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• Reference and further resources

The site was identified as important 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 List1	Season	Year(s)	Size	IBA criteria
Chestnut Teal Anas castanea	LC	non-breeding	1981-2007	1,200 individuals	A4i
Australasian Bittern Botaurus poiciloptilus	VU	resident	1981-2008	12 individuals	A1
Banded Stilt Cladorhynchus leucocephalus	LC	non-breeding	1981-2007	5,000 individuals	A4i
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata	VU	non-breeding	1981-2007	541-5,591 individuals	A4i
Red-necked Stint Calidris ruficollis	NT	non-breeding	1981-2007	2,205-12,310 individuals	A4i
Orange-bellied Parrot Neophema chrysogaster	CR	non-breeding	1981-2007	12 individuals	A1

1. The current IUCN Red List category. The category at the time of the IBA criteria assessment (2009) may differ.

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2009. The most recent assessment (2018) is shown below.

State (condition of the trigger species' habitats)
Habitat	Quantity (% remaining)	Quality (% carrying capacity)	Result
Marine Coastal/Supratidal	poor (40-69%)	moderate (70-90%)	very unfavourable

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Invasive and other problematic species and genes	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	slow but significant deterioration	high
Climate change and severe weather	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	slow but significant deterioration	high
Residential and commercial development	likely in short term (within 4 years)	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Natural system modifications	likely in long term (beyond 4 years)	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Human intrusions and disturbance	likely in short term (within 4 years)	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Agricultural expansion and intensification	likely in short term (within 4 years)	small area/few individuals (<10%)	no or imperceptible deterioration	low
Biological resource use	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	no or imperceptible deterioration	low

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Protected areas	Management plan	Other action	Result
Most of site (50-90%) covered (including the most critical parts for important bird species)	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	% overlap with IBA
1982	Port Phillip Bay (Western Shoreline) and Bellarine Peninsula	Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance	72
2001	Lake Connewarre W.R	Natural Features Reserve	81

Habitat1	Habitat detail	% of IBA
Marine Coastal/Supratidal		major (>10)
Marine Intertidal		major (>10)
Artificial/Aquatic & Marine	Saltpans	minor (<10)
Marine Neritic		minor (<10)

1. IUCN Habitat classification.

Land use	% of IBA
nature conservation and research	major (>10)
urban/industrial/transport	major (>10)
hunting	minor (<10)
rangeland/pastureland	minor (<10)

Moolap Saltworks is a private, commercial salt production facility owned by Cheetham Salt Pty Ltd. The adjacent intertidal areas in Corio Bay are Crown Land. Lake Connewarre and Reedy Lake are State Game Reserves managed by Parks Victoria.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Bellarine Wetlands (Australia). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/bellarine-wetlands-iba-australia on 22/11/2024.