Current view: Text account
Site description (2008 baseline):
Site location and context
The IBA comprises the sandy east coast and the south-eastern lagoons of Flinders Island in Bass Strait. The system is dominated by three large estuarine waterbodies: Sellars Lagoon, Cameron Inlet and Logan Lagoon. Sellars Lagoon is a shallow, ephemeral lagoon surrounded by
Wilsonia backhousi herbfield. Cameron Inlet is a permanent wetland consisting of open water and swamp. Logan Lagoon is a shallow, permanent lagoon whose depth fluctuates depending on rainfall. Logan Lagoon is fringed by
Juncus reed beds while the surrounding land supports grasslands with scattered
Eucalyptus,
Allocasuarina and
Banksia trees. These lagoons have been dry in recent years. The IBA also includes the entire coastal and sand dune strip from Pot Boil Point in the south-east to the estuarine system of North-east River. Fairy Terns and especially Pied and Sooty Oystercatchers occur elsewhere around the Flinders Island coast but in less predictable concentrations, although further surveys may indicate that additional stretches of the coast should be included within the IBA, especially for breeding Sooty Oystercatchers.
A single high count of Red-necked Stint: 4000 at Logan Lagoon in 1999 (Bryant 2002) where 3000 in 1976, 1800 in 1984 and 850 in Feb/Mar 1990 (Newman et al. 1984; Schulz 1990). The IBA provides important habitat for a range of waterbirds including waders, ducks and swans. It has supported regionally significant numbers of Curlew Sandpiper and Sanderling and occasional breeding pairs of Little Tern, endangered under Tasmanian government legislation. 266 Red-capped Plovers were recorded in the lagoons in 1984 and 172 at Sellars Lagoon in 1990 (Schulz 1990). The restricted-range Black Currawong, Tasmanian Thornbill and Yellow-throated Honeyeater have been recorded within the IBA.
Non-bird biodiversity: The IBA supports at least three plant communities (Wilsonia backhousei herbfield, Selliera radicans herbfield and Lamprothamnia aquatic community) that are poorly reserved in Tasmania.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
High conservation value beaches should be closed to visitors, especially vehicles. Dogs should be leashed on high-value beaches and this supported by awareness programs.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
Logan Lagoon is listed under the Ramsar Convention, the Australian Register of the National Estate, the East-Asian-Australasian Shorebird Site Network and the Tasmanian Geoconservation Database. Annual counts of waterfowl and periodic counts of other birds are undertaken at Logan Lagoon. A management plan has been developed for Logan Lagoon Conservation Area.
Numerous - see separate section.
Tasmanian State Government with the Conservation Areas managed by the Parks and Wildlife Service; beaches managed by Parks and Wildlife and/or Flinders Island Council.
Site access / Land-owner requests
Access to Sellars and Logan Lagoons is by four-wheel-drive.
Thanks to Eric Woehler as compiler.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Eastern Flinders Island (Australia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/eastern-flinders-island-iba-australia on 23/12/2024.
