Current view: Text account
Site description (2008 baseline):
Site location and context
Adele Island is a low, flat, sandy cay about 100 km north-north-east of Cape Leveque, north of Broome in Western Australia. It is 2.9 km by 1.6 km and with a maximum height of 4 m but surrounded by 25 km by 11 km of reefs and sand banks. The island is vegetated sand with a large tidal lagoon and a mast, beacon and weather station. The lowest, most frequently inundated areas support grasslands of Sporobolus virginicus, on which Brown Boobies nest, while slightly elevated soils have a dense cover of Spinifex longifolius, on which Lesser Frigatebirds nest. It has a wet-dry monsoonal climate with short, wet summers and dry autumn, winter and spring.
Adele Island supports large numbers of shorebirds - a total of 24,070 were recorded from 19-24 November 2004. This included high numbers of the following species: Bar-tailed Godwit (4819), Ruddy Turnstone (1250), Greater Sand Plover (2046), Little Tern (1366), Black Noddy (600) and the Masked Booby (694). Nesting birds recorded include the Lesser Frigatebird, Masked Booby, Brown Booby, Red-footed Booby, Eastern Reef Egret, Bridled Tern and Common Noddy (Boyle et al., 2006). Australian Pelican was also recorded nesting (Burbidge et al., 1987)
Non-bird biodiversity: Green Turtles have been seen mating off shore and 8 new turtle nest were discovered, they were presumed to be Green Turtle nests (Boyle et al., 2006). Polynesian Rat.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Monitor the infestation of Polynesian Rats. Patrol to prevent unauthorised landings, especially by Indonesian fishermen, who may introduce exotic species or poach birds. Monitor Silver Gull populations as near-by island populations have increased recently leading to predation threats on nesting seabirds and turtles.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
Eradication of Polynesian Rat attempted 2004; success unknown.
The IBA is the Adele Island Nature Reserve.
Western Australia State Government with management the responsibility of Dept of Environment & Conservation.
Site access / Land-owner requests
Apply to DEC for permission.
The nomination was prepared by Andrew Burbidge with consultation with DEC.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Adele Island (Australia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/adele-island-iba-australia on 21/12/2024.
