Data Zone
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Ibis Threskiornis moluccus | LC | breeding (1998) | 125,000–160,000 birds | A4i |
| Straw-necked Ibis Threskiornis spinicollis | LC | breeding (1998) | 230,000 birds | A4i |
| Australasian Bittern Botaurus poiciloptilus | VU | resident (-) | rare | A1 |
| Nankeen Night Heron Nycticorax caledonicus | LC | breeding (1998) | 92,000–108,000 birds | A4i |
| Plumed Egret Ardea plumifera | LC | breeding (1998) | 46,000 birds | A4i |
Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2009. The most recent assessment (2019) is shown below.
| IBA conservation assessment | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | State | Pressure | Response |
| 2019 | very poor | very high | low |
| Whole site assessed? | State assessed by | Accuracy of information | |
| no | habitat | - | |
| State (condition of the trigger species' habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Habitat | Quantity (% remaining) | Quality (% carrying capacity) | Result |
| Wetlands (inland) | very poor (<40%) | moderate (70–90%) | very poor |
| Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Natural system modifications | happening now | whole of population/area (>90%) | moderate decline (10–30% over 3 generations) | very high |
| Invasive and other problematic species and genes | happening now | most of population/area (50–90%) | moderate decline (10–30% over 3 generations) | high |
| Agricultural expansion and intensification | happening now | most of population/area (50–90%) | moderate decline (10–30% over 3 generations) | high |
| Pollution | happening now | most of population/area (50–90%) | moderate decline (10–30% over 3 generations) | high |
| Other | likely in short term (<4 years) | most of population/area (50–90%) | moderate decline (10–30% over 3 generations) | high |
| Climate change and severe weather | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Human intrusions and disturbance | likely in long term (>4 years) | few individuals/small area (<10%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | low |
| Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | Planning | Action | Result |
| Some of area covered (10–49%) | A comprehensive and appropriate management plan exists that aims to maintain or improve the populations of qualifying bird species | Very little or no conservation action taking place | low |
| Year | Protected Area | Designation (management category) | % coverage of IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Gwydir Wetlands | State Conservation Area (II) | 9 |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | major (>10) | Eucalypt woodlands |
| Wetlands (inland) | major (>10) | Ephemeral; Riverine floodplains; Rivers & streams |
| Introduced vegetation | minor (<10) |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| agriculture | major (>10) |
| nature conservation and research | minor (<10) |
| rangeland/pastureland | minor (<10) |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Gwydir Wetlands (Australia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/gwydir-wetlands-iba-australia on 27/12/2024.