Investigator Islands


IBA Justification

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
Cape Barren Goose Cereopsis novaehollandiae LC resident 1979-2006 500-951 individuals A4i
Black-faced Cormorant Phalacrocorax fuscescens LC resident 2001 common A4i
Pacific Gull Larus pacificus LC resident 1976-2004 35 breeding pairs A4i
Fairy Tern Sternula nereis VU resident 1974-1997 30 breeding pairs A1, A4i

1. The current IUCN Red List category. The category at the time of the IBA criteria assessment (2009) may differ.


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 low 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
Human intrusions and disturbance happening now some of area/population (10-49%) no or imperceptible deterioration low
Invasive and other problematic species and genes happening now majority/most of area/population (50-90%) no or imperceptible deterioration low

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Protected areas Management plan Other action Result
Not assessed Not assessed Not assessed not assessed

IBA Protection

Year Protected Area Designation % overlap with IBA
1967 Investigator Group Wilderness Protection Area 4
1991 Waldegrave Islands Conservation Park 7
1995 Unnamed (No.HA1003) Heritage Agreement 6
2009 Investigator Marine Park 7
2009 Investigator Marine Park 3
2011 Investigator Group Wilderness Protection Area 7

Habitats

Habitat1 Habitat detail % of IBA
Artificial/Terrestrial Improved grassland & pasture major (>10)
Shrubland Heath, Other shrublands major (>10)
1. IUCN Habitat classification.

Land use

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

Land ownership
Flinders Island is leasehold. Other islands are owned and managed by the South Australian government.


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Investigator Islands (Australia). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/investigator-islands-iba-australia on 22/11/2024.