Current view: Text account
Site description (2008 baseline):
Site location and context
The IBA is defined by the remnant vegetation associated with Dunn Rock, Lake King and Pallarup Nature Reserves and adjacent unallocated Crown Land. It is situated in the southern Western Australia wheatbelt, about 250 km north-east of Albany. The IBA was identified from expert opinion that it supports a significant viable population of Malleefowl, as determined by records in relevant databases (notably the Malleefowl Preservation Group database of 1200 sightings over 15 years, WA Dept of Environment and Conservation, WA Museum and Birds Australia Atlas), and other literature and knowledge, that population viability is greatest within large areas of contiguous mallee or Acacia shrubland. The IBA excludes the Lake King complex of lakes and wetland habitat which is unsuitable for mallee birds. It represents core habitat for the Malleefowl as it contains a large amount of dense mallee favoured by the species. The area represents one of the largest remaining mallee remnants within the wheatbelt and contains vegetation assemblages that have largely been cleared elsewhere, and typically receives around 400 mm of rain per year. The site consists primarily of mallee, mallee-heath and salt pans, with small amounts of woodland.
Other birds have not been documented for this IBA.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Investigate the impact of fire regimes on Malleefowl persistence. Investigate the effect of fox control on Malleefowl and meso-predators also (i.e. feral cats etc.).
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
Western Australian Dept of Environment and Conservation: Factors affecting fauna recovery in the wheatbelt - Lake Magenta and Dunn Rock Nature Reserves. Western Australian Dept of Environment and Conservation/CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems: Fire, fragmentation, weeds and the conservation of plant diversity in wheatbelt Nature Reserves.
Four - see separate section for details.
Western Australian State Government with the nature reserves and the unallocated Crown Land managed by WA Dept of Environment and Conservation, although the unallocated Crown Land is not formally listed.
Site access / Land-owner requests
Permits are required for access to Dunn Rock, Lake King and Pallarup Nature Reserves.
Thanks to Blair Parsons for writing the nomination and to Carl Gosper for his assistance.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Dunn Rock and Lake King (Australia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/dunn-rock-and-lake-king-iba-australia on 22/11/2024.
