovery criteria by regularly holding a minimum number of birds. These are: Globally threatened species considered Teams and the Identification in the IBA identification process are of IBAs s ‘Threshold’ (or minimum) numbers those listed in the 2009 version of Threatened species recovery teams of one or more globally threatened the IUCN/BirdLife International list of played an important role in the species; threatened birds (see box on p. 14). identification of some IBAs. In s Representative populations of Sites qualify for IBA status if they Western Australia, IBAs for Carnaby’s restricted-range species (any hold relevant numbers of Critically Black- were identified supporting more than Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable by members of the Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo Recovery Team. The Recovery Team, comprising experts from government, non-government organisations and the community, used the best available expert knowledge to make decisions about suitable minimum numbers for this species. The Recovery Team set the qualifying threshold at one per cent of the known breeding population, identified 12 IBAs in the Cockatoo’s breeding range and confirmed the presence of the species at another 11 IBAs identified primarily for other species. Members of the Recovery Team also reviewed the IBA descriptions. Unfortunately there is still too little information available to adequately identify a comprehensive set of IBAs across the non-breeding range of the species.

6 How are Important Bird Areas identified? IBAs

s t s t t s Swift t s t t (breeding ) s t Superb Parrot Important Bird Areas s s t s t t t s Other Important Bird Areas s s ssss s s sss t t t ss ssss t ssss s s s ss t ssss ss s t t s t t tt s sss sss t tt t ssss ss t sst t s t t t ttt st"t Orange s sssssssss t ss ttt t t stt s sssssss 0 60 120 t t s ss km t t tt ss s t ttt s s t t ttttt ttt tt tt st t tt tt ttttt ssssss Sydneys t tt t tt tttt tt ssss s s t s tttttt stt t tt t s ss ss s s t t s ttttt tt t s sss s" t ttttttstttttttttt s ss ss t s sttttttt tt t tttttt t t s sss ttttt tt s ts s t tstt tt stt s s t tt t tt ttttt t s t t t ttttst t t t t t t stt s tt t s s tt t s t ttt stt t s s t s t t tt t tttt s t ttt tt ttttttt sstt t ss t t s ss tt t ttt t ss t t ttttst t t tt t s t t ttt tt t t t s t ss tsstts tttt t t tt ttttttttttttttt tt t ttt s tt tt t ttt tttt ttt t tttt t ttt tttt s tttt t t ttttttttt t t tt ttt t t t tt tt t t t t tt t ttttt t t tt t t t t tt t t tt t t tt t t ttttttttt s tttttt tss tt t ttttttt tt t tsttt" t t tt t North ttttt t t s ttt t ttt tt s s t ttt tt s t s Canberra ts"tttt ttttt s Wagga Waggas sss tttts sts s s s" s s s ss s tt s ss South Canberra s t s t s s s ss t s s sss ss t ttttttt s ss t tttt t s ss ttt ttt s s ss ss ttt ttt s t s tt t t s s t t s ss s ss s ssss s ss s sssssssssss s s s s s sssss s sss ss s sssssssss s t s sss s s s ss sss s sss s s s sss ss s sss s s s s ss ss sss s ss s s ssssssssss s s ss sss sss s ss s s s ssss sss sssss ss s ss s s sss sss ss ss ss ss s Above: Identifying the boundaries of IBAs for two trigger species. The boundaries of many IBAs were More information about identified by combining bird location records, knowledge of suitable habitat and local expert opinion. This IBA criteria map shows how the boundary of the South-west Slopes IBA in NSW was identified by mapping the locations For more information about the of Superb and Swift , and drawing boundaries around particularly dense clusters of records. global IBA criteria developed by BirdLife International go to www. birdlife.org/datazone/sites/global_ bird species. For each species, a numerical to impacts at these sites. Population criteria.html For information about threshold is based on ecological and estimates and one per cent thresholds the identification of IBAs in Australia practical factors. For instance, a higher have been documented for most go to www.birdsaustralia.com.au/ threshold is determined for a numerically waterbirds worldwide to support a our-projects/identifying-ibas.html strong species such as Carnaby’s Black- criterion used to identify internationally Cockatoo, even if it is rapidly declining. important wetlands under the Ramsar Near-threatened species were not used to Convention. However, the Ramsar trigger IBA status but information about threshold is one per cent of a discrete these species in IBAs is recorded and used population of the species, whereas the to support IBA nominations. IBA threshold is one per cent of the species, which may be much higher. Of 2. Representative populations of Australia’s many terrestrial birds, only restricted-range species Pied Imperial-Pigeon, Flock Bronzewing Restricted-range species are defined and roosting Baudin’s Black-Cockatoo by BirdLife International as having congregate in sufficient numbers to geographical ranges of less than 50,000 trigger the identification of IBAs. square kilometres. In Australia, most of these species are endemic to a particular or island. Any protected area IBAs must ‘regularly’ meet the believed to support more than five per criteria cent of the world population of one of The IBA selection process follows the these species was identified as an IBA. in stating that Additional IBAs were designated for any IBAs must meet threshold numbers in under-represented species or outlying two-thirds of years for which there is population, so that the final IBA adequate information. However, in network of IBA sites adequately Australia climatic conditions mean that represents these species. habitat use by many species is irregular over longer time-scales. For these

3. More than one per cent of the world species, IBAs must support minimum Opposite page: The boundaries of many IBAs population of congregatory species numbers in two-thirds of years where were identified by combining bird location Congregatory species are those which suitable conditions are triggered by records, knowledge of suitable habitat and assemble in such large numbers that events such as rainfall, high water levels local expert opinion. Photo by Dean Ingwersen the species as a whole is vulnerable or flowering. Above: Superb Parrot. Photo by Chris Tzaros

7 IBAs Where are Australia’s Important Bird Areas?

Australia has 314 Important IBAs in Australia Regions with few IBAs IBAs have been identified in The arid interior and brigalow Bird Areas (IBAs) covering all Australian States and most belt have few IBAs. These areas 5.7 per cent of its land area. oceanic Territories. Detailed are important for birds but it is maps and tables of IBAs for not currently possible to identify IBAs in these large landscapes. IBAs are particularly densely each State have been provided concentrated in fragmented in the second half of this report. The map of Australian landscapes, coasts and IBAs is the first to identify the islands. Most Australian most important places for birds across the whole country. oceanic Territories are IBAs for seabirds and threatened Important Bird Areas endemic birds. Some regions, 0 250 500 notably the arid interior and km , where birds range across large landscapes, Map right: Australia’s 314 IBAs cover 5.7 per cent of its surface, compared have far fewer IBAs. IBAs are with 7.6 per cent of , 7 per cent of , 6 per cent of Europe and represented in all Australian 12 per cent of . IBAs are distributed across Australia, States and most oceanic but cover a smaller proportion of the arid rangelands of the Northern Territories, and cross borders Territory and Western Australia. wherever this is necessary. Better survey data may enable the future identification of additional large IBAs in more remote regions.

Right: The Number of IBAs in Australian States and Territories. IBAs are more numerous in larger States, 80 120,000 but also those such as Tasmania which have larger 70 100,000 numbers of small IBAs designated for shorebirds and 60 80,000 other coastal species. 50 40 60,000 Far right: The extent in square kilometres of IBAs in 30 40,000 Australian States and Territories. Relatively large 20 20,000 IBAs have been designated in NSW, Queensland, the 10 0 0 Northern Territory and South Australia to account NSW NT Qld SA Tas Vic WA Aust NSW NT Qld SA Tas Vic WA Aust for the needs of species that occur at relatively low Govt Govt densities over large areas.

Below: Categories of IBAs in Australian Oceanic Territories Australian Oceanic Territories listed here are under the jurisdiction of Government. Other island Territories (e.g. ) are under the jurisdiction of individual Australian States and are covered under State accounts in this report.

Seabird Islands Ashmore Reef, Coringa-Herald Reefs, Heard & McDonald Islands, the Island group (Norfolk, Phillip and Nepean), Island

Migratory shorebirds Ashmore Reef

Other (Norfolk Island Parakeet, Norfolk Island Gerygone, Slender-billed White-eye, White-chested White-eye)

8 Where are Australia’s Important Bird Areas? IBAs

Many IBAs are along coasts Australia’s coastline supports large congregations of shorebirds and waterbirds, especially along the and in the south-east between and .

Australia’s oceanic islands Christmas, Norfolk, Lord Howe, Macquarie, and Heard and McDonald Islands IBAs are too far from Australia to map, but are extremely important for threatened birds and seabirds. These are amongst the highest priority IBAs for conservation action due to the high numbers of threatened birds and endemic birds and relatively small areas. Other oceanic islands of importance include North Keeling Island and (off Norfolk Island). The oceanic IBAs identified that are the responsibility of the are listed in the table.

Cross-border IBAs IBAs are designated without borders or State jurisdictions in mind. Within the Australian , 12 IBAs share borders with another State.

Large IBAs Many IBAs are in Australia’s Some IBAs have been designated for fragmented landscapes species that occur at low population In the nation’s agricultural and intensive densities over very large areas. These land-use zone of south-eastern and include the South-west Slopes IBA south-western Australia, most native for breeding Superb Parrots, Simpson vegetation has been cleared and Desert IBA for Eyrean , fragmented. Vegetation remnants Bulgunnia IBA for Chestnut-breasted support relatively large numbers of Whitefaces and IBA threatened birds. for White-throated Grasswrens. Island IBAs Many of Australia’s small islands support large concentrations of nesting seabirds, especially on the and around Tasmania. Some of these colonies and IBAs are very small: 20 IBAs are less than one hectare in size. 87 island IBAs have been designated – these do not include small islands that are part of an offshore component of a mainland IBA.

9 IBAs Important Bird Areas, habitats and land use

IBAs occur across many IBAs occur across many habitats When they hold water they are hugely Artificial water storages and sewage productive for waterbirds, but some can habitats. Over half of treatment plants also provide be dry for decades (pp. 16–17). Coastal Australia’s IBAs are triggered habitat that is valuable, particularly wetlands (pp. 18–19) constitute part of a for Australian waterbirds. Habitats vast international network for shorebirds by waterbirds, shorebirds or that are particularly prevalent among that travel the length of the globe to use seabirds utilising wetland, Australian IBAs include inland and them. Seabirds (pp. 20–21) are equally coastal wetlands as well as the rocky or well travelled. For these highly mobile coastal or island habitats. sandy habitats on islands used by nesting and migratory bird species Australia has international obligations. Temperate and seabirds. Nearly half of the remaining IBAs are triggered by birds of temperate woodlands are the important forests or woodlands. There is a smaller Forests, woodlands and number of IBAs in which rainforest, habitat in most of the grasslands tropical savanna, arid grasslands, For 71 IBAs the trigger bird species remaining IBAs. The IBAs on , mallee or heathland are depend on forests or woodland. The critical. Agricultural land is important for private land, including much number is high because so much of this trigger bird species only on the Atherton habitat has been cleared for agriculture, traditionally owned land, are Tablelands, where fallow fields are used leaving fragments that are valuable by Sarus Cranes, and in the Ord Irrigation for the birds that remain. By contrast used primarily for grazing. Area, where Yellow-rumped Mannikin relatively few IBAs are triggered by birds There are opportunities for use weedy field verges. In a number that use arid grasslands and shrublands of IBAs, more than one habitat type is (26 IBAs) or tropical savannas (16 IBAs). conservation across important for significant birds. These habitats not only remain largely all tenures. intact, they support fewer bird species Wetlands and islands with naturally small ranges. Inland wetlands are the trigger habitat in 92 IBAs, with coastal wetlands Specialist birds in special habitats (78 IBAs) and the small islands used A number of Australian birds are endemic by marine seabirds (78 IBAs) not far to low, fire-sensitive vegetation such behind. All are particularly important as mallee (important in 22 IBAs) or for congregatory birds. In Australia heathland (11 IBAs). Appropriate fire most inland wetlands are ephemeral. management is critical if these IBAs are

10 Important Bird Areas, habitats and land use IBAs

to keep their value. At the wetter end of the scale, the designation of IBAs is triggered by rainforest species (28 IBAs) Important habitats in IBAs or specialist species such as Inland wetlands Chestnut or Mangrove Honeyeater Coastal wetlands (17 IBAs). For the birds that inhabit Rocky islands and sand cays these IBAs is now the Temperate and woodland biggest threat. Rainforest Arid and shrubland Land-use in IBAs Mallee In almost 50 per cent of IBAs, some Mangroves form of nature conservation or Tropical savanna conservation research activity is Heath undertaken, and these activities occur Agricultural land across all forms of land ownership, including private, Indigenous and government. Many IBAs are on private or leasehold land utilised for rangeland cattle or sheep grazing, where there Land use in IBAs are opportunities to work with graziers to improve the conservation Nature conservation/research status of their key birds. In addition Pasture or rangeland Not utilised to livestock production, biodiversity Forestry conservation and ecosystem services are Tourism/recreation important outcomes from the successful Water management management of grazing land. In many Urban/industrial/transport IBAs, multiple activities or land uses Agriculture are likely – for example, recreational Fisheries/ activities such as bushwalking are Military common in National Parks, and Indigenous use conservation is possible in land used for Energy production/mining industry, mining or military activity.

