Current view: Text account
Site description (2008 baseline):
Site location and context
The IBA is one of only a few protected areas in the world that supports an apparently sustainable population of the restricted-range Short-tailed Grasswren. The IBA is identical to Flinders Ranges National Park, which is located about 450 km north of Adelaide in the central Flinders Ranges. The site experiences a semi-arid climate with mild temperatures in winter, hot temperatures in summer and mean annual rainfall of around 300 mm. The terrain mainly consists of faulted and folded sedimentary rock with red-brown, calcerous and skeletal soils. The park supports a complex mosaic of vegetation associations with shrubland, woodland, tussock and hummock grassland, herbland and heathland formations all represented. Floristically, semi-arid adapted species (e.g. mallee eucalypts, cypress pines, spinifex) are widespread in the park, with a more diverse range of species (e.g. Bush Pea, Guinea Flower, grevilleas, Shrub Violet, Fringe Myrtle, lilies, ferns) found in higher rainfall areas at Wilpena Pound. Short-tailed Grasswrens also occur in neighbouring private pastoral properties but not adjacent protected areas.
The IBA provides habitat for more than 100 endemic species of bird (Department for Environment and Heritage 2008) including rare records of the near threatened Australian Bustard and the biome-restricted Black Honeyeater, Pied Honeyeater and Chirruping Wedgebill (National Parks and Wildlife Service 1983; Atlas of Australian Birds database). Other species of conservation significance include Peregrine Falcon, Elegant Parrot, Blue-winged Parrot and Restless Flycatcher (K. Bellchambers in litt. 2009).
Non-bird biodiversity: The IBA supports at least 85 plant species that are of national, state or regional conservation significance. The IBA also supports a population of the nationally vulnerable Yellow-footed Rock-wallaby Petrogale xanthopus xanthopus (Department for Environment and Heritage 2008).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Monitor grazing activity and its impact on native ecosystems. Undertake control of pest species. Consider re-vegetation programs to mitigate the effects of soil erosion.
The IBA is identical to Flinders Ranges National Park.
Owned by the South Australian Government and managed by the Department for Environment and Heritage.
Keith Bellchambers provided comments on the nomination.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Flinders Ranges (Australia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/flinders-ranges-iba-australia on 23/11/2024.
