Current view: Text account
Site description (2008 baseline):
Site location and context
The Exmouth Gulf Mangroves IBA is located on the eastern side of Exmouth Gulf in northern Western Australia. The IBA is defined by the EPA's Mangrove Mangement Unit (or Benthic Primary Producer Habitat unit), and extends for about 70 km from Giralia Bay to Tubridgi Point. The western boundary of the IBA approximates to the low tide level and the eastern boundary approximates to the inland extent of mangroves. Mudflats are typically 1 km wide but up to 4 km wide at Giralia Bay, and the mangroves are mostly 1 km wide. The shorebirds of this area are poorly known and further surveys may refine the IBA boundary; however it appears that mangroves are much richer along the eastern side of the gulf, which is sheltered and has some rainwater inflows. The mean rainfall at Onslow is 265 mm. Inland of the IBA are bare hypersaline flats, which support some shorebirds roosting at high tides but are otherwise of little value for the key bird species. A nomination for World Heritage listing for Cape Range and Exmouth Gulf is being advanced by the Western Australian government.
Other high counts of shorebirds include Bar-tailed Godwit (1253), Red-necked Stint (1133) and Greater Sand Plover (1036). Australian Yellow White-eye are very common and widespread (Biota Environmental Sciences 2005).
Non-bird biodiversity: The site is one of the major population centres for Dugong in WA.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Further surveys are needed to investigate the real importance of Exmouth Gulf for shorebirds. Development proposals must not impact the rainwater inflow to the mangroves.
Burnside and Simpson Island Nature Reserve and Tent Island Nature Reserve.
Crown Land, private (= Yanrey Station pastoral lease), state government (Giralia Station and the two nature reserves managed by Department of Environment and Conservation).
Mike Bamford kindly provided advice.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Exmouth Gulf Mangroves (Australia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/exmouth-gulf-mangroves-iba-australia on 23/11/2024.