Graphs from top: IBAs encompass many habitats. The designation of the highest proportion of IBAs is triggered by species that are dependent on water – inland, on the coast or at sea. Many IBAs are also triggered by birds from temperate forest and woodland. There are multiple land uses in IBAs. Land use is varied across IBAs, but conservation is an activity in more than half. Grazing in pasture or rangeland is also a feature of a significant number of IBAs.

From left to right: Coastal heath habitats are under threat by coastal development and inappropriate fire regimes, yet are home to a number of threatened species. Photo by Martin Gole Woodland in the Pilliga IBA. Forest and woodland habitats are important for a number of key IBA bird species. Photo by Rod Kavanagh The Dampier Saltworks IBA consists of inundated salt evaporation and intake surrounded by tidal creeks and mud-flats. The IBA is important for migratory shorebirds and Dusky Gerygone, a restricted-range species endemic to northern Western Australia. Photo © 2009 Rio Tinto

11 IBAs Important Bird Areas and land ownership

IBAs occur across a number IBAs occur across tenure represented on the map (see next page) Designation of IBAs helps to draw but overlap with several IBAs including of different categories of attention to their importance for the the Mallee, ownership, and two or birds that have triggered the designation. and IBAs. An additional This is the case regardless of who owns protective mechanism for threatened more kinds of ownership the land. In Australia almost a third of birds and habitat of high conservation are possible in a single IBA. the IBAs are partly or fully privately value involves placing legally binding owned, about eight per cent are partly or nature conservation covenants on the In Australia, IBAs may be fully under the ownership of traditional title of private land. A small number of private landholders choose voluntarily privately owned, under the Indigenous people and fewer than 60 per cent are fully or partly owned by local, to protect IBAs on their land in this way, custodianship of traditional State or Federal government. but increased financial assistance by The designation and management government will be necessary before this Indigenous people or vested in of protected areas is the main way in becomes widespread practice. various levels of government. which Australia as a nation conserves biodiversity. The Australian Government Indigenous Protected Areas For all owners there are aims to reserve at least 10 per cent of all Ongoing Indigenous management significant opportunities for bioregions and to protect key habitats is important for many IBAs. Across for nationally listed threatened species Australia, 11 per cent of the area of all IBA conservation. and migratory species. Although more IBAs is currently managed by Traditional than 9,000 formally protected areas cover Owners. Indigenous Protected Areas are 11 per cent of the Australian landmass, an exciting addition to the protected many bioregions are under-represented area network. They are nominated by and many threatened and migratory their Traditional Owners and managed by species are poorly protected. Moreover, them with support from the Australian some species are declining, even in Government. Recently, Traditional protected areas. This highlights the need Owners nominated the entire eastern for conservation in the almost 90 per cent part of the range of the White-throated of Australia’s landmass that is outside the on the plateau formal conservation estate. as an Indigenous Protected Area. The Traditional Owners of this site have used Private land and conservation the value of the site for this species as A number of non-government organi- part of their nomination. sations and private landholders have bought or leased areas that they privately Why designate existing protect and manage for conservation, protected areas as IBAs? some of which include IBAs. For the The IBA analysis provides an objective acquisition of some private protected overview of bird conservation priorities areas, financial support has been made across a range of protected areas available by the Australian Government. nationally, identifying those that are Private protected areas are not particularly important for birds. There are

Above: Private protected areas such as the Mornington Sanctuary IBA have an increasingly important role in conservation. Photo by Dean Ingwersen Below right: The Swan and Bay Islands IBA. Sites such as this are important for species like Red-necked Stint which move freely across tenure boundaries between , Sand Island and . Photo by Ashley Herrod

12 Important Bird Areas and land ownership IBAs

Proportion of IBAs under major categories of land ownership

Private Indigenous State/Local Government Australian Government

Above: The proportion of IBAs under private, Indigenous or government ownership. Although most IBAs are owned by government, a significant number are owned by private landholders or Traditional Owners.

Protected Areas Important Bird Areas inside protected areas Important Bird Areas outside protected areas Management of IBAs by Traditional Owners

0 250 500 km

NSW Above: The overlap of Australian IBAs and protected areas (not including remote oceanic IBAs). While NT there is substantial overlap between IBAs and protected areas, many IBAs occur on other tenures or QLD extend beyond protected area boundaries For this analysis, ‘protected areas’ are defined using the SA Australian Government’s Collaborative Australian Protected Area Database (CAPAD), which only includes TAS formal protected areas and Indigenous Protected Areas designated before 2007. WA a number of advantages in designating The designation of an IBA can alert national parks and other protected managers to its importance and inspire Above: Almost three quarters of all IBAs managed by Traditional Owners occur in the areas as IBAs. Some protected areas are volunteers to assist managers to improve Northern Territory. Much smaller numbers well managed by governments fully its management. Where appropriate, IBA (and areas) of IBAs are managed by Indigenous aware of their bird conservation values. status can be used to encourage visits by people in most other States, suggesting that Others, especially in remote Australia, birdwatchers and other tourists. As IBA there is an opportunity for this to increase in are not managed in ways that recognise designation is not constrained by land the future. the special needs of key bird species. tenure, some IBAs include protected areas together with adjacent unprotected areas that also support the ‘trigger’ birds, thus enhancing the conservation values of the protected areas.

Unprotected government land Many IBAs, especially seabird islands and intertidal shorebird habitat, are on unallocated Crown Land or other land managed by government. Formal protection of these sites could help prevent destructive land-use and their conservation management could be considered a priority.

13 IBAs Threatened birds and Important Bird Areas

Australia has many threatened IBAs for Australia’s threatened birds bird species. In 2009, IUCN/ Unfortunately, Australia has more BirdLife International listed 58 threatened species than most countries, with most of these being unique or species of Australian birds as endemic to this country. This level of loss globally threatened. Australia’s and endangerment is largely a result of widespread historical and recent clearance threatened species are very well of native vegetation and bird habitat, represented in IBAs although the insidious impacts of invasive alien species (pest plants and ) and some are too poorly known or overgrazing. Recently, species such as range over too large an area the Mallee -wren have been added to the Endangered list because of more to be represented adequately. extensive wildfires, and water shortages are contributing to the endangerment of Of the 314 IBAs designated species such as the . across Australia, 167 have been designated for at least one Which threatened species list? Species-specific threshold A number of threatened species lists exist at numbers regional, national and international levels. threatened species. One of the criteria for IBA status is that To maintain consistency in the global IBA a site supports a threshold population of program, BirdLife International and the any globally threatened species. Where Australian IBA project use the IUCN/BirdLife necessary, population thresholds are Red List. The Australian Government uses The IUCN/BirdLife Red List determined for each individual threatened species and subspecies listed under the The IUCN or World Conservation species in consultation with Recovery Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Union maintains global best practice Groups and other experts. standards for many conservation Conservation (EPBC) Act 1999 (currently, 108 species or subspecies are listed as nationally processes. The IUCN/BirdLife Red List Threatened species and threatened under the Act) and State is based on standard objective criteria Australian IBAs governments use their own lists. These lists and is consistent across countries Across Australia, almost 26 million hectares rely on a number of criteria for listing and and open to all contributors. The bird of habitat have been designated in 167 are sometimes out of date. They also include section of the Red List is updated IBAs for globally threatened species. threatened subspecies and populations. An annually by BirdLife International, with Some IBAs have been designated for more additional advantage in utilising the IUCN/ changes to Australian birds advised by than one threatened species. Most IBAs BirdLife Red List is the ability to readily recommendations from Birds Australia’s have been designated for Endangered compare Australia with other countries. Threatened Species Committee. and Vulnerable species. Fewer have been The IBA project uses this Red List to designated for Critically Endangered maintain global consistency, to achieve species because of their scarcity. independence from governments and to be as up-to-date as possible. Threatened species and islands The IUCN describes species according There are 19 threatened species in to their likelihood of extinction: Australia that are only found on small s #RITICALLY%NDANGEREDSPECIESFACE islands. These include five species an extremely high risk of extinction endemic to , four to in the immediate future. Norfolk Island and one to Lord Howe s %NDANGEREDSPECIESFACEAVERY and Macquarie Islands. Another eight high risk of the extinction in the species of threatened seabirds are found near future. on Cabbage Tree & Boondelbah Islands, New South Wales, and Heard & McDonald s 6ULNERABLESPECIESFACEAHIGHRISK Islands, in the sub-. of extinction in the medium-term. Top: The migratory Endangered Currently, 58 species that occur in breeds in Tasmania and over-winters in mainland Some threatened species are Australia, triggering IBAs across a small number of Australia are listed under one of the poorly known three categories. states. Photo by Chris Tzaros The IBA network in Australia includes For more information on Above: The Endangered Plains-wanderer has more than 95 per cent of the individuals the IUCN/BirdLife Red List go to triggered the designation of only four IBAs across native grassland, much of it on private land. of most of the 58 threatened species, but www.iucnredlist.org/ Photo by Guy Dutson some species are poorly known. The two

14 Threatened birds and Important Bird Areas IBAs

least-known species, the and Buff-breasted Button-quail, are poorly represented in IBAs although they could be present in some. The Night Parrot could be on the verge of extinction; it may be a nomadic species and there have been very few confirmed records in the last century. The survey work required to understand the distribution of species such as Night Parrot and Buff-breasted Button-quail is outside the scope of the IBA program. Less than half the individuals of Carnaby’s and Baudin’s Black-Cockatoo, Gouldian Finch, Red Goshawk and Painted Honeyeater, and between 50–95 per cent of Australasian Bittern, Plains-wanderer, Malleefowl, Sarus Crane, Black-breasted Button-quail and Fairy , are estimated to live in IBAs. Critically Endangered Endangered Some species occur at low population Vulnerable densities across large areas and others No threatened species are mobile, with limited data for precise 0 250 500 km mapping of their IBAs.

Some species are poorly reserved Many threatened species are well represented in protected areas, as are poorly represented Above: Most IBAs triggered by threatened species conservation reserves have been in protected areas. Amongst the Vulnerable are designated for Endangered and Vulnerable established for these species. Most species, very few Sarus Crane, Superb species. Fewer have been designated for Critically Endangered species because of their scarcity. populations of Endangered species such as Parrot and Painted Honeyeater breed , Black-eared Miner and in protected areas. For poorly reserved those endemic to small islands are within species, conservation efforts must focus protected areas. Other Endangered species on off-reserve management of IBAs with such as Plains-wanderer, Swift Parrot and supportive landholders.

Conservation on private land: the case of the Regent Honeyeater There has been a long history of community conservation action for the Regent Honeyeater on private land, including fencing remnant vegetation to protect it against grazing by stock and undertaking new plantings for core habitat and corridors.

