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The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation 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 List	Season (year/s of estimate)	Size	IBA criteria
Magpie Goose Anseranas semipalmata	LC	resident (-)	800,000 birds	A4i
Wandering Whistling-duck Dendrocygna arcuata	LC	resident (-)	188,000 birds	A4i
Pied Heron Egretta picata	LC	breeding (1990–2000)	2,000 birds	A4i
Bush Thick-knee Burhinus grallarius	LC	resident (1998–2008)	uncommon	A1
Red-necked Avocet Recurvirostra novaehollandiae	LC	unknown (-)	3,000 birds	A4i
Little Curlew Numenius minutus	LC	non-breeding (1990–2000)	12,000 birds	A4i
Far Eastern Curlew Numenius madagascariensis	EN	non-breeding (1990–2000)	1,050 birds	A4i
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata	VU	non-breeding (1990–2000)	2,500 birds	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

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 popul­ation/area (10–49%)	moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations)	high
Climate change and severe weather	likely in long term (>4 years)	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	medium
Natural system modifications	happe­ning now	few indivi­duals/small area (<10%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	low

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Designation	Planning	Action	Result
Not assessed	Not assessed	Not assessed	not assessed

Year	Protected Area	Designation (management category)	% coverage of IBA
1986	Lambells Lagoon Conservation Reserve	Other Conservation Area (VI)	1
1990	Adelaide River Foreshore Conservation Area	Other Conservation Area (V)	<1
1997	Djukbinj	National Park (V)	11
2011	Harrison Dam Conservation Area	Other Conservation Area (VI)	1
2011	Black Jungle / Lambells Lagoon Conservation Reserve	Other Conservation Area (VI)	1
2011	Black Jungle / Lambells Lagoon Conservation Reserve	Other Conservation Area (VI)	<1
2011	Fogg Dam	Conservation Reserve (V)	<1
2012	Mary River	National Park (V)	17
2012	Melacca Swamp	Conservation Area (VI)	1
2012	Mary River	National Park (V)	<1

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

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 23/12/2024.