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The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation 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 List	Season (year/s of estimate)	Size	IBA criteria
Plumed Whistling-duck Dendrocygna eytoni	LC	resident (1999–2003)	17,500 birds	A4i
Pink-eared Duck Malacorhynchus membranaceus	LC	non-breeding (1999–2003)	11,157 birds	A4i
Black Swan Cygnus atratus	LC	resident (1999–2003)	17,535 birds	A4i
Hardhead Aythya australis	LC	resident (1999–2003)	76,746 birds	A4i
Pacific Black Duck Anas superciliosa	LC	resident (1999–2003)	63,560 birds	A4i
Grey Teal Anas gracilis	LC	resident (1999–2003)	28,312 birds	A4i
Hoary-headed Grebe Poliocephalus poliocephalus	LC	non-breeding (1999–2003)	12,673 birds	A4i
Australian Bustard Ardeotis australis	LC	resident (1998–2008)	common	A1
Straw-necked Ibis Threskiornis spinicollis	LC	resident (1999–2003)	16,947 birds	A4i
White-necked Heron Ardea pacifica	LC	resident (1999–2003)	2,148 birds	A4i
Little Pied Cormorant Microcarbo melanoleucos	LC	non-breeding (1999–2003)	5,991 birds	A4i
Little Black Cormorant Phalacrocorax sulcirostris	LC	non-breeding (1999–2003)	27,630 birds	A4i
Australasian Darter Anhinga novaehollandiae	LC	resident (1999–2003)	1,474 birds	A4i
Bush Thick-knee Burhinus grallarius	LC	resident (1998–2008)	uncommon	A1
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus	LC	resident (1999–2003)	24,837 birds	A4i
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida	LC	non-breeding (1999–2003)	19,601 birds	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

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	happe­ning now	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	high
Agricultural expansion and intensification	happe­ning now	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	no or slight decline (<1% over 3 gener­ations)	low
Invasive and other problematic species and genes	happe­ning now	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	no or slight decline (<1% over 3 gener­ations)	low
Energy production and mining	happe­ning now	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	no or slight decline (<1% over 3 gener­ations)	low

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Designation	Planning	Action	Result
Not assessed	Not assessed	Not assessed	not assessed

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

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 22/12/2024.