Far left: The Endangered Regent Honeyeater is a mobile species and most recent sightings are from outside protected areas. Of the 12 IBAs designated for this threatened species, most are wholly or partly on private land. Ten of these IBAs are in New South Wales, one in Queensland and one in Victoria. Photo by Chris Tzaros Left: Community-based conservation projects for threatened species on private land have a long history. For well over a decade, Birds Australia has been working with landholders to better protect and manage the Endangered Regent Honeyeater in the Capertee Valley IBA. Photo by Dean Ingwersen

15 IBAs Waterbirds and Important Bird Areas

Many IBAs are wetlands Australia’s waterbirds of permanent change to the hydrology, Waterbirds include , geese, swans, owing to extraction or diversion, as well supporting large numbers , pelicans, herons, egrets, as from reduced rainfall. The loss of of waterbirds. Waterbirds ibises, spoonbills, storks, cranes, rails, waterbird habitat at these non-IBAs, and shorebirds and . Shorebirds are indeed at many IBAs that now support in southern Australia are discussed separately in this report (see many fewer waterbirds than previously, threatened by reduced water pp. 18–19). Many waterbirds congregate is one of the most significant threats to in large numbers at favoured wetlands, bird conservation in Australia. In some flows into wetlands. The poor triggering the IBA criterion of more cases these threats could be alleviated by government purchase of entitlements state of many wetlands in the than one per cent of a species’ world population at one site. and increased allocations to environ- Murray-Darling Basin makes Species which only flock in small mental flows. numbers, such as Australian Wood , it particularly important to White-faced Heron, bitterns and rails, Waterbirds in unregulated river conserve wetland IBAs in the rarely reach the minimum numbers systems required for IBA designation but often As the number of breeding waterbirds has , occur in smaller numbers at many IBAs declined so much in southern Australia, and the Top End. All wetland designated for other species. Most particular attention needs to be paid waterbird species are declining in southern to the remaining healthy wetlands of IBAs meet the criteria for Australia because of reduced rainfall, the Channel Country, Gulf Plains and consideration as Ramsar sites. excessive use of limited water resources the Top End. Water extraction could be and degradation of wetland habitat. devastating if allowed from unregulated ‘wild river’ systems still supporting large Water use and climate change numbers of breeding waterbirds. at southern Australian wetlands The birds at many wetland IBAs in Weeds, coastal inundation and southern Australia are threatened by climate change at northern decreasing water inflows. Over-allocation Australian wetlands of water in the Murray-Darling Basin Many of the key wetlands in northern has lead to greatly reduced (or cessation Australia are on coastal and sub-coastal of) inundation of , floodplains susceptible to the impacts and lakes. Waterbird numbers at the of climate change. Storm surges and Lowbidgee IBA declined by 90 per cent higher threaten to inundate these between 1983 and 2001. Some sites freshwater wetlands with seawater. historically qualified as Ramsar sites These floodplains are also threatened but have not met threshold waterbird by invasive weeds which have already numbers since the early 1990s. These smothered huge areas of the Mary River are rejected as IBAs if there is evidence and other important floodplains.

16 Waterbirds and Important Bird Areas IBAs

The Ramsar Convention The Ramsar Convention is an interna- tional conservation agreement to which Australia is a signatory and active participant. A key component is the Waterbirds supported by designation of internationally important Important Bird Areas wetlands. In Australia, Ramsar sites Shorebirds benefit from protection under Australian Coastal gulls, terns, noddies Government environmental protection Ducks, Geese and Swan legislation (the EPBC Act). Of the nine Comorants and Pelican qualifying Ramsar criteria, two are based Herons and Ibis solely on waterbirds: any wetland which Other regularly supports one per cent of a waterbird population or more than 20,000 waterbirds. All IBAs meeting waterbird thresholds could qualify as Ramsar sites, along with many more non-IBAs. Above: Most IBAs for waterbirds have been The Ramsar Convention is similar to designated for shorebirds. The largest proportion the IBA process in promoting off-reserve of IBAs has been designated for migratory conservation. However, Ramsar listing shorebirds, but significant numbers of IBAs have imposes legal management obligations been designated for gulls, terns, ducks, herons which make it more powerful but also more and other waterbirds. difficult to negotiate with landholders. Such management obligations have little power outside the site, especially in relation to maintaining adequate water inflows. For instance, counts of waterbirds in the Kerang Ramsar Site have collapsed Above left: . Photo by from 299,000 waterbirds in 1987 and Glenn Ehmke 107,000 in 1993 to no more than 22,000 in Below left: Lake MacLeod. Photo by Tony Kirkby subsequent years. Of the 22 wetlands in Forrestdale and Thomsons Lakes Ramsar Below centre: An Australian Pelican colony at this Ramsar site, 14 have been excluded site in Western Australia, Bowling Green Big Hole in the Lake Sylvester System IBA in the from the North Victorian Wetlands IBA. Bay in Queensland and in Northern Territory. When flooding, this IBA attracts Ramsar-listed wetlands are elsewhere also Victoria. Almost 17 per cent of IBAs overlap hundreds of thousands of waterbirds. As the water declining in conservation value. A number with Ramsar sites. The Ramsar waterbird recedes, the area is important for some species of Australian Ramsar-listed wetlands did criteria are met by 171 IBAs, of which 53 are of migratory shorebirds. Photo by Roger Jaensch not meet IBA criteria and have not been partly or wholly designated as Ramsar sites () designated as IBAs. These include the and 118 are not. Below: Red-necked Avocet. Photo by Chris Tzaros

17 IBAs Shorebirds and Important Bird Areas

Shorebirds are a group of Migratory shorebirds Ephemeral wetlands Large spectacular flocks of shorebirds To be designated as IBAs, wetlands must waterbirds that have triggered are a feature of many IBAs. Australia regularly support threshold numbers of the designation of many regularly supports 36 species of migratory birds when conditions, such as water shorebirds, most of which nest in the levels, are suitable. Many Australian IBAs, mostly along the coast and migrate to Australia and wetlands are ephemeral, drying out each and in the Basin. tropical Asia during the southern summer. year or for several years between floods. A few species breed in central Asia and The most extreme example is Lake Migratory shorebirds require the Double-banded Plover nests in New Torrens, which has flooded only once conservation action across their Zealand. The IBA and in the past 150 years. Given that it was Mandora and Anna Plains IBA have, estimated to support half of the total international range. Resident at various times, each supported about population of breeding Banded Stilts three million shorebirds. during its single documented flood, that shorebirds are threatened by the species has bred at very few sites, coastal development and all Resident shorebirds and that the breeding event occurred relatively recently (1989), Lake Torrens shorebirds are declining at Australia has 18 species of resident shorebirds. These are less well studied has been designated as an IBA. Other freshwater wetlands suffering than migratory shorebirds, partly because ephemeral IBAs flood more frequently and often support a range of waterbirds. changed hydrology and habitat few of these species aggregate in large flocks and partly because these species The Fortescue Marshes IBA in Western degradation. do not undergo regular international Australia floods about once every ten migrations and so are not covered by years and have supported more than various agreements between countries one per cent of the world population of where they occur. 14 waterbird species. Monitoring Shorebirds The Shorebirds 2020 National Threats to shorebirds Shorebird Population Monitoring One large IBA or several small The populations of many shorebird Program aims to monitor shorebirds IBAs? species are declining, but few species are in Australia, report on their Shorebirds congregate in vast numbers listed as threatened. Inland shorebird population trends and identify the at some coasts, lakes and other wetlands. species are probably declining owing to factors causing population changes. Sometimes the IBA is clearly delineated a number of factors including habitat A number of shorebird IBAs, as well but shorebirds can also be distributed loss from decreasing and over-allocated as other shorebird areas important in varying numbers and densities along water flows. Many of these birds at national and flyway level, are long stretches of coast or floodplain or rely on shallow freshwaters that regularly monitored by local groups among a cluster of lakes and marshes. need unregulated floods or adequate and volunteers, with monitoring The wetland systems supporting the environmental flows. In some regions, coordinated by Shorebirds 2020. highest numbers and densities are the salinisation of freshwater wetlands For more information go to mapped as IBAs but in some cases further is also contributing to habitat loss. In the www.shorebirds.org.au research is needed to better define the boundaries. Lake Warden IBA and Ramsar site, rising

18 Shorebirds and Important Bird Areas IBAs

groundwater resulting from vegetation clearance in the catchment has resulted t t t t in increasing numbers of waterbirds t t t requiring deeper water but a loss of t t shallow water habitat for migratory and t t t t t t t resident shorebirds. t t t t Coastal resident species, such tt tt tt t t t as the beach-nesting south-eastern t t t t t t tt t t t Australian population of Hooded Plover, tt t t t tt t tt t ttt t tt t are declining because of increased t t t t t t t t tt t t t tt t tt t t ttt tt t t t pressures from development and t t tt t t t ttt tt tttt general recreational activity. The relative t t t ttt t t t tt t t t t tt t importance of Tasmania for these species t t tt t t ttt tt t t tttttt t ttt is indicated by the large numbers of t t t t ttttt t t t t tt tt tt ttt IBAs along the coasts and islands of that t t t t tttt t ttttttt t t t tt t ttt State that have been triggered by beach- t t t t tt tttt tt nesting shorebirds. t tt t t t tt t Coastal migratory species are also t t t t t t t t t tt tttt threatened by coastal development and ttt tt ttt t tt t increased disturbance. However, the t t t greatest threat to these species is while t t t ttt they are on migration, particularly the t tt t loss of habitat enroute. The reclamation tt tt ttttt tt of inter-tidal in the Yellow Sea t tt t t t in particular needs international efforts t ttt t tt to negotiate better outcomes for our ttt shared shorebirds. tt t tt Conservation of Australian migratory tt t shorebirds requires action at all IBAs t ttt ttt t designated for shorebirds across the whole t t t t of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway. t t t t t tt t tt t t ttt t t ttt t t tt t t t t tt t t tt 0 1,000 2,000 tt t km tt ttttttt t Migratory Shorebird Important Bird Areas t

Above: IBAs for migratory shorebirds across the East Asian-Australasian Flyway. Conservation of Australian migratory shorebirds requires action at all IBAs designated for shorebirds across the whole of the Flyway, including northern breeding grounds, migration stop-over sites and southern non-breeding grounds.

From below left to right: . Photo by Dean Ingwersen Shorebirds in flight. Photo by Glenn Ehmke The migratory Red-necked Stint has triggered the designation of IBAs around Australia. Photo by Glenn Ehmke

19 IBAs Seabirds and Important Bird Areas

Australia supports large Australia’s seabirds each supporting more than one per Many seabird species remain far out at cent of the population. numbers of many seabird sea for much of the year, returning to land Conservation actions needed species that feed in its seas and only during the nesting season, often Most seabird IBAs are offshore islands only after dark and to offshore islands. nest on its islands. Of the 314 and many are unallocated Crown Land. For this reason, seabirds can sometimes Most have been reserved as protected Australian IBAs, almost a third be overlooked. Any site supporting more areas but some, especially in Tasmania than one per cent of the world population and the Kimberley, remain unprotected. (98) have been designated of a seabird or at least one pair of an Monitoring seabird numbers and breeding at least partly for seabirds. Endangered species or at least 10 pairs of success can indicate any threats to be a Vulnerable species may be designated addressed. The most common threat Many IBAs are small islands as an IBA. on land is from and other invasive Australia is very important for the designated for their nesting species; where they have not already number and variety of seabirds that established, effective protection is needed seabirds. Many islands are still nest and feed on its islands and around to prevent their colonisation. Designating its coasts. Australia also supports the plagued by predators such as these islands as protected areas and world’s largest colonies of Little instigating population monitoring and rats, which need eradicating. and Short-tailed Shearwater, with an strict biosecurity (protection against estimated 11.5 million pairs of Short-tailed biological threats) would be a relatively At sea, prime seabird feeding Shearwater in Tasmania alone. Seven easy conservation gain. areas could benefit from species occur nowhere else in the world: s is endemic to Foraging at sea and Marine protection as Marine Protected . Protected Areas Areas. The IBA analysis helps to s Shy is endemic to Albatross, Both marine feeding areas and nesting and Islands. islands are critical for seabird conservation. identify and prioritise important While the distribution of seabirds at sea has s Providence Petrel is endemic to Lord been poorly known in the past, increasing islands for conservation action. Howe and Phillip Islands. numbers of studies involve tracking the s Black-faced is endemic to movements of individual birds. BirdLife southern Australia, represented in 21 International has used these tracking IBAs each supporting more than one studies to estimate the average foraging per cent of the population. ranges for each seabird species. Foraging ranges for inshore species are plotted on s Christmas Island Frigatebird is the map as simple radii around nesting endemic to Christmas Island. IBAs. Species which feed far offshore, s Abbott’s Booby is endemic to such as shearwaters and albatross, often Christmas Island. forage in specific areas at specific times. s is endemic to southern Mapping these offshore foraging areas and Australia, represented in 17 IBAs, inshore waters indicates the contribution

20 Seabirds and Important Bird Areas IBAs

Seabird Foraging Ranges

<40 km 40-80 km 80-120 km 120-160 km 160-200 km

0 500 1000 km

that a network of Marine Protected Areas Howe Island in 2011, to benefit the conser- Above: The foraging range for inshore seabirds. could make to the protection of Australia’s vation of endemic flora and including Inshore seabirds forage up to 200 km around IBAs. Offshore seabirds with foraging ranges seabirds at sea. various seabird species. Furthermore, plans greater than 200 km are not plotted on this map. are being made to ensure that all NSW These seas receive little conservation attention, Eradicating alien species offshore islands are free of vertebrate and could benefit from declaration of marine All , rats and mice are to be invasive pests by 2011. Given the expected protected areas. eradicated from Macquarie Island in 2010. impacts of sea-level rise on low-lying The success of this operation will directly islands, the removal of invasive species improve the conservation status of a from larger offshore islands is the largest range of seabirds and allow recovery of single benefit that can be made for seabird vegetation. Planning is well advanced for conservation in Australia and should be a the eradication of rats and mice from Lord priority in all States and Territories.

