Current view: Text account
Site description (2008 baseline):
Site location and context
Bedout Island is situated 40 km north of the mouth of the De Grey River in the Pilbara of Western Australia. It is an undulating sand cay, vegetated with Spinifex longifolius, has an arid climate with an annual average rainfall of ca 300 mm and is subject to occasional tropical cyclones.
Additional breeding birds: 120-170 pairs Masked Booby, White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Silver Gull, Crested Tern and Lesser Crested Tern. Old records, possibly before Black Rats introduced, of Roseate Tern, Sooty Tern and Brown Noddy.
Non-bird biodiversity: Rattus rattus was probably introduced from pearling vessels late 19th century; eradicated 1991.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Seabirds need regular monitoring. The possible re-colonisation of rats (eradicated in 1991) and other exotic predators needs monitoring.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
Rats eradicated in 1991.
Bedout Island Nature Reserve.
Western Australian State Government with management by Dept of Environment & Conservation.
Site access / Land-owner requests
Apply for permission from DEC.
The nomination was prepared by Andrew Burbidge in consultation with DEC.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Bedout Island (Australia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/bedout-island-iba-australia on 23/11/2024.
