Franklin Sound Islands


IBA Justification

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
Cape Barren Goose Cereopsis novaehollandiae LC resident (1989–2007) 473 pairs A4i
White-faced Storm-petrel Pelagodroma marina LC resident (1978–1997) 19,000 pairs A4ii
Short-tailed Shearwater Ardenna tenuirostris LC resident (1975–1995) 1,322,000 nests A4ii
Black-faced Cormorant Phalacrocorax fuscescens LC unknown (1978–1997) 247 birds A4i
Sooty Oystercatcher Haematopus fuliginosus LC resident (1978–1997) 74 pairs A4i
Pacific Gull Larus pacificus LC resident (1978–1997) 51 pairs A4i
Flame Robin Petroica phoenicea LC unknown (1998–2008) common A1

IBA Conservation

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.

IBA conservation assessment
Year of assessment State Pressure Response
2008 not assessed high not assessed
Whole site assessed? State assessed by Accuracy of information
yes unset medium

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat Timing Scope Severity Result
Agricultural expansion and intensification happe­ning now most of popul­ation/area (50–90%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) high
Invasive and other problematic species and genes happe­ning now most of popul­ation/area (50–90%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) high
Natural system modifications happe­ning now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) medium
Biological resource use happe­ning now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) no or slight decline (<1% over 3 gener­ations) low
Human intrusions and disturbance happe­ning now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) 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

IBA Protection

Year Protected Area Designation (management category) % coverage of IBA
1999 Little Dog Island Game Reserve (VI) 3
2000 Briggs Islet Conservation Area (VI) <1
2000 Oyster Rocks Conservation Area (VI) <1
2009 Great Dog Island Indigenous Protected Area (V) 13
2011 Vansittart Island Conservation Area (V) 26
2011 Anderson Islands Conservation Area (V) 17
2011 Long Island Conservation Area (VI) 13
2011 Little Green Island Conservation Area (VI) 6
2011 Neds Reef Conservation Area (V) <1
2011 Ram Island Conservation Area (V) <1

Habitats

Habitat % of IBA Habitat detail
Artificial/Terrestrial major (>10) Improved grassland & pasture
Grassland major (>10) Tussock grasslands
Shrubland minor (<10) Closed shrublands & low closed woodlands
Marine Coastal/Supratidal -

Land use

Land use % of IBA
nature conservation and research major (>10)
rangeland/pastureland major (>10)
hunting minor (<10)

Land ownership
Oyster Rocks West (Conservation Area), Oyster Rocks (Conservation Area), Anderson Island (Nature Reserve), Mid Woody Islet (non-allocated Crown Land), Tin Kettle (non-allocated Crown Land, lease), Little Dog Island (Game Reserve and private property leased annually), Great Dog Island (private), Briggs Islet (Conservation Area), Little Green Island (Conservation Area and leasehold), Ram Island (private), Puncheon Island (freehold), Pelican Island (Game Reserve and non-allocated Crown Land),and Vansittart islands(freehold and leasehold).


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Franklin Sound Islands (Australia). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/franklin-sound-islands-iba-australia on 22/12/2024.