Pictured from left to right: Flesh-footed Shearwater entering its burrow on Lord Howe Island, one of five IBAs designated for this congregatory seabird. Photo by Barry Baker A Crested Tern colony on the IBA. Photo by Andrew Burbidge Heard Island (Laurens Peninsula), one of a number of IBAs in oceanic Territories designated for its congregation of seabirds. Photo by Eric J. Woehler

21 IBAs Threats to Important Bird Areas

Bird populations are declining Identifying threats Development pressure An accurate assessment of underlying Pressure from human activity has been at most IBAs, and significant threats is required before conservation identified as a threat at many IBAs. threats were identified at all action is undertaken at IBAs. Some Human activity impacting on IBAs is threats to IBAs are well known. However, most commonly caused by recreation except nine of the 314 IBAs. for many IBAs the project has extrap- activities (91 IBAs), mining and energy and The main challenges to the olated from similar but better known housing and urban development. These sites for threat analyses. For each IBA, the impacts are particularly acute at coastal conservation of birds are project has, as far as possible, identified IBAs in southern and eastern Australia. invasive species, development all significant threats and assessed Recreational impacts are very widespread their scale and severity. The assessment in IBAs, but have less severe effects than pressure, overgrazing, includes an estimation of timing – that is, the habitat loss caused by mining and whether the threat is current or potential. the clearing of native vegetation for inappropriate fire regimes At only nine IBAs were no significant urban development. Appropriate offsets, and climate change, all of threats identified. sensitive development, rehabilitation and recreational use can all help to ameliorate which interact to some extent. Invasive species on the impacts from development. Certain threats can easily Australian mainland Grazing, logging and Weeds and pest mammals are the best be addressed at the IBA site known of the many invasive species agricultural pressure itself, through actions such as that threaten Australian birds. In many Grazing by cattle or sheep affects 72 IBAs cases, the impacts of weeds and pests and logging affects 25. An additional fencing, management of fire accumulate slowly over time and four IBAs are affected by plantations and seven by marine aquaculture. Grazing can and invasive species. Other exacerbate other threats such as fires or over-grazing. The impacts can be slow and affect the structure of the understorey, threats, such as addressing difficult to pinpoint as key threats. Weeds fire management, regeneration and seed availability while logging can reduce the water shortage and climate and pests are likely to have negative impacts on most birds and IBAs, but some availability of hollows for nesting. The change, need action at extreme examples include: land managers at some of these sites are working hard to maintain conservation a regional, national or s Rats, and foxes that prey on values and can balance their economic ground birds such as nesting seabirds, global level. wellbeing with that of the birds in the IBA. shorebirds and other ground-nesting Even much-altered agricultural land can species. have benefits. Many of Australia’s Sarus s Weeds invading habitats such as Cranes migrate each year to the fields of tropical floodplains and sand . the Atherton Tablelands and feed among peanut and maize stubble. IBA designation s Invasive ants, particularly on can show where collaborative management Christmas Island where only is most needed. sustained conservation action is preventing transformation of the Fire island’s ecology by Yellow Crazy Ants. Some Australian birds have adapted to A handful of native bird species have live with fire but not at its current and become a problem in human-modified projected extent, intensity and frequency. environments. These include two corella In parts of northern Australia, fire has species and the Galah out-competing increased because changes to traditional the Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo for limited land management have resulted in the use nesting hollows in IBAs in the Western of extensive hot late dry season fires. This is Australian wheatbelt and the Yellow- being addressed by promoting a return to throated Miner hybridising with the traditional burning regimes that break up Black-eared Miner in the Riverland Mallee the fuel load with small cool fires early in IBA of NSW and South Australia. the year. Actions to address these threats In southern Australia, fire has include the focus by community- increased because of drought and based organisations, natural resource inappropriate fire management, management groups and government exacerbated by climate change. The agencies on weed control, the eradication large mallee IBAs in South Australia and of feral mammals from islands by Victoria have been burned so frequently government agencies, and the control of in the 2000s that species such as Mallee problem Galahs by farmers. Emu-wren are increasingly restricted

22 Threats to Important Bird Areas IBAs

to precariously small and isolated populations. This can be addressed by adequately resourced fire strategies based on sound ecological principles. Some bird species such as the bristlebirds of heathlands require regular fires to maintain appropriate habitat structure and vegetation communities. Long-term suppression or prevention of fires may threaten these species.

Climate change Climate change is likely to impact all IBAs to some extent in the coming decades and beyond. The consequences for biodiversity include temperature increases beyond those tolerated by some species, changes in average annual rainfall (especially reduced rainfall in southern Australia) changes in fire regimes with more extreme fire weather days, higher sea surface temperatures, changes in ocean currents and rising sea levels. Impact will also depend on where each IBA is located, as different regions within Australia will be affected to varying degrees. Some impacts on birds are already evident. These include range shifts, including shifts in the boundaries of a number of species, and expansions of several bird species to higher elevations. Modelling techniques can predict range shifts of those species likely to be affected. The Grey-headed Robin, for example, is predicted to decline to extinction if temperatures rise by 5°C. Other species likely to be significantly affected include seabirds and shorebirds that breed on beaches or low-lying cays, wetland-dependent species in southern Australia, and species restricted to higher rainfall areas in the south west, south east and Tasmania (particularly species that are relatively poor dispersers such as scrub-birds and bristlebirds). It is too early for studies to have been conducted on the effects of climate change on Australian IBAs. A study of Top: Cattle grazing contributes to the on-going African IBAs found that species turnover and progressive degradation of wetlands. is likely to vary regionally and will be Photo by Chris Tzaros substantial at many sites. Persistence of Centre: A control burn in savanna woodland in suitable climate space across the network the Kimberley, where inappropriate fire regimes as a whole, however, is notably high, are thought to have contributed to the decline with approximately 90 per cent of priority of many species including the threatened Gouldian Finch. Photo by Richard Kingsford, species retaining suitable climate space Australian Wildlife Conservancy in at least one IBA in which they are Below: A feral taking chicks from a bird’s currently found. The degree to which the nest. Feral rats are known to have contributed African predictions might be relevant to to the decline of birds on islands all over the Australia is unknown. world. Photo courtesy of Nga Manu Images

23 Monitoring and conservation of Australia’s IBAs Important Bird Areas

Once identified, each IBA Most IBAs need conservation action and anyone can help to The contribution of requires regular monitoring conserve them Regional Groups or assessment to ensure IBAs can be the focus of local ‘citizen Birds Australia Regional Groups science’ initiatives of local communities supported the IBA project through that its conservation values or individual people, or their monitoring the process of identifying and are retained. In Australia, may be the target of land managers designating IBAs and are now such as government agencies or larger involved in monitoring them. most IBAs are designated non-government organisations. “The Birds Australia Southern for threatened species Monitoring and evaluation is a vital Queensland group sees IBAs as an step in ensuring the effective conser- ideal target for our longer field trips. or for globally significant vation of IBAs. It indicates whether Our members are very keen to travel populations of congregatory bird populations are stable, increasing across the region, even to distant or decreasing and can be linked to the locations, if their waterbirds or seabirds. The causes of change and the effects of efforts are used for science and next stage of looking after management actions. Monitoring is also conservation. We are establishing an important way of raising the profile of long-term monitoring projects at IBAs involves conservation IBAs and their conservation. most of our IBAs and intend to return There are many active monitoring advocacy and action to protect regularly to count birds and assess schemes active across Australia (see The whether numbers are increasing or and manage sites for these State of Australia’s Birds reports) but few decreasing. These visits help promote are large-scale or long-term. Undertaking the values and conservation needs of species in perpetuity. simple but rigorous monitoring across our IBAs to local communities.” a suite of IBAs is a powerful tool for Dez Wells, Convenor, Birds Australia assessing the trends and needs of Southern Queensland Australia’s vulnerable and irreplaceable birds. Birds Australia encourages everyone to help monitor IBAs. providing assistance and critical advice Conservation and, where resources are available, taking the lead in action. All conservation Bird conservation is the means by which actions require the support of the wider healthy bird populations are maintained public, so everyone can play a role as for future generations. Conservation participants or supporters. may involve passive support for existing

Right: IBA landholder Alison Doley helping land management or may require active to monitor the health of a Carnaby’s interventions to address specific threats. What actions need to be taken Black-Cockatoo chick on her farm in the WA All levels of government have responsi- for Australia’s IBAs? wheatbelt. Photo by Rick Dawson bility for the regulation and enactment of Australians need to know about Below: Volunteer monitoring beach-nesting conservation activities. Non-government IBAs: what they are and why they are Hooded Plovers. Photo by Chris Tzaros organisations play important roles in important. Overseas, IBA conservation successes have highlighted the value of building a constituency for IBA conser- vation among a broad spectrum of stakeholders. Constructive dialogue with the landholders is essential. Interna- tionally, groups of people supporting conservation at an individual IBA have made great improvements to many IBAs. Where local landholders are supportive, birdwatching tourism can bring financial benefits and raise local awareness of the values of IBAs. The Australian IBA project has worked with Energy Resources of Australia to train local guides and promote birdwatching tourism in IBAs around Kakadu, so that local Indigenous communities can benefit financially from the birds on their traditional lands.

