Gulf Plains


IBA Criteria

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
Sarus Crane Grus antigone VU breeding 1999-2002 frequent A1
Brolga Grus rubicunda LC resident 1999 1,000-2,000 individuals A4i
Australian Bustard Ardeotis australis LC resident 1998-2008 uncommon A1
Pied Oystercatcher Haematopus longirostris LC resident 1989-1999 206-466 individuals A4i
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus LC resident 1989-1999 5,174-8,474 individuals A4i
Lesser Sandplover Charadrius mongolus LC non-breeding 1989-1999 1,484-4,000 individuals A4i
Little Curlew Numenius minutus LC non-breeding 1989-1999 2,029-25,042 individuals A4i
Far Eastern Curlew Numenius madagascariensis EN non-breeding 1989-1999 1,031-1,811 individuals A4i
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa NT non-breeding 1989-1999 18,394-27,256 individuals A1, A4i
Great Knot Calidris tenuirostris EN non-breeding 1989-1999 50,032-72,333 individuals A4i
Broad-billed Sandpiper Calidris falcinellus LC non-breeding 1989-1999 1,000-1,740 individuals A4i
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata VU non-breeding 1989-1999 3,742-6,073 individuals A4i
Red-necked Stint Calidris ruficollis NT non-breeding 1989-1999 16,593-29,971 individuals A4i
Grey-tailed Tattler Tringa brevipes NT non-breeding 1989-1999 481-785 individuals A4i
Varied Lorikeet Psitteuteles versicolor LC unknown 1998-2008 uncommon A3
Silver-crowned Friarbird Philemon argenticeps LC unknown 1998-2008 uncommon A3
White-gaped Honeyeater Stomiopera unicolor LC resident 1998-2008 uncommon A3
Yellow Honeyeater Stomiopera flava LC unknown 1998-2008 uncommon A3
Yellow-tinted Honeyeater Ptilotula flavescens LC unknown 1998-2008 uncommon A3
Australian Yellow White-eye Zosterops luteus LC resident 1998-2008 common A3
Star Finch Neochmia ruficauda LC unknown 1998-2008 uncommon A1

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


IBA Monitoring

Most recent IBA monitoring assessment
Year of assessment Threat score (pressure) Condition score (state) Action score (response)
2008 medium not assessed not assessed
Was the whole site covered? Yes State assessed by unset
Accuracy of information medium

Threats to the site (pressure)
Threat Level 1 Threat Level 2 Timing Scope Severity Result
Agricultural expansion and intensification livestock farming and ranching (includes forest grazing) - agro-industry grazing, ranching or farmin happening now some of area/population (10-49%) slow but significant deterioration medium
Biological resource use fishing & harvesting aquatic resources - unintentional effects: large scale happening now some of area/population (10-49%) no or imperceptible deterioration low
Climate change and severe weather storms and floods likely in long term (beyond 4 years) some of area/population (10-49%) slow but significant deterioration medium
Energy production and mining mining and quarrying happening now small area/few individuals (<10%) no or imperceptible deterioration low
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
Natural system modifications fire & fire suppression - increase in fire frequency/intensity happening now some of area/population (10-49%) slow but significant deterioration medium

Conservation actions taken at site (response)
Conservation Designation Management Planning Conservation Action Result
Not assessed Not assessed Not assessed not assessed
For more information about IBA monitoring please click here

IBA Protection

Protected Area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)
Thuwathu/Bujimulla Indigenous Protected Area 124,966 protected area is adjacent to site 0
Staaten-Gilbert Fish Habitat Area (A) 22,164 protected area overlaps with site 6,711
Rutland Plains Nature Refuge 232,026 protected area overlaps with site 0
Nijinda Durlga Indigenous Protected Area 186,323 protected area overlaps with site 0
Nassau River Fish Habitat Area (A) 15,070 protected area overlaps with site 4,659
Mutton Hole Wetlands Conservation Park 7,860 protected area overlaps with site 3,033
Mutton Hole Wetlands Conservation Park 7,826 protected area overlaps with site 0
Morning Inlet - Bynoe River Fish Habitat Area (A) 39,900 protected area overlaps with site 11,165
Finucane Island National Park 7,493 protected area contained by site 7,610
Dinah Island Nature Refuge 5,095 protected area overlaps with site 0

Habitats

IUCN Habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Forest Eucalypt woodlands -
Grassland Tussock grasslands -
Savanna Tropical eucalypt woodlands & grasslands -
Shrubland Chenopod shrubs, samphire shrubs and forblands -
Coastline Mangrove wetlands, Sand dunes & beaches -
Wetlands (inland) Freshwater lakes & pools, Rivers & streams -
Marine Intertidal -
For further information about the habitat classification please click here.

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
rangeland/pastureland -
hunting -
For further information about the land use classification please click here.

Land ownership
Lease-hold stations; Crown Land below high water mark.


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Gulf Plains. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 31/03/2023.