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Site description (2008 baseline):
Site location and context
The Iron and McIlwraith Ranges are the most northerly extent of the Great Dividing Range, located in the north of the Cape York Peninsula, 750 km north of Cairns. The boundary of the IBA was drawn to encompass most of the area of closed forest in the region as well as significant areas of heathland vegetation suitable for White-streaked Honeyeater. This includes the Iron Range National Park, Iron Range Resources Reserve and the forested part of the Mungkan Kundju National Park. A range of other tenures is present within the area including aboriginal freehold and leasehold land. Much of the area has very poor sandy soils formed from eroded granite, which only support stunted heath which dominates this area. Richer soils produced by older, more easily eroded metamorphic rocks support lush rainforests, found to the east below the escarpment. The Iron and McIlwraith Ranges support the largest area of tropical rainforest on Cape York Peninsula which has close affinities with New Guinea. While many species found at Iron Range occur nowhere else in Australia, all these also occur in much larger numbers in New Guinea.
The ornithological fauna is a unique combination of New Guinean and Australian elements not found elsewhere on the Australian continent. As well as species of global conservation concern and assemblages of restricted-range species this area is also important for a number of species which occur in both New Guinea and Australia, but whose distributions in Australia are restricted to Cape York Peninsula. These include Palm Cockatoo, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Red-bellied Pitta, Trumpet Manucode, Magnificent Riflebird, Fawn-breasted Bowerbird, Yellow-legged Flycatcher; Tropical Scrub-wren and Frill-necked Monarch are sometimes considered full species endemic to Cape York. The southern end of the Mcllwraith Range represents the southern limit of the Australian distribution for a number of these species. Notable species which are rarely encountered within the IBA include the near threatened Australian Bustard, Bush Stone-curlew and Black-throated Finch, the restricted-range Green Catbird and Pied Monarch and the Australian Tropical Savanna biome-restricted White-gaped Honeyeater (Atlas of Australian Birds database). Graceful Honeyeaters are common in the ranges (S. Garnett and A. Freeman pers. obs).
Non-bird biodiversity: Iron and McIlwraith Ranges is significant for a number of species that mainly occur in New Guinea. Some examples include the cuscus Phalanger intercastellanus and Spilocuscus maculatus, the rufous spiny bandicoot Echymipera rufescens. The area also encompasses the entire known Australian distribution of the snake Morelia viridus. Cape York endemic species that are entirely confined to this area include the marsupial Antechinus leo, the varanid Varanus keithhorni and the frogs Cophixalus crepitans, C. peninsularis and Litoria longirostris. The Iron Range area is also the site of a closed tussock grassland ecosystem that is currently considered endangered (Sattler and Williams, 1999).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Monitor any exploration and proposals to mine in the Iron Range area. Measure and manage the ongoing degradation from feral animals and weeds, which is currently not managed outside of small areas within the National Parks.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
Currently zoological researchers from the Australian National University have a significant presence in the area and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service have an ongoing monitoring program for L. longirostris in the McIllwaith Range.
The IBA overlaps with seven protected areas, two of which (Iron Range National Park and Iron Range Resources Reserve) are wholly contained within the IBA.
Most of the area is currently under indigenous ownership but there is also a small amount of other freehold and the National Parks are co-managed with QPWS.
The nomination was prepared by Alastair Freeman.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Iron and McIlwraith Ranges (Australia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/iron-and-mcilwraith-ranges-iba-australia on 22/11/2024.