24 Monitoring and conservation of Australia’s Important Bird Areas IBAs

Prioritising the need for Christmas Island, Norfolk Island and conservation action at IBAs Lord Howe Island IBAs. Helping with IBAs are already a priority list of globally s Some IBAs harbour birds at extreme IBA conservation important sites, but it may be useful to risk. These are IBAs with Critically prioritise where actions need to be taken. Endangered birds; they include the and monitoring Initially, this can be based on the IBAs’ Christmas Island, Norfolk Island, Birds Australia encourages you uniqueness and vulnerability: to Birchs IBAs and to help monitor and conserve s Unique IBAs are those with birds that non-breeding sites for the Orange- IBAs. To help, you can: occur nowhere else. These include the bellied Parrot. % Publicise: share this report Arnhem Plateau, Clarke Range, Two s Some IBAs are under extreme threat. with friends and colleagues; Peoples Bay & Mount Manypeaks, These include the Macquarie Island become familiar with the IBA IBA and wetlands suffering low water inflows (for example the Coorong, website and send the web , Lowbidgee link to interested people. Floodplain and % Champion: publicise the value IBAs). of your IBA to local people Ultimately, actions at IBAs need to be and government; talk to your prioritised based on the opportunities, community – to neighbours, practicality, feasibility and cost benefit friends, schools or special of delivering positive conservation results. Examples of priorities include interest groups. actions offering significant benefits from % Join a team: join or create a relatively simple interventions, those that local IBA support group or a avert high levels of risk, or those that larger regional group. are able to take advantage of support, especially from local stakeholders and % Observe and monitor an IBA: communities. volunteer to monitor an IBA. % Practical conservation: Next steps for the Australian volunteer for a revegetation IBA project project in an IBA. Birds Australia has identified 314 sites of global significance for birds. Over the next % Climate consciousness: reduce The contribution of private phase of the project we will: landowners your carbon footprint. s Assess the monitoring status of each The Doley family has farmed % Sponsor: donate to Birds IBA. Koobabbie, near Coorow in Western Australia or a local IBA support Australia for decades, but it was s Identify a long-term monitoring plan group. only in the 1980s that they realised for all Australian IBAs. % Politics: campaign and vote for that their Carnaby’s Black- s Consult with landholders and identify conservation. were possibly threatened with conservation requirements for IBAs. extinction. Since then, the Doleys % Adopt an IBA. have worked actively to conserve the s Prioritise the need for conservation birds on their property by fencing action at IBAs. remnant vegetation from grazing s Continue to gather and disseminate stock and regularly controlling information about IBAs. nest competitors such as Galahs How can I help? s Undertake community education and corellas. Alison Doley is very Email [email protected] and programs, working with local and enthusiastic about the IBA status of offer to help or go to the website regional groups to establish IBA Koobabbie and the global conser- at www.birdata.com.au/iba.vm and ‘support groups’. vation significance of their farm. read about the IBAs that interest you. “I’m very proud’, said Alison, ‘and it s As new information becomes You can also call the Birds Australia would be wonderful if this led to an available, continue to solicit IBA office on 1300 730 075. increase in funding for monitoring, nominations for sites that meet the as this is the only way we can tell if criteria. the birds are doing well, or if there are problems developing.” Alison Doley, private landholder, Western Australian wheatbelt

25 Important Bird Areas in New South Wales IBAs and the Australian Capital Territory

The 45 IBAs covering Regent Honeyeater IBAs for restricted-range species The Endangered Regent Honeyeater Any protected area supporting more 14 per cent of NSW and the shows some of the strengths and than five per cent of the population of ACT include many large weaknesses of IBA mapping. Some a bird with a small geographic range is significant areas for the species are outside designated as an IBA. The Blue Mountains, IBAs. The Greater Blue the conservation estate. These include including Wollemi and adjacent National Mountains IBA is designated the Barraba-Bundarra, Capertee Valley Parks, is designated as an IBA for the and Hunter Valley IBAs, all highlighted for Rockwarbler, a species endemic to NSW, primarily for Rockwarbler. conservation action on private land. The and the , an IBA sharing Most individuals of the Regent Honeyeater is too poorly known boundaries with Victoria, is designated and travels too widely and unpredictably, for the Pilotbird, a species extending threatened Superb Parrot, especially in the non-breeding season, to south to . Bird conservation enable a comprehensive set of IBAs to be needs to be included in the management Rufous Scrub-bird, Eastern designated. More survey work is needed objectives for these National Parks, which Bristlebird and Regent alongside conservation action at also protect important populations of these IBAs. other bird species. Honeyeater occur within IBAs in this State. New South South-west Slopes Plains-wanderer in the Wales shares three IBAs The South-west Slopes IBA is the largest in The boundaries of the Riverina Plains IBA Australia, more than 2.5 million hectares mirrors habitat mapped as suitable for with Queensland, three with in extent. IBAs are usually identified the Endangered Plains-wanderer. Suitable as individual sites, often remnants of habitat consists mostly of grazed native Victoria and one with native vegetation, that are suitable for grassland but also land that has been South Australia. a single monitoring and management cropped but has the potential to be plan. However, the Vulnerable Superb restored. Monitoring and conservation of Parrot utilises the whole landscape of the Riverina Plains IBA will be conducted woodland, agricultural and grazing land, with the support of local landholders. and many nest in isolated paddock trees in farmland. A very large IBA has thus been Rufous Scrub-bird From below left to right: identified around all of the core breeding All five populations of the Vulnerable In NSW and the ACT, 15 wetlands provide area. Two other large IBAs have been Rufous Scrub-bird are in national parks, critical habitat for a number of key IBA species. designated for Superb Parrot: Barmah- but the species continues to decline. Photo by Glenn Ehmke Millewa on the Murray and two stretches IBA designation helps to highlight the Painted Honeyeater, a globally Vulnerable of the , both of which species contributing to the designation of need for improved research into the include additional critical habitat for the 12 IBAs. Photo by Chris Tzaros threats and management actions for this species. Within all of these IBAs there are Rockwarbler, a restricted-range species species. The Rufous Scrub-bird occurs at significant opportunities for conservation contributing to the designation of four IBAs high altitudes and may be susceptible to in NSW. Photo by Chris Tzaros action on private land. climate change.

26 Important Bird Areas in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory IBAs

Scenic Rim Gwydir Nightcap Range Wetlands Gibraltar Range Bulloo Floodplain

Paroo Floodplain & Currawinya New England

Hastings- Bundarra- Macleay Barraba Macquarie Marshes Lord Howe Pilliga Werrikimbe Island

Mudgee- Goonoo Wollar Barrington Tops & Gloucester Tops

Central Hunter Valley Cabbage Tree & NSW Mallee Boondelbah Islands Capertee Hunter Southern Valley NSW Mallee Lake Macquarie Tuggerah Greater Blue Binya & Water Riverland Griffith Cocoparra Mountains Mallee Wetlands Lowbidgee Fivebough & Richmond Floodplain Tuckerbil South-west Woodlands Slopes of NSW Budderoo & Barren Grounds

Lake Bathurst

Murrumbidgee Barmah- Red Gums Riverina Millewa Plains Important Bird Areas in NSW (including ACT) Ulladulla to Important Bird Areas shared betweenNSW (including ACT) and other states Australian Other Important Bird Areas Alps

Nadgee to 0 125 250 Mallacoota Inlet km

The IBAs of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory organised by category. Categories comprise groups of key species for which IBAs are nominated. IBAs marked with an asterisk (*) share boundaries with another State. For a full list of NSW and ACT IBAs and key species go to www.birdsaustralia.com.au/our-projects/iba-results.html

Seabird island species Cabbage Tree & Boondelbah Islands; Lord Howe Island

Resident waterbirds Barmah-Millewa*; Bulloo Floodplain*; Fivebough & Tuckerbil Swamps; Griffith Wetlands; Gwydir Wetlands; Hastings-Macleay; Hunter Estuary; Lake Bathurst; Lake Wollumboola; Lowbidgee Floodplain; Macquarie Marshes; Menindee Lakes; Narran Wetlands; Paroo Floodplain & Currawinya*; Tuggerah

Migratory shorebirds Fivebough & Tuckerbil Swamps; Hunter Estuary; Macquarie Marshes; Menindee Lakes; Paroo Floodplain & Currawinya*; Tuggerah

Mallee birds Central NSW Mallee; Goonoo; Riverland Mallee*; Southern NSW Mallee

Threatened woodland Barmah-Millewa*; Binya & Cocoparra; Brisbane Water; Bundarra- birds Barraba; Capertee Valley; Goonoo; Hastings-Macleay; Hunter Valley; Lake Macquarie; -Wollar; Murrumbidgee Red Gums; Pilliga; Richmond Woodlands; South-west Slopes of NSW; Tuggerah; Ulladulla to Merimbula

Rainforest birds Barrington Tops & Gloucester Tops; Gibraltar Range; New England; Nightcap Range; Scenic Rim*; Werrikimbe

Other Australian Alps* (Pilotbird); Budderoo & Barren Grounds (Eastern Bristlebird); Bulloo Floodplain* (); Greater Blue Mountains (Rockwarbler); Jervis Bay (Eastern Bristlebird); Lord Howe Island (Lord Howe Woodhen); Nadgee to Mallacoota Inlet* (Eastern Bristlebird); Riverina Plains (Plains-wanderer); Scenic Rim* (Eastern Bristlebird)

27 IBAs Important Bird Areas in the Northern Territory

The 31 IBAs covering six per A few large IBAs s Few sites in these areas meet IBA Wetland and seabird IBAs are easily criteria. Few arid zone birds are cent of the Northern Territory delineated but there may not be clear threatened or endemic to small are mostly in the Top End. boundaries for IBAs in extensive savanna areas. There are few wetlands in or in semi-arid and arid habitats. The these low rainfall areas, except for The Northern Territory has boundaries of the Arnhem Plateau IBA the Channel Country and some rarely many large IBAs designated were defined by the habitat suitable flooded salt lakes. for the Vulnerable White-throated s Most of remote Australia is for waterbirds; the Arnhem Grasswren. The whole of the Tiwi continuous native habitat. Although Plateau IBA has been Islands has been designated as an parts of it may be degraded, they IBA for the Vulnerable Red Goshawk. are still used by arid zone birds. It is designated for endemic ’s savanna was difficult to identify particular areas defined as an IBA for the Red Goshawk as IBAs. species and several large IBAs and Gregory National Park for the have been identified for the White-quilled Rock-Pigeon and Yellow- Remote area birds may be better rumped Mannikin. These IBAs follow conserved by landscape-level actions Red Goshawk and Gouldian National Park boundaries because these rather than IBA site-scale actions. This Finch. A small number of protected areas have greater potential is partly because many remote area for sympathetic land management and birds are resource nomads, ranging over inland wetlands and seabird long-term bird conservation than areas vast areas tracking rainfall and food outside the existing conservation estate. resources. islands have been designated Arid zone birds are poorly in the Northern Territory. The Few IBAs in the arid zone represented in conservation planning, The maps show few IBAs in the Australian including this IBA project, and need more Northern Territory shares one arid zone, especially in the Northern research to determine their true status IBA with Queensland and one Territory, Western Australia and western and the most appropriate larger-scale South Australia. Remote areas in Australia conservation actions. This is particularly with Western Australia. are important for bird conservation but it true for rare, sparsely distributed species is difficult to identify IBAs because: like the Princess Parrot.

28 Important Bird Areas in the Northern Territory IBAs

Tiwi Seagull Island Islands () Buckingham Cadell & Blyth Bay Haul Round Floodplains Island Alligator Milingimbi Higginson Rivers Islands Island Floodplains Bay (Darwin) Fog Bay & Finniss River Floodplains Blue Mud Bay

Anson Bay, Daly & Reynolds & Arafura Three River Floodplains Mary River Hummocks Floodplains Island

Hyland Bay Kakadu & Moyle Savanna Sandy Island Floodplain & Low Rock () Yinberrie Hills off NE Groot Eylandt Arnhem Plateau Pearce, Urquhart Legune (Joseph Limmen & Hervey Islands Bonaparte Bay) Bight (Sir Edgar Pellew Group)

Port McArthur Keep Tidal Wetlands Gregory River System National Park

Wollogorang Lake Woods

Important Bird Areas in the Northern Territory Lake Important Bird Areas shared between Tarrabool Lake- Sylvester the Northern Territory and other states Eva Downs Swamp System

Other Important Bird Areas

0 150 300 km

The IBAs of the Northern Territory organised by category. Categories comprise groups of key Clockwise from top left: species for which IBAs are nominated. IBAs marked with an asterisk (*) share boundaries with Partridge Pigeon, a restricted-range species in a another State. For a full list of Northern Territory IBAs and key species go to www.birdsaustralia. number of IBAs in the Northern Territory and Western com.au/our-projects/iba-results.html Australia. Photo by Graeme Chapman

Seabird island species ; Higginson Island; Islet off NE Grooyte Eylandt; Pearce; Lake Woods IBA, the northern delta in flood. Photo by Urquhart & Hervey Islands (Sir Edward Pellew Group); Sandy Island & Low Roger Jaensch, Wetlands International Rock (Gulf of Carpentaria); Seagull Island (Tiwi Islands); Three Hummocks Pied Heron, a congregatory waterbird contributing Island to the designation of nine IBAs, all in the Northern Territory. Photo by Guy Dutson Resident waterbirds Adelaide & Mary River Floodplains; Alligator Rivers Floodplains; Anson Bay; Daly & Reynolds River Floodplains; Arafura Swamp; Blue Mud Bay; Buckingham Bay; Cadell & Blyth Floodplains; Fog Bay & Finniss River Floodplains; Hyland Bay & Moyle Floodplain; Lake Sylvester System; Lake Woods; Legune (Joseph Bonaparte Bay); Limmen Bight; Milingimbi Islands; Tarrabool Lake-Eva Downs Swamp System

