Current view: Text account
Site description (2008 baseline):
Site location and context
The IBA consists of two contiguous wetland areas within the Fitzroy River catchment: the Fitzroy floodplain and delta, and the Hedlow Wetlands to the north of Rockhampton. The Fitzroy floodplain, which extends north-west from Rockhampton, largely consists of cleared and grazed floodplain that generally extends to the banks of dissecting streams, but in some places is bordered by remnant woodland along drainage channels or punctuated by heavily disturbed sedgeland and aquatic macrophytes associated with lagoons. The Fitzroy delta is a 15 km wide strip of wetland that extends approximately 60 km south-east from Rockhampton. The Hedlow Wetlands include Lake Mary, Green Lake, Hedlow Creek and an extensive area of ephemeral floodplain, swamps and permanent small lakes formed in a basin between the coastal hills and ranges north and north-east of Rockhampton. The habitat types found at the site include freshwater lagoons, woodlands and sedgelands, saline coastal flats, mangrove forests, intertidal sand and mud flats, seagrass beds and open marine and estuarine waters. The area is heavily modified, with Brennan (1994) reporting no pristine sites found in a survey of riparian zones and only 17.2% of lower Fitzroy catchment with > 90% of its original vegetation intact.
Just over 20,000 waterbirds of 61 species were counted on the Fitzroy Floodplain in October 2003, with an earlier count 14,500 waterbirds of 60 species at the same location in October 1994 (DEWHA 2008). The IBA supports regionally significant numbers of Cotton Pygmy-goose (450+ in 1992, 553 in 1994, up to 800 in 2003 and 562 on unknown date), Australasian Grebe, Great Egret (up to 650 in 2003 and 103 on unknown date), Brolga (400 in 1994, 238 in 2003 and 288 on unknown date) and Marsh Sandpiper (up to 900 in 2003 and 462 on unknown date). Other waterbirds recorded in substantial numbers include Royal Spoonbill, Black-necked Stork, Purple Swamphen and Eurasian Coot (DEWHA 2008; Houston and McCabe 1996; A. Briggs in litt. 2008; W. Houston pers. comm.; J. McCabe pers. comm.). The IBA also supports one of only three documented populations of the nationally critically endangered Capricorn or Dawson subspecies of Yellow Chat (Houston et al. 2004a,b; Jaensch et al. 2004). The biome-restricted Bar-breasted Honeyeater is uncommon and the near threatened Australian Bustard is rare in the Fitzroy River region (Atlas of Australian Birds database).
Non-bird biodiversity: Coolabah Eucalyptus coolabah open woodlands, Bluegum E. tereticornis and Carbeen E. tessellaris open forest, Paperbark Melaleuca leucadendra fringing forest, and various combinations of these, are the principal vegetation types and represent threatened regional ecosystems; some sedgeland and aquatic macrophytes associated with lagoons are significant wetlands.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Eradicate or control Hymenachne amplexicaulis. Limit harvesting or redirection of water flows to maintain wetland habitats. Ensure that any future urban expansion does not encroach on habitat for key species.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
A study into the status and distribution of Yellow Chat Epthianura crocea macregori has been undertaken by Wayne Houston of the Central Queensland University, supported by the Threatened Species Network and Birds Australia (Houston et al. 2004a,b).
Several - see separate section.
Private; state or local government.
Thanks to Allan Briggs as compiler.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Fitzroy Floodplain and Delta (Australia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/fitzroy-floodplain-and-delta-iba-australia on 23/11/2024.
