Current view: Text account
Site description (2008 baseline):
Site location and context
This IBA includes all the box-ironbark woodland remnants that are significant for Swift Parrots in the Bendigo region of central Victoria (as defined by Kennedy and Tzaros 2005). This is situated between the Maryborough-Dunolly and the Rushworth Box-Ironbark Region IBAs. Where only one area within a forest patch is known to be significant the whole patch is included, as this the usual management unit and Swift Parrots are likely to use the remaining woodland in smaller numbers or less regularly. This IBA ranges from Kamarooka in the north to south of Castlemaine, including the following remnants (with land-ownership status): Sandon (SF), Strangways (private), Lockwood (SF), Muckleford-Maldon (Muckleford NCR and Maldon SF), Shelbourne (NCR), Diamond Hill-Mandurang-Sedgwick (Bendigo NP, Mandurang SF, Diamond Hill HR, Spring Gully Reservoir and Sedgwick SF), Pilchers Bridge-Lyell (Pilchers Bridge NCR and Lyell SF), Whipstick (NP), Wellsford (Regional Park, Mt Sugarloaf NCR and SF) and Kamarooka (NP; the whole of Kamarooka forest is taken in its entirety for its population of Diamond Firetails and Purple-gaped Honeyeaters). Other adjacent areas of woodland are dominated by trees less suitable for these bird species and are excluded from the IBA, although these areas are still important for other woodland birds and support small numbers of the key IBA species. Most of the IBA is within protected areas or state forests, with only small forest blocks on private land.
Occasional records of the endangered Regent Honeyeater. Other declining woodland birds including Brown Treecreeper, Speckled Warbler, Hooded Robin, Grey-crowned Babbler, Crested Bellbird and Gilbert's Whistler; and occasional records of migrant Black Honeyeater and Pink Robin. White-gaped Honeyeater is uncommon in Whipstick and Kamarooka NPs (Tzaros 2005). A single sighting of the vulnerable Painted Honeyeater in Atlas surveys from 1998 to 2008.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Investigate conservation partnerships with land-owners of box-ironbark remnants on private land, especially seeking to link remnants with larger patches of woodland and forest. Investigate habitat restoration and creation on more fertile land close to remnants. Advocate for protection of the 23% of priority box-ironbark sites that are still unprotected.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
77% of priority box-ironbark sites in central Victoria are now protected following an investigation by the Environment Conservation Council in 2001.
Greater Bendigo National Park and numerous smaller but significant bushland and conservation reserves (see separate section for details).
Protected areas and state forests are owned and managed by state government; the IBA also contains small areas of private land.
Site access / Land-owner requests
Some of the forest remnants are on private land without public access.
Gary Cheers, Ian Davidson, Simon Kennedy and Chris Tzaros provided data and comments.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Bendigo Box-Ironbark Region (Australia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/bendigo-box-ironbark-region-iba-australia on 22/11/2024.