Migratory shorebirds Adelaide & Mary River Floodplains; Alligator Rivers Floodplains; Anson Bay; Daly & Reynolds River Floodplains; Arafura Swamp; Buckingham Bay; Cadell & Blyth Floodplains; Fog Bay & Finniss River Floodplains; Lake Sylvester System; Limmen Bight; Milingimbi Islands; Port McArthur Tidal Wetlands System; Shoal Bay (Darwin); Tiwi Islands

Top End and Arnhem Plateau; Gregory National Park; Kakadu Savanna; Tiwi Islands; Kimberley endemics Yinberrie Hills

Other Kakadu Savanna (Red Goshawk); Keep River* (Gouldian Finch); Lake Sylvester System (Flock Bronzewing); Tiwi Islands (Red Goshawk); Wollogorang* (); Yinberrie Hills (Gouldian Finch)

29 IBAs Important Bird Areas in Queensland

The 53 IBAs covering five Channel Country cent of the world population of Pied The Channel Country of south-west Imperial-Pigeon, boobies, frigatebirds, terns per cent of Queensland are Queensland and neighbouring areas or noddies have been identified as IBAs. mostly coastal or located in of NSW and South Australia could be Neighbouring islands were combined into considered as Australia’s continental a single IBA where they supported similar the far west. Coastal IBAs waterbird breeding factory, especially since species or where individual birds were include many on the Great the decline of the Murray Darling Basin believed to move between islands. wetlands. After good summer rainfall in Barrier Reef, several for the catchment headwaters of Queensland, and shorebird IBAs shorebirds and a number of rivers flow inland and fill ephemeral lakes, Migratory shorebirds are monitored channels and floodplains in otherwise arid regularly by the Queensland Study IBAs across suitable areas of country. Lakes and sections of swampy Group. Analysis of their data shows that floodplain with high concentrations of forest in the far south-east roosting shorebirds within National Park waterbirds have been designated as IBAs zones suffered much less disturbance than and the Wet Tropics. IBAs based on recent aerial and ground surveys roosts in less stringent management zones. by waterbird specialists. Nine IBAs support The main causes of disturbance are dogs, have been identified for the one per cent of the global populations walkers or swimmers, birds of prey, fishing, Carpentarian and Eyrean of waterbirds, particularly the colonial boating and vehicles. Other shorebirds IBAs breeders, and all periodically support in the are monitored less frequently, some – such Grasswrens in the west and order of 100,000 waterbirds. These are the as the Gulf Plains IBAs – because they are for waterbirds in the Channel Bulloo Floodplain, , Cooper remote and access is difficult. Floodplain below , Diamantina Country. Much of the central Floodplain, Goyder , Lake Machattie, Wet Tropics Lakes Muncoonie, Mumbleberry & The rainforests of have Queensland brigalow and Torquinie, Lake Yamma Yamma and Paroo World Heritage status because of their Floodplain & Currawinya IBAs. grasslands lack species biodiversity. These rainforests, especially that trigger IBA status. the uplands, support many endemic Great Barrier Reef rainforest bird species, as well Queensland shares three IBAs Large numbers of seabirds nest across as substantial populations of species with New South Wales, one the vast Great Barrier Reef although such as the Southern that many islands there are poorly surveyed also occur in New Guinea. Each of the with the Northern Territory and monitored. The limited monitoring major rainforest blocks in the wet tropics information suggests that seabird numbers and one with South Australia. region is designated as an IBA with the are declining across the Reef. All islands cassowary as the principal trigger species. believed to support more than one per Almost all are fully protected.

The IBAs of Queensland organised by category. Categories comprise groups of key species for which IBAs are nominated. IBAs marked with an asterisk (*) share boundaries with another State. For a full list of Queensland IBAs and key species go to www.birdsaustralia.com.au/our-projects/iba-results.html

Seabird island species Bountiful Islands; Brook Islands; Cape York to Cape Grenville Islands; Capricornia Cays; Islands North of Port Stewart; Manowar & Rocky Islands; Michaelmas Cay; Piper Islands; Raine Island; Moulter & Maclennan Cays; South Barnard Islands; Stapleton Island; Sudbury Reef; Swain Reefs; Wilson Reef (Great Barrier Reef)

Resident waterbirds Atherton Tablelands; Broad Sound; Bulloo Floodplain*; Cooper Floodplain below Windorah; Diamantina & Astrebla Grasslands; Diamantina Floodplain; ; Gulf Plains; Lake Bindegolly; Lake Galilee; Lake Machattie Area; Lake Yamma Yamma; Lakes Muncoonie; Mumbleberry & Torquinie; Moreton Bay & Pumicestone Passage; Paroo Floodplain & Currawinya; Repulse Bay to Ince Bay; ()

Migratory shorebirds Broad Sound; Cape York to Cape Grenville Islands; Diamantina Floodplain; Fitzroy Floodplain & Delta; Great Sandy Strait; Gulf Plains; Lake Machattie Area; Lake Yamma Yamma; Lakes Muncoonie; Mumbleberry & Torquinie; Moreton Bay & Pumicestone Passage; Paroo Floodplain & Currawinya; Repulse Bay to Ince Bay; Shoalwater Bay (Rockhampton)

Threatened Woodland birds Traprock

Rainforest birds Bunya Mountains & Yarraman; Clarke Range; Coastal Wet Tropics; Conondale Range; Cooloola & Fraser Coast; Daintree; Iron & McIlwraith Ranges; Palmgrove; Paluma; Scenic Rim*; Tamborine Mountain; Wooroonooran

Other Boodjamulla (Carpentarian Grasswren); Brook Islands (Pied Imperial-Pigeon); Bulloo Floodplain* (Grey Grasswren); Buckley River (Carpentarian Grasswren); Cape York to Cape Grenville Islands (Pied Imperial-Pigeon); Diamantina & Astrebla Grasslands (Plains-wanderer; Night Parrot); Diamantina Floodplain (Grey Grasswren); Islands North of Port Stewart (Pied Imperial-Pigeon); Lake Machattie Area (Grey Grasswren); Lakes Muncoonie; Mumbleberry & Torquinie (); Lilyvale (Red Goshawk); Lockerbie Scrub (Rainbow Bee-eater; Spangled Drongo); Morehead River (Golden-shouldered Parrot); Piper Islands (Pied Imperial-Pigeon); Scenic Rim (Eastern Bristlebird); Simpson Desert* (Eyrean Grasswren); (Golden-shouldered Parrot); Wollogorang* (Carpentarian Grasswren)

30 Important Bird Areas in Queensland IBAs

Important Bird Areas in Queensland Lockerbie Raine Island, Moulter Scrub & McLennan Cays Important Bird Areas shared between Cape York to Queensland and other states Cape Grenville Islands Piper Islands Other Important Bird Areas Islands North Iron & of Port Stewart 0 250 500 McIlwraith km Ranges Wilson Reef (Great Barrier Reef) Lilyvale Stapleton Island

Morehead Manowar & River Rocky Islands Bountiful Coringa- Islands Herald Reefs Daintree Michaelmas Cay Wollogorang Sudbury Reef Atherton Staaten River Tablelands South Barnard Islands Coastal Wet Gulf Plains Tropics Brook Islands Boodjamulla Wooroonooran

Paluma Buckley River Repulse Bay to Ince Bay Clarke Range Swain Reefs

Lake Galilee Shoalwater Bay Broad Sound (Rockhampton) Diamantina & Astrebla Grasslands Capricornia Lake Fitzroy Cays Machattie Floodplain Area & Delta

Simpson Diamantina Palmgrove Cooloola & Desert Floodplain Fraser Coast Cooper Floodplain Great Below Windorah Sandy 1. Bunya Mountains Strait Lakes Muncoonie, & Yarraman Lake Yamma Yamma 2. Mumbleberry 2. Conondale Range & Torquinie 1. 3. Moreton Bay & Pumicestone Passage 3. Lake Bindegolly 4. Tamborine Mountain 4. Bulloo Floodplain Traprock

Scenic Rim

Paroo Floodplain & Currawinya

Left: The Cooper Floodplain below Windorah. When flooding, this Channel Country IBA is hugely productive for waterbirds. Photo by Roger Jaensch, Wetlands International

31 IBAs Important Bird Areas in South Australia

The 38 IBAs covering seven Short-tailed Grasswren and especially along the shores, but are under Chestnut-breasted Whiteface imminent threat of saltwater drowning. per cent of South Australia South Australia boasts two Across the system, numbers of migratory include many small IBAs, restricted-range species found nowhere shorebirds and Fairy Terns have else in the world. The Short-tailed collapsed, and the Australasian Bittern mostly for congregatory Grasswren is well represented in the may be lost from this wetland system if birds along the coast. three large National Parks identified as the lakes become saline. IBAs. Chestnut-breasted Whiteface is not Several IBAs have been represented in any protected area but Lake Eyre and Lake Torrens identified for Malleefowl three large IBAs on grazing properties The Lake Eyre and Lake Torrens IBAs are have been identified based on best located in some of the most arid parts of and other mallee birds and knowledge of its distribution. One of South Australia. The lakes rarely fill with the endemic Short-tailed these, the Bulgunnia IBA, is poorly known water but in suitable floods they support and further surveys may suggest that a huge numbers of breeding Banded Stilt. Grasswren and Chestnut- smaller IBA could be defined. The stilts in the eastern population spend much of their lives in coastal saline breasted Whiteface. Inland, The Coorong and Lower Lakes wetlands such as the Coorong, saltworks on Gulf St Vincent and IBAs in Victoria, Lake Eyre and Lake Torrens The Coorong is a long, shallow lagoon but are dependent on Lakes Eyre and more than 100 km in length that is support breeding Banded Torrens for nesting. separated from the by Stilt when flooded and other a narrow sand peninsula. Over the duration of the IBA project, the and other seabirds ephemeral wetlands support Coorong and Lakes Alexandrina and Fairy Terns have declined so rapidly, a range of waterbirds. South Albert became icons of the water crisis especially in South Australia, that in in the Murray-Darling Basin. During the 2008 they were listed as Vulnerable by Australia shares two IBAs last two decades, the Coorong’s high IUCN/BirdLife International. The current with Victoria, one with bird conservation values have declined status of other seabirds such as the drastically because of reduced Black-faced Cormorant is poorly known. New South Wales and one freshwater inflows but it still meets Seabird islands and colonies of nesting with Queensland. IBA criteria, mostly for the salt-loving terns are in need of ongoing monitoring Banded Stilt. The lakes retain IBA values, and management.

