Menindee Lakes This is an IBA in Danger! 


IBA Justification

The site was identified as important in 2009 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species'):
Species Current IUCN Red List Category Season Year(s) Population estimate at site IBA criteria met
Pink-eared Duck Malacorhynchus membranaceus LC resident 1983-2005 12,800-50,000 individuals A4i
Freckled Duck Stictonetta naevosa LC resident 1983-2005 1,791 individuals A4i
Grey Teal Anas gracilis LC resident 1983-2005 20,000-60,000 individuals A4i
Red-necked Avocet Recurvirostra novaehollandiae LC non-breeding 1983-2005 2,000-18,000 individuals A4i
Red-capped Plover Charadrius ruficapillus LC resident 1983-2005 5,092 individuals A4i
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata VU non-breeding 1983-2005 37,552 individuals A4i

The current IUCN Red List category may differ from that which was valid at the time of IBA criteria assessment (2009).


IBA Conservation

IBA conservation assessment
Year of assessment (most recent) State (condition) Pressure (threat) Response (action)
2019 very unfavourable very high low
Was the whole site assessed? State assessed by Accuracy of information
no habitat -

State (condition of the trigger species' habitats)
Habitat Habitat detail Reference area (ha) Actual area (ha) Habitat quantity (% remaining) Habitat quality (carrying capacity) Result
Wetlands (inland) Freshwater lakes & pools 0 0 very poor (< 40%) very poor (< 40%) very unfavourable

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
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 majority/most of area/population (50-90%) slow but significant deterioration high
Biological resource use fishing & harvesting aquatic resources - intentional use: subsistence/sml scale happening now small area/few individuals (<10%) no or imperceptible deterioration low
Biological resource use hunting & collecting terrestrial animals - intentional use (species being assessed is the target) happening now small area/few individuals (<10%) no or imperceptible deterioration low
Climate change and severe weather drought happening now whole area/population (>90%) very rapid to severe deterioration very high
Human intrusions and disturbance recreational activities 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 whole area/population (>90%) slow but significant deterioration high
Natural system modifications dams & water management/use - abstraction of surface water (unknown use) happening now whole area/population (>90%) moderate to rapid deterioration very high
Pollution agricultural & forestry effluents - type unknown/unrecorded happening now small area/few individuals (<10%) no or imperceptible deterioration low
Pollution garbage & solid waste happening now small area/few individuals (<10%) no or imperceptible deterioration low

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Protected-area designation Management planning Other conservation action Result
Some of site covered (10-49%) A management plan exists but it is out of date or not comprehensive Very little or no conservation action taking place low
For more information about IBA conservation status, please click here

IBA Protection

Protected area (PA) PA designation PA area (ha) Relationship of PA with IBA Overlap of PA with IBA (ha)
Kinchega National Park 44,553 protected area overlaps with site 1,701

Habitats

Habitat (IUCN level 1) Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Wetlands (inland) Ephemeral, Freshwater lakes & pools -
For more information about the IUCN Habitat classification, please click here.

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
agriculture -
nature conservation and research -
water management -

Land ownership
State government (New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Water and Energy) and private.


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Area factsheet: Menindee Lakes. Downloaded from http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/menindee-lakes-iba-australia on 09/12/2023.