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• Reference and further resources

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') at the site:

Species	Red List1	Season	Year(s)	Size	IBA criteria
Magpie Goose Anseranas semipalmata	LC	resident	-	800,000 individuals	A4i
Wandering Whistling-duck Dendrocygna arcuata	LC	resident	-	188,000 individuals	A4i
Pied Heron Egretta picata	LC	breeding	1990-2000	2,000 individuals	A4i
Bush Thick-knee Burhinus grallarius	LC	resident	1998-2008	uncommon	A1
Red-necked Avocet Recurvirostra novaehollandiae	LC	unknown	-	3,000 individuals	A4i
Little Curlew Numenius minutus	LC	non-breeding	1990-2000	12,000 individuals	A4i
Far Eastern Curlew Numenius madagascariensis	EN	non-breeding	1990-2000	1,050 individuals	A4i
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata	VU	non-breeding	1990-2000	2,500 individuals	A4i
Varied Lorikeet Psitteuteles versicolor	LC	resident	1998-2008	uncommon	A3
Rainbow Pitta Pitta iris	LC	resident	1998-2008	frequent	A2, A3
Banded Honeyeater Cissomela pectoralis	LC	resident	1998-2008	rare	A3
Silver-crowned Friarbird Philemon argenticeps	LC	resident	1998-2008	uncommon	A3
Bar-breasted Honeyeater Ramsayornis fasciatus	LC	resident	1998-2008	uncommon	A3
White-gaped Honeyeater Stomiopera unicolor	LC	resident	1998-2008	common	A3
Yellow-tinted Honeyeater Ptilotula flavescens	LC	resident	1998-2008	rare	A3
Buff-sided Robin Poecilodryas cerviniventris	LC	resident	1998-2008	rare	A3
Australian Yellow White-eye Zosterops luteus	LC	resident	1998-2008	rare	A3
Masked Finch Poephila personata	LC	resident	1998-2008	uncommon	A3
Long-tailed Finch Poephila acuticauda	LC	resident	1998-2008	uncommon	A3

1. The current IUCN Red List category. The category at the time of the IBA criteria assessment (2009) may differ.

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2009. The most recent assessment (2008) is shown below.

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Invasive and other problematic species and genes	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Climate change and severe weather	likely in long term (beyond 4 years)	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Natural system modifications	happening now	small area/few individuals (<10%)	slow but significant deterioration	low

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Protected areas	Management plan	Other action	Result
Not assessed	Not assessed	Not assessed	not assessed

Year	Protected Area	Designation	% overlap with IBA
1986	Lambells Lagoon Conservation Reserve	Other Conservation Area	1
1990	Adelaide River Foreshore Conservation Area	Other Conservation Area	<1
1997	Djukbinj	National Park	11
2011	Harrison Dam Conservation Area	Other Conservation Area	1
2011	Black Jungle / Lambells Lagoon Conservation Reserve	Other Conservation Area	1
2011	Black Jungle / Lambells Lagoon Conservation Reserve	Other Conservation Area	<1
2011	Fogg Dam	Conservation Reserve	<1
2012	Mary River	National Park	17
2012	Melacca Swamp	Conservation Area	1
2012	Mary River	National Park	<1

Habitat1	Habitat detail	% of IBA
Wetlands (inland)	Riverine floodplains	major (>10)
Forest	Melaleuca forests & woodlands	minor (<10)
Marine Intertidal		minor (<10)

1. IUCN Habitat classification.

Land use	% of IBA
other	major (>10)
nature conservation and research	major (>10)
rangeland/pastureland	minor (<10)

Woolner, Koolpinyah and Kerlin Stations, Annaburroo, Marrakai, Opium Creek, Melaleuca and Swim Creek pastoral leases. Protected Areas jointly managed by the NT government and the Limilngan-Wulna people. Traditional Ownership.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Adelaide and Mary River Floodplains (Australia). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/adelaide-and-mary-river-floodplains-iba-australia on 23/11/2024.