Clockwise from right: Banded Stilt at the Coorong. The Coorong IBA has been declining in productivity for waterbirds due to reduced waterflow. Most of the 36 IBAs designated for the Vulnerable Fairy Tern are on islands. Photos by Glenn Ehmke

32 Important Bird Areas in South Australia IBAs

Simpson Desert

Granite Downs Goyder Coongie Lagoon Lakes

Strzelecki Desert Lakes

Lake Eyre Mount Lyndhurst Bulgunnia

Gammon Ranges Lake & Tourville & Torrens Murat Bays Gawler Boolcoomatta, Nuyts Venus Ranges Bindarrah & Kalkaroo Archipelago Bay Spencer Seagull Lake Riverland Lake Newland Gulf (Eyre Peninsula) Mallee Sir Joseph Investigator Islands Banks Islands Gulf St Vincent Coffin Bay Lakes Troubridge Is. Alexandrina Peebinga & Albert Island Billiat Wyperfeld, Big Desert Southern Yorke & Ngarkat Kangaroo Island Important Bird Areas in South Australia Peninsula Gum Lagoon Coorong Important Bird Areas shared between South Australia and other states Watervalley Wetlands Lake Hawdon System Other Important Bird Areas

0 250 500 Discovery Bay to km Piccaninnie Ponds

The IBAs of the South Australia organised by category. Categories comprise groups of key species for which IBAs are nominated. IBAs marked with an asterisk (*) share boundaries with another State. For a full list of South Australia IBAs and key species go to www.birdsaustralia.com.au/our-projects/iba-results.html

Seabird island species (Spencer Gulf); Investigator Islands; ; Sir Joseph Banks Islands; Troubridge Island; Wedge Island

Resident waterbirds Coffin Bay; Coongie Lakes; Coorong; Discovery Bay to Piccaninnie Ponds*; Goyder Lagoon; Gulf St Vincent; Investigator Islands; Kangaroo Island; Lake Eyre; Lake Hawdon System; Lake Newland; Lake Torrens; Lakes Alexandrina & Albert; Nuyts Archipelago; Seagull Lake (Eyre Peninsula); Sir Joseph Banks Islands; Southern ; Strzelecki Desert Lakes; Tourville & Murat Bays; Venus Bay; Watervalley Wetlands

Migratory shorebirds Coongie Lakes; Coorong; Gulf St Vincent; Lake Eyre; Lake Hawdon System; Lakes Alexandrina & Albert; Spencer Gulf; Watervalley Wetlands

Orange-bellied Parrot Coorong; Discovery Bay to Piccaninnie Ponds*; Lake Hawdon System; Lakes Alexandrina & Albert

Mallee birds Billiatt; Coffin Bay; Gawler Ranges; Gum Lagoon; Kangaroo Island; Peebinga; Riverland Mallee*; Southern Yorke Peninsula; Wyperfeld; Big Desert & Ngarkat*

Other Boolcoomatta; Bindarrah & Kalkaroo Stations (Plains-wanderer); Bulgunnia (Chestnut-breasted Whiteface); Flinders Ranges (Short- tailed Grasswren); Gammon Ranges & Arkaroola (Short-tailed Grasswren); Gawler Ranges (Short-tailed Grasswren); Goyder Lagoon (Grey Grasswrens); (Chestnut-breasted Whiteface); Mount Lyndhurst (Chestnut-breasted Whiteface); Simpson Desert* (Eyrean Grasswren)

33 IBAs Important Bird Areas in Tasmania

The 43 IBAs covering 18 per Tasmania’s threatened endemics Seabird islands Three Endangered Australian endemic Small islands around Tasmania are cent of Tasmania include birds occur in Tasmania. These are the exceptionally important for seabirds, a large number of islands, Orange-bellied Parrot, Swift Parrot and especially Short-tailed Shearwater, Little Forty-spotted Pardalote. The Orange- Penguin, Black-faced Cormorant and particularly in the bellied Parrot nests in the Melaleuca to Pacific Gull. Most are difficult to access and along the south coast, Birch’s Inlet IBA and migrates through and out of the public eye but the IBA IBAs in the north-west of Tasmania. The analysis highlights the importance of that have been designated Swift Parrot nests in different forests improving their protection status and for nesting seabirds. Several depending on which are flowering, so a eradicating or preventing colonisation by large IBA is designated across south-east rats and other pests. IBAs have been identified Tasmania to include all potentially suitable habitat. The Forty-spotted for the Orange-bellied Parrot Coastal IBAs Pardalote occurs in small colonies in Tasmania’s beaches are globally at its breeding sites and Swift Parrot habitat. Much larger important for the Hooded Plover, Pied numbers of the pardalote occur on Maria along its migratory route. A Oystercatcher and Fairy Tern. High and Bruny Islands, which are designated concentrations of these species have number of IBAs have been as separate IBAs. resulted in the identification of a number identified for the migratory of small IBAs on the coast. The large IBAs A network of IBAs for identified for the Orange-bellied Parrot Swift Parrot, which nests in Tasmanian endemics along Tasmania’s west coast support Tasmania supports another 11 species large numbers but not necessarily high different areas in different found nowhere else in the world. To help densities of coastal birds. There are years. Tasmania shares one ensure the conservation of a representative good arguments for designating large network of populations of these species, IBAs, which may be more resilient to IBA with Victoria. three large and varied national parks, various threats, and small IBAs, that Cradle Mountain, and Douglas- support high densities of birds. Many Apsley, were designated as IBAs. The of Tasmania’s beaches are important for massive Southwest and Franklin-Gordon bird conservation and those with high Wild Rivers National Parks have relatively levels of human activity need active few of these endemic birds. management.

Clockwise from top left: , a Tasmanian endemic species, is represented in 13 IBAs. Photo by Dean Ingwersen Tasmanian Native-hen, a Tasmanian endemic. Photo by Chris Tzaros Dove Lake and Cradle Mountain in the Cradle Mountain IBA, an IBA designated for and 11 restricted-range species. Photo by Dean Ingwersen

34 Important Bird Areas in Tasmania IBAs

Wilsons Promontory Islands Shag Reef (Bass Strait) Eastern Curtis Central Flinders Island Island Group Chalky, Big Green & Groups Forsyth, Group Passage & Gull Islands

Robbins Passage Boxen Island & & Boullanger Bay Big Black Reef (Bass Strait) Albatross Island & Islands Black Pyramid Rock Island Rubicon (Bass Strait) Estuary Cape Portland Ninth & Little Waterhouse Three Sisters Islands St Helens (Bass Strait) Tamar (Tasmania) Wetlands Ben Lomond

Douglas- Apsley North-west Cradle Tasmanian Mountain Moulting Coast Lagoon

Orford (Tasmania) South-east Tasmania

Marion Bay Melaleuca to Birchs Inlet Important Bird Areas in Tasmania Hippolyte (Huon Estuary) Rocks Important Bird Areas shared South between Tasmania and other states Tasman Arm Macquarie Island Island Other Important Bird Areas Bruny Betsey Islands Island Island 0 75 150 Maatsuyker km Mewstone Island Group Pedra Branca

The IBAs of Tasmania organised by category. Categories comprise groups of key species for which IBAs are nominated. IBAs marked with an asterisk (*) share boundaries with another State. For a full list of Tasmania IBAs and key species go to www.birdsaustralia.com.au/our-projects/iba-results.html

Seabird island species Albatross Island & Black Pyramid Rock; Babel Island Group; Betsey Island; Boxen Island & Big Black Reef; ; Chalky; Big Green & Badger Island Groups; ; Egg Island (Bass Strait); Forsyth; Passage & Gull Islands; Franklin Sound Islands; Hippolyte Rocks; Hunter Island Group; King Island; Group; Macquarie Island; Mewstone; Night Island (Bass Strait); Ninth & Little Waterhouse Islands; Pedra Branca; Port Davey Islands; Robbins Passage & Boullanger Bay; Shag Reef (Bass Strait); St Helens (Tasmania); ; Three Sisters (Bass Strait); Islands*

Resident waterbirds Cape Portland; Chalky; Big Green & Badger Island Groups; Egg Islands (Huon Estuary); Eastern Flinders Island; Franklin Sound Islands; Hunter Island Group; King Island; Marion Bay; Melaleuca to Birchs Inlet; Moulting Lagoon; North-west Tasmanian Coast; Orford (Tasmania); Robbins Passage & Boullanger Bay; Rubicon Estuary; South Arm; St Helens (Tasmania); Tamar Wetlands

Migratory shorebirds Robbins Passage & Boullanger Bay

Orange-bellied Parrot Hunter Island Group; King Island; Melaleuca to Birchs Inlet; North-west Tasmanian Coast; Robbins Passage & Boullanger Bay

Tasmanian endemics Ben Lomond; Bruny Island; Cradle Mountain; Douglas-Apsley; Hunter Island Group; King Island; Maria Island; Melaleuca to Birchs Inlet; North-west Tasmanian Coast; Robbins Passage & Boullanger Bay

Threatened woodland birds Bruny Island; Central Flinders Island; Maria Island; South-east Tasmania

35 IBAs Important Bird Areas in Victoria

The 37 IBAs covering Box-ironbark woodlands numbers have been observed at these sites The Endangered Swift Parrot breeds in in the 2000s, raising increased concern 14 per cent of Victoria Tasmania but migrates to the mainland to for the survival of this species but also include many coastal over-winter in the non-breeding season. suggesting that the birds utilise additional The box-ironbark woodlands of central yet-to-be-discovered wintering sites. wetlands and a smaller Victoria are globally important for the number of inland wetlands. species. All remnants that have supported Coastal wetlands at least 10 Swift Parrots on multiple In contrast to the inland wetlands, Several large IBAs in the occasions are included within IBAs. In Victoria’s coastal wetlands are generally mallee and box-ironbark some years Swift Parrots also forage in maintaining their values for waterbirds. the forests of the Monitoring at Port Phillip, woodlands have been but do not use forest sites as regularly as and suggest that waterbird those in woodlands. designated as IBAs for numbers are stable except for some shorebird species that are declining threatened birds. Smaller Mallee across Australia. The Lakes IBAs have been identified for In Victoria, South Australia and NSW, the have declining values, perhaps related to boundaries of several large IBAs have reduced freshwater inflows. shorebirds, waterbirds and been defined based on the presence non-breeding Orange-bellied of threatened birds of remnant mallee Dry wetlands vegetation. In Victoria, nearly all of this In recent years the question has arisen Parrots. Victoria shares two mallee is protected but key species, for regarding the conservation value of example the Mallee Emu-wren, are still IBAs with South Australia, wetlands that have been dry for a declining, mostly as a result of inappro- number of years. Wetlands such as Lake one with Tasmania and three priate fire regimes. Buloke, formerly extremely important for waterbirds but not during the drier years with New South Wales. Orange-bellied Parrot of the 1990s and 2000s, have not been In the non-breeding season Victoria designated as IBAs. Many inland wetland supports most of the world population of IBAs such as Natimuk-Douglas and North the Critically Endangered Orange-bellied Victorian Wetlands are declining in value for Parrot. In the past, these parrots regularly birds. Accurate monitoring is needed to help returned to the same small saltmarsh sites, convey the message that these wetlands all of which are designated as IBAs. Lower urgently require restored water flows.

The IBAs of the Victoria organised by category. Categories comprise groups of key species for which IBAs are nominated. IBAs marked with an asterisk (*) share boundaries with another State. For a full list of Victoria IBAs and key species go to www.birdsaustralia.com.au/our-projects/iba-results.html

Seabird island species Gabo & Tullaberga Islands; ; Phillip Island; Wilsons Promontory Islands*

Resident waterbirds Barmah-Millewa*; Bellarine Wetlands; Carrum Wetlands; Cheetham & Altona; Corner Inlet; Discovery Bay to Piccaninnie Ponds*; Devilbend Reservoir; ; Lake Corangamite Complex; Lower Brodribb River; Natimuk-Douglas Wetlands; North Victorian Wetlands; Phillip Island; Port Fairy to Warrnambool; & Port Phillip Bay Islands; Werribee & Avalon; Western Port; Yambuk

Migratory shorebirds ; Bellarine Wetlands; Carrum Wetlands; Cheetham & Altona; Corner Inlet; Lake Corangamite Complex; ; Swan Bay & Port Phillip Bay Islands; Werribee & Avalon; Western Port

Orange-bellied Parrot Anderson Inlet; Bellarine Wetlands; Corner Inlet; Discovery Bay to Piccaninnie Ponds; Port Fairy to Warrnambool; Shallow Inlet; Swan Bay & Port Phillip Bay Islands; Werribee & Avalon; Western Port; Yambuk Right: Orange-bellied Parrot, one of the world’s most threatened bird species, migrates from Mallee birds Little Desert; Murray-Sunset; Hattah & Annuello; Wandown; Wyperfeld; Big breeding grounds in Tasmania to over-wintering Desert & Ngarkat* IBAs on the Australian mainland. Photo by Chris Tzaros Threatened woodland Barmah-Millewa*; Bendigo Box-Ironbark Region; Maryborough-Dunolly birds Box-Ironbark Region; Puckapunyal; Rushworth Box-Ironbark Region; St Far right: Carrum Wetlands IBA, designated Arnaud Box-Ironbark Region; Warby-Chiltern Box-Ironbark Region for the Endangered Australasian Bittern and a number of waterbirds, including Blue-billed Duck. Other Australian Alps* (Pilotbird); Nadgee to Mallacoota Inlet* (Eastern Photo by Andrew Silcocks Bristlebird); Otway Range (); Patho Plains (Plains-wanderer)

36 Important Bird Areas in Victoria IBAs

Murray-Sunset, Hattah & Annuello Wandown North Victorian Wetlands Barmah- Wyperfeld, Big Desert Millewa Warby-Chiltern & Ngarkat Patho Box Ironbark Plains Region

