Current view: Text account
Site description (2008 baseline):
Site location and context
This IBA consists of a chain of small islands running north from Nhulunbuy in Arnhemland. Higginson Island is a high rocky island with vines and grasses, at the end of the island chain, about 100 m x 60 m, Forlsche Rock is a small grassy rocky island to the south, East Bremer is a rocky and sandy island further south, from where a chain of rocky islets extend to South East Islet. The IBA also includes Veronica island to the west, which is a small vegetated coral rubble and rock island with a lighthouse. These are island refs S030, S031, S032, S033 and S085 in Chatto (2001).
Chatto (2001) made 10 counts on Higginson and also found 1000s of nesting Crested Terns (max 10,000+ birds), 100s of Common Noddies (max 300+ birds) - the only known breeding site in the Northern Territory - and 10s of nesting Silver Gulls. On East Bremer, Chatto made nine visits and recorded nesting Roseate Terns (maximum 2500 birds) on two out of three years when visits were made during the apparent nesting season. East Bremer and the rocky islets to the south also support up to 250 Bridled Terns, with another 400 Bridled Terns on South East islet. Veronica Island supported 1500 Roseate Terns one year in which they were missing from Higginson, and up to 2000 Bridled Terns (which may be additional to the Higginson totals). Forlsche Rock has had 200 Roseate Terns perhaps as an overspill from Higginson.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
No known threats. The numbers of nesting seabirds should be monitored.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
The islands captured by the IBA are contained within the 'Gove Peninsula and north-east Arnhem coast' site of conservation significance as classified by the Northern Territory Government (Harrison et al. 2009; Ward & Harrison 2009). Traditional owners frequently harvest tern eggs (probably Roseate Terns as these form dense colonies unlike the Bridled Terns which nest singly amongst rocks) but there is no note whether this harvest is monitored or controlled.
Arnhemland ALT
Site access / Land-owner requests
Traditionally-owned land.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Higginson Island (Australia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/higginson-island-iba-australia on 23/12/2024.
