Current view: Text account
Site description (2008 baseline):
Site location and context
The IBA consists of the whole of Coffin Bay National Park and the rest of Coffin Bay, 50 km west of Port Lincoln on the Eyre Peninsula. The IBA includes all of the National Park as it supports significant numbers of Western Whipbirds and Hooded Plovers, as well as the other intertidal flats of the bay, including Kellidie Bay, Mount Dutton Bay and Horse Peninsula north to the north end of Farm Beach. There are eight small calcarenite islands and the muddy Yangie Bay island within the bay. The small offshore islands of the Whidbey Isles and Avoid Islands Conservation Parks are also included in the IBA as they are believed to support breeding Sooty Oystercatchers. A short stretch of the coast between Coffin Bay National Park and Kellidie Bay Conservation Park supports the Coffin Bay township. The offshore islands and southern coastline are characterised by steep coastal headlands of mallee scrub and sheoaks and oceanic seas, whereas the bay is much more sheltered and gentle. The site experiences a mild Mediterranean climate with mean annual rainfall of 500 mm.
Approximately 150 species of bird have been recorded in the Coffin Bay region. The IBA is a locally important breeding site for Osprey and White-bellied Sea-Eagle, both of which are listed as endangered in South Australia. The IBA also provides habitat for a number of other species which are considered to be rare at local, regional or state level, such as Eastern Reef Egret, Australasian Shoveler, Cape Barren Goose (recorded breeding on Whidbey islands), Eastern Curlew, Wood Sandpiper, Latham's Snipe, Buff-banded Rail, Swamp Harrier, Peregrine Falcon, Scarlet Robin, Diamond Firetail, White-winged Chough, Weebill and Southern Emu-wren (Department for Environment and Heritage 2004). The IBA has supported moderate numbers of Red-necked Stint with an estimated population of 1960 in Coffin Bay wetlands in the early 1980s and a count of 587 at Point Longnose in 2000 (Wilson 2000). The IBA has also supported low to moderate numbers of Sharp-tailed Sandpiper with an estimated population of 372 in the early 1980s and a count of 92 at Point Longnose in 2000 (Wilson 2000). The IBA regularly supports more than 1% of the East Asian-Australasian flyway population of Sanderling (e.g. Wilson 2000).
Non-bird biodiversity: Eleven species of terrestrial mammal (of which seven are introduced), 12 species of marine mammal, 20 species of lizard, six species of snake, several (mostly unidentified) species of amphibian and more than 250 species of native plant have been recorded in the Coffin Bay region (Department for Environment and Heritage 2004).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Rationalise beach use within and outside the National Park, including regulation of vehicle access. Investigate impact of oyster farms on key bird species.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
Fox baiting.
Several - see separate section.
Department for Environment and Heritage; Dept. of Fisheries and PIRSA Aquaculture manage private oyster farm leases.
Thanks to Jane Cooper for writing the nomination.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Coffin Bay (Australia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/coffin-bay-iba-australia on 23/11/2024.