Maryborough-Dunolly Box-Ironbark Region Rushworth Little Desert Box-Ironbark Region

Natimuk-Douglas

Bendigo Puckapunyal Nadgee to Box-Ironbark Australian Alps Mallacoota Inlet St Arnaud Region Lower Box-Ironbark Cheetham Carrum Brodribb River Region Lake Werribee & Altona Wetlands Corangamite & Avalon Devilbend Gabo & Complex Reservoir Tullagerga Yambuk Port Fairy to Western Gippsland Lakes Islands Discovery Bay to Warrnambool Port Piccaninnie Ponds Anderson Corner Important Bird Areas in Victoria Bellarine Inlet Inlet Lawrence Rocks Wetlands Phillip Important Bird Areas shared Otway Swan Bay & Island between Victoria and other states Port Phillip Bay Range Shallow Islands Wilsons Other Important Bird Areas Inlet Promontory 0 100 200 Islands km

37 IBAs Important Bird Areas in Western Australia

Well over half of the 74 IBAs Australasian Bittern Western Australia supports a small and covering two per cent of declining population of the globally Western Australia are located Endangered Australasian Bittern. The IBA project highlighted the lack of recent data in the south-west where for this species, resulting in Birds Australia there are several threatened WA organising surveys in known and suitable locations. These surveys revealed endemic species. IBAs in that bitterns survive in at least four sites, the north of this large State all of which have been designated as IBAs. include several supporting Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo large numbers of shorebirds The Endangered Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo wanders across a large region from and waterbirds, and others the mouth of the Murchison River to for the Esperance. IBAs have been identified around known breeding areas in the Kimberley and other northern species. agricultural zone (the ‘wheatbelt’) and The Kimberley supports a number of unique Many small islands have the most important non-breeding area birds: the Black Grasswren and several on the . Although subspecies are found nowhere else in the been designated as IBAs these are the known hotspots, much world. However, it is difficult to define IBAs is still unknown about population in this large, poorly-surveyed landscape. for their nesting seabirds. concentrations in the non-breeding season. Until better survey data are available for the WA shares one IBA with the The cockatoo depends on woodlands, Black Grasswren and other restricted-range forest and heathland across its range. In species, only one large IBA has been Northern Territory. its non-breeding range it is threatened designated, encompassing the large Prince by habitat loss, particularly from urban Regent and neighbouring expansion and coastal development. protected areas.

Moora Walebing Important Bird Areas in Western Australia

Cataby Calingiri Important Bird Areas shared between Gillingarra Western Australia and other states

Bindoon-Julimar 0 50 100 Northern Swan km Coastal Plain Gidgegannup Holleton Rottnest The Lakes Island (Western Australia)

Carnac Mundaring-Kalamunda Island Araluen-Wungong Peel-Harvey Estuary North Dandalup Dragon Rocks Dunn Rock Yalgorup Lake McLarty & Lake King

Benger Lake Swamp Magenta Towerrining Lake & Kwobrup- Moodiarrup Swamps Badgebup Busselton Wetlands

East Borden Jalbarragup Stirling Range

Fitzgerald Muir-Unicup River Wetlands Owingup Swamp & Boat Harbour Wetlands Lake Sandy Island Pleasant Two Peoples Bay & (Windy Harbour) View Mount Manypeaks Eclipse Island (Albany)

38 Important Bird Areas in Western Australia IBAs

Low Rocks & Sterna Island Important Bird Areas in Western Australia Prince Regent (Kimberley) & Mitchell River Ord Important Bird Areas shared between Booby Island Irrigation Western Australia and other states (Kimberley) Area

Other Important Bird Areas Adele Island Wyndham Keep River 0 250 500 Lacepede km Islands Mornington Lake Argyle Sanctuary Christmas Island

Bedout Eighty Mile Beach Montebello Island Lake Gregory- Paraku Islands Lowendal Islands & Anna Plains Barrow Island Port Hedland Dampier Saltworks Saltworks (Exmouth Gulf) Fortescue Marshes Exmouth Gulf Mangroves

Lake Macleod Opposite page: White-quilled Rock-Pigeon, Faure & Pelican Islands ( Bay) a restricted-range species resident in a small number of IBAs in Western Australia and the Northern Territory. Quoin Bluff & Freycinet Island Photo by Graeme Chapman () Houtman Below: Noisy Scrub-bird. Most birds are Abrolhos Mount Gibson & Charles Darwin Lake Barlee in a single IBA on the south coast. Karara & Photo by Alan Danks Lochada Lakes Ballard Karroun & Marmion Hill Koobabbie Coomallo

Pink Lake Lake Warden (Esperance) System

Lake Gore System Recherche Archipelago

The IBAs of the Western Australia organised by category. Categories comprise groups of key species for which IBAs are nominated. IBAs marked with an asterisk (*) share boundaries with another State. For a full list of Western Australia IBAs and key species go to www.birdsaustralia.com.au/our-projects/iba-results.html

Seabird island species Adele Island; Bedout Island; Booby Island (Kimberley); Christmas Island; Eclipse Island (Albany); Houtman Abrolhos; Lacepede Islands; Low Rocks & Sterna Island (Kimberley); Lowendal Islands; Montebello Islands; Quoin Bluff & Freycinet Island (Shark Bay); Recherche Archipelago; Sandy Island (Windy Harbour); Sunday Island (Exmouth Gulf) Resident waterbirds Benger Swamp; Busselton Wetlands; Carnac Island (); Dampier Saltworks; Eighty Mile Beach; Exmouth Gulf Mangroves; Faure & Pelican Islands (Shark Bay); Fortescue Marshes; Lake Argyle; Lake Barlee; System; Lake Gregory/Paraku; Lake MacLeod; Lake McLarty; Lake Pleasant View System; Lake Warden System; Lakes Ballard & Marmion; Mandora Marsh & Anna Plains; Montebello Islands; Muir-Unicup Wetlands; Owingup Swamp & Boat Harbour Wetlands; Peel-Harvey Estuary; Pink Lake (Esperance); Recherche Archipelago; Roebuck Bay; ; Towerrining Lake & Moodiarrup Swamps; Two Peoples Bay & Mount Manypeaks; Yalgorup Migratory shorebirds Adele Island; Barrow Island; Dampier Saltworks; Eighty Mile Beach; Exmouth Gulf Mangroves; Faure & Pelican Islands (Shark Bay); Lake Argyle; Lake Gregory/Paraku; Lake MacLeod; Lake McLarty; Mandora Marsh & Anna Plains; Peel-Harvey Estuary; Port Hedland Saltworks; Roebuck Bay; Yalgorup Malleefowl Dragon Rocks; Dunn Rock & Lake King; Fitzgerald River; Holleton; Karara & Lochada; Karroun Hill; Lake Magenta; Mount Gibson & Charles Darwin Top End and Kimberley Mornington Sanctuary; Ord Irrigation Area; Prince Regent & Mitchell River; Wyndham endemics South-west endemics Araluen-Wungong; Bindoon-Julimar; Calingiri; Cataby; Coomallo; Dragon Rocks; Dunn Rock & Lake King; East Borden; Fitzgerald River; Gidgegannup; Gillingarra; Jalbarragup; Koobabbie; Kwobrup-Badgebup; Lake Magenta; Moora; Mundaring-Kalamunda; North Dandalup; Northern Swan Coastal Plain; Stirling Range; The Lakes (Western Australia); Two Peoples Bay & Mount Manypeaks; Walebing Other Christmas Island (Christmas Island Imperial-Pigeon; Christmas Island Hawk-Owl; Christmas Island White-eye); Fortescue Marshes (Night Parrot); Keep River* (Gouldian Finch); Mornington Sanctuary (Red Goshawk; Gouldian Finch); Wyndham (Gouldian Finch)

39 Important Bird Areas – key places for bird conservation Birds Australia (Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union) was founded contributions to the databases of bird Acknowledgements in 1901 and works to conserve survey projects and programs make the The (IBA) program native birds and biological diversity identification of IBAs possible. produced this report as a summary of the in and , The report benefited from the efforts Australian IBAs researched, databased through the study and management of many. Stuart Anstee, Allan Briggs, and designated in 2005–2009. The of birds and their habitats, and the Lincoln Fishpool, Graeme Hamilton, project’s outcomes have been made education and involvement Roger Jaensch, James O’Connor, Peter possible through the collaborative of the community. New members Menkhorst, Penny Olsen, Kate Ravich, efforts of Australia’s ornithological and are welcome. Join online at Don Saunders, Jonathan Stacey, Luciana conservation community. www.birdsaustralia.com.au/join, Vega and Dez Wells reviewed the The partnership of Birds Australia or phone 1300 730 075. and Rio Tinto has made the IBA project report. Scott Chambers drafted the maps possible. Special thanks are due to with assistance from Glenn Ehmke. Stuart Anstee and Karin Lorenzon at Particular thanks are due to the many Rio Tinto, the late Peter Britton, and people who provided the photographs Scott Chambers, Keith Johnson, James that brought the report alive. We thank BirdLife International has a combined O’Connor and Graeme Hamilton at Birds Barry Baker, Andrew Burbidge, Graeme membership of over 2.5 million Australia. From 2005 until mid 2009 the Chapman, Rick Dawson, Guy Dutson, people through a partnership of project was managed by Guy Dutson. Glenn Ehmke, Martin Gole, Ashley over 100 national non-government A number of organisations Herrod, Dean Ingwersen, Roger Jaensch, organisations with a focus on bird worked collaboratively to help the Rod Kavanagh, Richard Kingsford, Tony conservation. Birds Australia is project through its initial phase and Kirkby, Nga Manu Images, Andrew BirdLife International’s Australian continue actively to provide input Silcocks, Jennifer Sutfin, Rio Tinto, Chris partner and representative. BirdLife and assistance. We thank BIGnet (Phil Tzaros and Eric Woehler. has championed the identification Straw), BirdLife International (Mike and conservation of IBAs across the Evans, Lincoln Fishpool, Jonathan world. For BirdLife IBA materials, go Stacey), Bird Observation and Conser- IBA materials to www.birdlife.org vation Australia (Don Saunders), Birds Detailed information is available on the Australia Capricornia (Allan Briggs), Birds project website (www.birdsaustralia. Australia North Queensland (Graham com.au/ibas). Materials that can be Harrington), Birds Australia Southern downloaded include a GIS shapefile, a Queensland (Nicci Thomson, Dez Wells), Google Earth link and other background Rio Tinto has supported the Birds Australia Victoria (Mark Anderson), materials. Other materials include a map, development of Australia’s Important Birds SA (David Williams), Birds Tasmania summary and full fact sheet for each IBA, Bird Area (IBA) program as part of (Eric Woehler), Birds Australia Western available at www.birdata.com.au/iba.vm its global Biodiversity Strategy. Rio Australia (Cheryl Gole), Charles Darwin or email [email protected] Tinto’s goal is to have a ‘net positive University (Stephen Garnett), Geographic impact’ on biodiversity – aiming Web (Graeme Watmuff), University of Birds Australia to ensure that biodiversity and its NSW (Richard Kingsford and John Porter), Suite 2-05, 60 Leicester St conservation ultimately benefit from Wetlands International (Roger Jaensch, Carlton, Vic, 3053 its presence in a region. In addition to Doug Watkins) and WWF-Australia Tel: (03) 9347 0757; Fax: (03) 9347 9323 programs that focus on the impact of (Cheryl Gole, Richard McLellan). [email protected] its operations, the Group also seeks We thank the many people who made www.birdsaustralia.com.au to assist conservation initiatives, such significant contributions to the project, ACN 004 076 475 as the IBA project, that support local, usually by sharing personal knowledge national and global conservation Production: Rebecca L. Stewart of IBAs and their birds. These individuals priorities. Rio Tinto has worked with Designer: Andrea Williamson are listed in the acknowledgements for Birds Australia for several years Reproduction: Kreate Graphics each IBA account available on the IBA as a part of its global partnership Printer: Docklands Press website. We are especially grateful to with Birdlife International. For more the many thousands of observers and Cover photo: Shorebirds at dusk. information visit www.riotinto.com researchers whose often voluntary Photo by Glenn Ehmke

ISSN 0815-5208 Printed on FSC paper