• 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
Chestnut Teal Anas castanea	LC	non-breeding	2001-2005	1,000-1,600 individuals	A4i
Straw-necked Ibis Threskiornis spinicollis	LC	non-breeding	2005-2007	11,856 individuals	A4i
Australasian Bittern Botaurus poiciloptilus	VU	resident	2002-2007	6 individuals	A1
Red-necked Avocet Recurvirostra novaehollandiae	LC	non-breeding	2000-2006	104-4,960 individuals	A4i
Far Eastern Curlew Numenius madagascariensis	EN	non-breeding	2000-2006	383-786 individuals	A4i
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata	VU	non-breeding	2002-2007	1,800 individuals	A4i
Latham's Snipe Gallinago hardwickii	NT	non-breeding	1997-2007	7-475 individuals	A4i

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 (2019) is shown below.

State (condition of the trigger species' habitats)
Habitat	Quantity (% remaining)	Quality (% carrying capacity)	Result
Marine Coastal/Supratidal	moderate (70-90%)	good (> 90%)	near favourable

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Residential and commercial development	likely in long term (beyond 4 years)	some of area/population (10-49%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	medium
Natural system modifications	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Transportation and service corridors	likely in long term (beyond 4 years)	small area/few individuals (<10%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	low
Invasive and other problematic species and genes	happening now	small area/few individuals (<10%)	slow but significant deterioration	low

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Protected areas	Management plan	Other action	Result
Most of site (50-90%) covered (including the most critical parts for important bird species)	A comprehensive and appropriate management plan exists that aims to maintain or improve the populations of qualifying bird species	Substantive conservation measures are being implemented but these are not comprehensive and are limited by resources and capacity	medium

Year	Protected Area	Designation	% overlap with IBA
-	The Hunter Wetlands Centre Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	1
-	Newcastle Wetlands Reserve Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	<1
1983	Kooragang	Nature Reserve	35
1990	Hexham Swamp	Nature Reserve	11
2000	Pambalong	Nature Reserve	<1
2002	Hunter Estuary Wetlands	Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance	38
2002	Hunter Estuary Wetlands	Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance	<1
2015	Hunter Wetlands	National Park	55

Habitat1	Habitat detail	% of IBA
Marine Coastal/Supratidal		37
Forest	Casuarina forests & woodlands, Mangroves	23
Artificial/Terrestrial	Improved grassland & pasture, Other urban & industrial areas	19
Marine Neritic		11
Marine Intertidal		10

1. IUCN Habitat classification.

Land use	% of IBA
nature conservation and research	major (>10)
fisheries/aquaculture	minor (<10)
rangeland/pastureland	minor (<10)
tourism/recreation	minor (<10)
urban/industrial/transport	minor (<10)

Hunter Estuary: NSW State Government, Regional Land Management Corporation, private. Hexham Swamp: Hunter Central Rivers CMA, Newcastle City Council, Shortlands Wetlands Centre Ltd, NPWS (NSW State govt), Hunter District Water Board, Australian Rail Track Corporation, Broadcast Australia Ltd, State of NSW, private ownership.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Hunter Estuary (Australia). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/hunter-estuary-iba-australia on 22/11/2024.