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Year of most recent IBA criteria assessment: 2009

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species	Current IUCN Red List Category	Season	Year(s) of estimate	Population estimate	IBA Criteria Triggered
Chestnut Teal Anas castanea	LC	non-breeding	2001-2005	1,000-1,600 individuals	A4i
Straw-necked Ibis Threskiornis spinicollis	LC	non-breeding	2005-2007	11,856 individuals	A4i
Australasian Bittern Botaurus poiciloptilus	EN	unknown	2002-2007	6 individuals	A1
Red-necked Avocet Recurvirostra novaehollandiae	LC	non-breeding	2000-2006	104-4,960 individuals	A4i
Far Eastern Curlew Numenius madagascariensis	EN	non-breeding	2000-2006	383-786 individuals	A4i
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata	LC	non-breeding	2002-2007	1,800 individuals	A4i
Latham's Snipe Gallinago hardwickii	LC	non-breeding	1997-2007	7-475 individuals	A4i

Note: This table presents the IBA criteria triggered and the species that triggered then at the time of assessment, the current IUCN Red List category may vary from that which was in place at that time.

For more information about the IBA assessment process and criteria please click here

Threats to the site (pressure)
Threat Level 1	Threat Level 2	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Invasive and other problematic species and genes	invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - named species	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Invasive and other problematic species and genes	problematic native species/diseases - named species	happening now	small area/few individuals (<10%)	slow but significant deterioration	low
Natural system modifications	dams & water management/use - small dams	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Residential and commercial development	commercial and industrial development	likely in long term (beyond 4 years)	some of area/population (10-49%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	medium
Transportation and service corridors	roads and railroads	likely in long term (beyond 4 years)	small area/few individuals (<10%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	low

Condition of habitat (state)
Habitat	Habitat Detail	Reference Area (ha)	Actual Area (ha)	% of habitat remaining	% of carrying capacity (overall)	Result
Wetlands (inland)	Freshwater lakes & pools	0	0	moderate (70-90%)	good (> 90%)	near favourable

Conservation actions taken at site (response)
Conservation Designation	Management Planning	Conservation Action	Result
Most of site (50-90%) covered (including the most critical parts for important bird species)	A comprehensive and appropriate management plan exists that aims to maintain or improve the populations of qualifying bird species	Substantive conservation measures are being implemented but these are not comprehensive and are limited by resources and capacity	medium

For more information about IBA monitoring please click here

Protected Area	Designation	Area (ha)	Relationship with IBA	Overlap with IBA (ha)
The Hunter Wetlands Centre Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	45	protected area contained by site	45
Pambalong	Nature Reserve	35	protected area contained by site	35
Newcastle Wetlands Reserve Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	40	protected area contained by site	40
Kooragang	Nature Reserve	3,358	protected area contained by site	2,926
Hunter Wetlands	National Park	4,967	protected area overlaps with site	0
Hunter Estuary Wetlands	Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance	3,392	protected area overlaps with site	0
Hunter Estuary Wetlands	Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance	3,392	protected area overlaps with site	0
Hexham Swamp	Nature Reserve	908	protected area contained by site	900

IUCN Habitat	Habitat detail	Extent (% of site)
Artificial/Terrestrial	Improved grassland & pasture, Other urban & industrial areas	-
Forest	Casuarina forests & woodlands	-
Wetlands (inland)	Freshwater lakes & pools, Permanent herbaceous swamps & bogs, Salt marshes	-
Coastline	Estuarine waters, Intertidal mud, sand & salt flats, Mangrove wetlands	-

For further information about the habitat classification please click here.

Land-use	Extent (% of site)
fisheries/aquaculture	-
rangeland/pastureland	-
nature conservation and research	-
tourism/recreation	-
urban/industrial/transport	-

For further information about the land use classification please click here.

Hunter Estuary: NSW State Government, Regional Land Management Corporation, private. Hexham Swamp: Hunter Central Rivers CMA, Newcastle City Council, Shortlands Wetlands Centre Ltd, NPWS (NSW State govt), Hunter District Water Board, Australian Rail Track Corporation, Broadcast Australia Ltd, State of NSW, private ownership.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2022) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Hunter Estuary. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 26/06/2022.