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

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

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Natural system modifications	happe­ning now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	medium
Residential and commercial development	likely in long term (>4 years)	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations)	medium
Invasive and other problematic species and genes	happe­ning now	few indivi­duals/small area (<10%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	low
Transportation and service corridors	likely in long term (>4 years)	few indivi­duals/small area (<10%)	moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations)	low

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Designation	Planning	Action	Result
Most of area (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 (management category)	% coverage of IBA
-	Newcastle Wetlands Reserve Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve (-)	<1
-	The Hunter Wetlands Centre Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve (-)	1
1983	Kooragang	Nature Reserve (IV)	35
1990	Hexham Swamp	Nature Reserve (IV)	11
2000	Pambalong	Nature Reserve (IV)	<1
2015	Hunter Wetlands	National Park (II)	55

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

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 23/12/2024.