• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Map
• Reference and further resources

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
Australasian Bittern Botaurus poiciloptilus	VU	resident (1998–2008)	12 birds	A1
Superb Parrot Polytelis swainsonii	LC	resident (2002–2004)	85–105 birds	A1, A2
Flame Robin Petroica phoenicea	LC	non-breeding (1998–2008)	uncommon	A1
Diamond Firetail Stagonopleura guttata	VU	resident (1998–2008)	uncommon	A1

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2009. The most recent assessment (2020) is shown below.

State (condition of the trigger species' habitats)
Habitat	Quantity (% remaining)	Quality (% carrying capacity)	Result
Forest	poor (40–69%)	poor (40–69%)	very poor
Wetlands (inland)	very poor (<40%)	very poor (<40%)	very poor

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Human intrusions and disturbance	happe­ning now	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations)	high
Invasive and other problematic species and genes	happe­ning now	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations)	high
Pollution	happe­ning now	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations)	high
Agricultural expansion and intensification	happe­ning now	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	high
Climate change and severe weather	happe­ning now	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	high
Biological resource use	happe­ning now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	medium
Natural system modifications	happe­ning now	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
Some of area covered (10–49%)	A compre­hensive and appropriate management plan exists that aims to maintain or improve the populations of qualifying bird species	Substantive conservation measures are being implemented, but these are not compre­hensive and are limited by resources and capacity	medium

Year	Protected Area	Designation (management category)	% coverage of IBA
-	Tocumwal Regional Park	Regional Reserve (-)	-
1986	Strathmerton H29	Natural Features Reserve - Bushland Reserve (IV)	<1
1986	Strathmerton H31	Natural Features Reserve - Bushland Reserve (IV)	<1
1986	Echuca South	Natural Features Reserve - Bushland Reserve (IV)	<1
1987	Barmah	State Park (VI)	3
1990	Top Island	Reference Area (Ia)	<1
1990	Top End	Reference Area (Ia)	<1
1992	Goulburn River	Heritage River (V)	<1
2003	Moira B.R.	Natural Features Reserve (IV)	<1
2003	Picola B.R.	Natural Features Reserve (IV)	<1
2003	Lower Moira B.R.	Natural Features Reserve (IV)	<1
2004	Yielima B.R	Natural Features Reserve (IV)	<1
2007	Nurmurkah - Picola rail line B.R.	Natural Features Reserve (IV)	<1
2008	Strathmerton B.R.	Natural Features Reserve (IV)	<1
2008	Moira H14 B.R.	Natural Features Reserve (IV)	<1
2010	Murray Valley	National Park (II)	13
2010	Barmah National Park	National Park (II)	11
2010	Murray Valley	Regional Park (V)	2
2010	Lower Goulburn National Park	National Park (II)	1
2010	Nathalia N.C.R.	Natural Features Reserve (IV)	<1

Habitat	% of IBA	Habitat detail
Artificial/Terrestrial	major (>10)	Arable land; Improved grassland & pasture
Forest	major (>10)	Callitris forests & woodlands; Eucalypt tall open forests
Wetlands (inland)	minor (<10)	Permanent herbaceous swamps & bogs

Land use	% of IBA
agriculture	major (>10)
forestry	major (>10)
rangeland/pastureland	major (>10)

The forests are mostly NSW State Forest; (Barma State Forest, Deniliquin State Forest, Gulpa Island State Forest, Millewa State Forest, Moira State Forest, Native Dog State Forest, Thornley State Forest, Tuppal State Forest) with about 10% in protected areas in NSW (including Moira Lakes Flora Reserve, Reedbeds Exclosure, Langmans Road Exclosure, Bullatale Flora Reserve, Island Sanctuary Deniliquin, Sand-dune Pine Flora Reserve, Tea Tree Road Exclosure) and Victoria (Barmah State Forest, Echuca Regional Park and Barmah State Park) and several small exclosures, flora reserves, roadsides and other reserves. The farmland is mostly private.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Barmah-Millewa (Australia). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/barmah-millewa-iba-australia on 23/12/2024.