• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Map
• Reference and further resources

The site was identified as important in 2009 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species') at the site:

Species	Red List1	Season	Year(s)	Size	IBA criteria
Plumed Whistling-duck Dendrocygna eytoni	LC	resident	1999-2003	17,500 individuals	A4i
Pink-eared Duck Malacorhynchus membranaceus	LC	non-breeding	1999-2003	11,157 individuals	A4i
Black Swan Cygnus atratus	LC	resident	1999-2003	17,535 individuals	A4i
Hardhead Aythya australis	LC	resident	1999-2003	76,746 individuals	A4i
Pacific Black Duck Anas superciliosa	LC	resident	1999-2003	63,560 individuals	A4i
Grey Teal Anas gracilis	LC	resident	1999-2003	28,312 individuals	A4i
Hoary-headed Grebe Poliocephalus poliocephalus	LC	non-breeding	1999-2003	12,673 individuals	A4i
Australian Bustard Ardeotis australis	LC	resident	1998-2008	common	A1
Straw-necked Ibis Threskiornis spinicollis	LC	resident	1999-2003	16,947 individuals	A4i
White-necked Heron Ardea pacifica	LC	resident	1999-2003	2,148 individuals	A4i
Little Pied Cormorant Microcarbo melanoleucos	LC	non-breeding	1999-2003	5,991 individuals	A4i
Little Black Cormorant Phalacrocorax sulcirostris	LC	non-breeding	1999-2003	27,630 individuals	A4i
Australasian Darter Anhinga novaehollandiae	LC	resident	1999-2003	1,474 individuals	A4i
Bush Thick-knee Burhinus grallarius	LC	resident	1998-2008	uncommon	A1
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus	LC	resident	1999-2003	24,837 individuals	A4i
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida	LC	non-breeding	1999-2003	19,601 individuals	A4i
Grey Falcon Falco hypoleucos	VU	resident	1998-2008	uncommon	A1, A3
Night Parrot Pezoporus occidentalis	CR	resident	2005	rare	A1, A3
Bourke's Parrot Neopsephotus bourkii	LC	resident	2008	common	A3
Grey Honeyeater Conopophila whitei	LC	resident	2008	rare	A3
Slaty-backed Thornbill Acanthiza robustirostris	LC	resident	2008	frequent	A3
Spinifexbird Poodytes carteri	LC	resident	2008	common	A3
Painted Finch Emblema pictum	LC	resident	2008	frequent	A3

1. The current IUCN Red List category. The category at the time of the IBA criteria assessment (2009) may differ.

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2009. The most recent assessment (2008) is shown below.

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Natural system modifications	likely in long term (beyond 4 years)	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	medium
Agricultural expansion and intensification	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	no or imperceptible deterioration	low
Invasive and other problematic species and genes	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	no or imperceptible deterioration	low
Energy production and mining	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	no or imperceptible deterioration	low

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Protected areas	Management plan	Other action	Result
Not assessed	Not assessed	Not assessed	not assessed

Habitat1	Habitat detail	% of IBA
Shrubland	Chenopod shrubs, samphire shrubs and forblands	major (>10)
Wetlands (inland)	Ephemeral	major (>10)

1. IUCN Habitat classification.

Land use	% of IBA
rangeland/pastureland	100

The IBA is located entirely on pastoral leasehold land (Mount Florance, Mulga Downs, Hillside, Marillana and Roy Hill). Some land is being transferred to DEC.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Fortescue Marshes (Australia). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/fortescue-marshes-iba-australia on 22/11/2024.