Central NSW Mallee


IBA Justification

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 IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('key species') at the site:
Species Red List Season (year/s of estimate) Size IBA criteria
Malleefowl Leipoa ocellata VU resident (1985–2008) 250–500 individuals A1
Red-lored Whistler Pachycephala rufogularis VU resident (2006) 68 breeding pairs A1, A2, A3

IBA Conservation

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2009. The most recent assessment (2019) is shown below.

IBA conservation status
Year of assessment State Pressure Response
2019 near favourable high high
Whole site assessed? State assessed by Accuracy of information
yes habitat -

State (condition of the key species' habitats)
Habitat Quantity (% remaining) Quality (% carrying capacity) Result
Forest good (>90%) moderate (70–90%) near favourable

Pressure (threats to the key species and/or their habitats)
Threat Timing Scope Severity Result
Natural system modifications happen­ing now most of popul­ation/area (50–90%) slow deteri­oration (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) high
Agricultural expansion and intensification happen­ing now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) slow deteri­oration (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) medium
Invasive and other problematic species and genes happen­ing now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) slow deteri­oration (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) medium

Response (conservation actions taken for the key species and/or their habitats)
Designation Planning Action Result
Whole area of site (>90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation 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 high

IBA Protection

Year Protected Area Designation (management category) % coverage of IBA
- Nombinnie State Conservation Area (-) 19
1970 Round Hill Nature Reserve (Ia) 5
1988 Nombinnie Nature Reserve (Ia) 29
2005 Nombinnie State Conservation Area (II) 18
2015 Yathong Nature Reserve (Ia) 43

Habitats

Habitat % of IBA Habitat detail
Shrubland 86 Mallee shrublands & woodlands
Forest 14 Eucalypt woodlands

Land use

Land use % of IBA
rangeland/pastureland 62
nature conservation and research 33
forestry 5

Land ownership
Mostly privately owned, with some reserves.


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: Central NSW Mallee (Australia). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/central-nsw-mallee-iba-australia on 12/01/2025.