Current view: Text account
Site description (2008 baseline):
Site location and context
This IBA consists of a series of small islands in the Great Barrier Reef extending from Night Island, which lies off the coast of the McIlwraith Range, south to Burkitt Island, north of Port Stewart on the Cape York Peninsula. All islands which have a record of more than 1% of the world population of any seabird are listed in the IBA. There have been insufficient survey visits on most islands to determine whether they regularly support these numbers of seabirds, and whether other neighbouring islands also qualify; moreover many seabirds are naturally irregular and sometimes aseasonal in their breeding. There are other similar islands within this IBA and to the north and south which might occasionally qualify (including Chapman, Sherrard and Fife). Most islands are small sandy cays with variable amounts of harder coralline substrates, grass, herbs and vines, and some larger islands have Pisonia grandis trees. Most are low-lying between 0.5 and six metres above high water. Hannah is the exception reaching a high of 24 m. The islands included here are: Night Island (50 ha; mangroves, Pied Imperial-Pigeons), Lowrie Islet (1 ha; 3330 pairs Lesser Crested Tern in 1999), Sand Bank No. 7 (2 ha; unvegetated cay; 1000 pairs Lesser Crested Tern in 1987), Sand Bank No. 8 (3 ha; sandy cay with grasses and herbs; 1000-2000 pairs Brown Booby 1981-1995), Morris Island (2 ha; 1500 pairs Lesser Crested Tern in 1997), Hay Island 10 ha, Hannah Island (30 ha; 100,000 adult Pied Imperial-Pigeon in 1988), Burkitt Island (20 ha; 1000 pairs Lesser Crested Tern in 1987 and 2000 pairs in 1993), Pelican Island (8 ha sand cay with 23 species of grasses, herbs and shrubs; 3000 nests Lesser Crested Tern in 1976, 1290 pairs in 1987 and 1200 pairs in 1993) and Stainer Island (1 ha cay with grasses, herbs and shrubs; 3500 pairs Lesser Crested Tern in 1988, 1800 pairs in 1987 and 790 pairs in 1990). The climate is monsoonal, with the rainfall on the nearby mainland being sufficiently high to support rainforest. The IBA lies opposite the Iron & McIlwraith Ranges IBA, where the nesting Pied Imperial-Pigeons feed. Night, Sand Bank no. 7 and 8, Pelican and Burkitt are in the Marine National Park, others and all the surrounding seas are in the general use zone or habitat protection zone of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
Also 5,000-10,000 pairs Sooty Terns on Sand Bank No.8; 5000 pairs Common Noddy on Sand Bank No. 8 in 1982, 1983 and 1984; 20-30 pairs Australian Pelican on Pelican Island in 1978-1982; and up to 500 pairs Bridled Tern estimated on Pelican Island in 1985.
Non-bird biodiversity: Estuarine Crocodile, Dugong, Green Turtle, Flatback Turtle, Loggerhead Turtle and Hawksbill Turtle.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Count imperial-pigeon population once every five years. Monitor numbers and breeding success of seabird colonies. Raise awareness of likely impacts of sea-level rise and sea warming.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
Counts of pigeons are made when the occasion allows.
The IBA overlaps with two protected areas.
Australian Federal Government with management the responsibility of GBRMPA.
Stephen Garnett prepared the IBA nomination for Night Island. Paul O'Neill provided advice and access to the GBR seabird database.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Islands North of Port Stewart (Australia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/islands-north-of-port-stewart-iba-australia on 23/12/2024.
