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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 (1998–2000)	65,000–123,000 birds	A4i
Radjah Shelduck Radjah radjah	LC	resident (1998–2000)	667–2,500 birds	A4i
Brolga Grus rubicunda	LC	resident (1998–2000)	2,220–7,300 birds	A4i
Australian Bustard Ardeotis australis	LC	resident (1998–2008)	common	A1
Black-necked Stork Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus	NT	resident (1998–2000)	585 birds	A1, A4i
Royal Spoonbill Platalea regia	LC	resident (1998–2000)	252–1,323 birds	A4i
Australian Ibis Threskiornis moluccus	LC	resident (1998–2000)	22,680–49,000 birds	A4i
Straw-necked Ibis Threskiornis spinicollis	LC	resident (1998–2000)	300–25,000 birds	A4i
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus	LC	resident (1998–2000)	3,690–25,000 birds	A4i
Pied Heron Egretta picata	LC	resident (1998–2000)	2,644–15,544 birds	A4i
Great Knot Calidris tenuirostris	EN	non-breeding (1990–2002)	4,500 birds	A4i
Grey-tailed Tattler Tringa brevipes	LC	non-breeding (1990–2002)	800 birds	A4i

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%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	medium
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

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

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

Land use	% of IBA
other	major (>10)

Arnhemland ALT

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Arafura Swamp (Australia). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/arafura-swamp-iba-australia on 23/12/2024.