Lake Galilee


Site description (2008 baseline):

Site location and context
The IBA consists of Lake Galilee, a large terminal lake located about 90 km north-east of Aramac in central Queensland, and Lake Dunn, a much smaller freshwater lake located about 30 km south of Lake Galilee. Lake Galilee is seasonally inundated by fresh water from streams, runoff and precipitation. The central and north-western parts are normally fresh even when floodwater recedes into shallow smaller lakes. The vegetation in this half of the lake is dominated there by low woodland and tall shrubland of belalie or extensive beds of canegrass. The western and southern parts are often more saline and dominated by samphire, though they can sustain freshwater characteristics for many months after inundation. Lake Dunn is permanently inundated with fresh water floodwaters and fringed by mixed red gum, Coolibah and Belalie woodland. The bed of Lake Galilee is composed of dry saline clay flats that are bare except for some samphire at the margins of the lake floor. The sandy beach that surrounds Lake Galilee supports woodland dominated by Beefwood, Grevilleas, Doolan and Ironwood. Gidgee woodland occurs on red dunes at the southern end of Lake Galilee, backing onto Coolibah swampland. The forehore of Lake Dunn supports stands of River Red Gum and Coolibah. Lake Galilee was amongst the four most important wetland systems counted in annual aerial surveys across south-east Australia in 1988, 1989, 1993, 1997 (estimated 62,000 waterbirds) but systematic surveys combining aerial and ground surveys have only been undertaken in 1998 and 2008.

Key biodiversity
The IBA supported 56,000 waterbirds of 32 species in 1998 but ground truthing suggested that the number of waterbirds was actually more than 80,000 (Jaesch 1998). Pacific Black Duck has exceeded the 1% threshold: 10,000-20,000 estimated in 1983 (Braithwaite et al. 1986) when methodology was inaccurate, more than 10,000 in 1990, 7041 in 2000, 2099 in 1997 and 3507 in 1998 (Jaensch 1998; Kingsford et al. 1990, 2000, 2003; Kingsford and Porter 2006). Pink-eared Duck has exceeded the 1% threshold: 27,625 estimated in 2005 (Porter et al. 2006) but only 7078 in 1997, 4645 in 1983, 5864 in 1994, 5416 in 1997 and 3842 in 2008 (Kingsford and Porter 2006; Kingsford et al. 2000). Black Swan has exceeded the 1% threshold: 21,000 estimated in 2000, 5058 in 1997, 3241 in 2003, 1627 in 1998 and 1017 in 2008 (Jaensch 1998; R. Jaensch in litt. 2008; Kingsford et al. 1998; Kingsford et al. 2003; Porter et al. 2006). Species recorded in notable but sub-threshold numbers include Australasian Shoveler (496 in 1989), Hardhead (about 3000 in 1989 and 3620 in 2000), Australian Pelican (about 4000 in 1989 and 2000 pairs in 2008), Eurasian Coot (13,798 in 1997), Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (470 in a small proportion of the suitable habitat 2008), Red-necked Avocet (863 in 1998) and Black-winged Stilt (1951 in 1997 and 1654 in 2000) but counts except 1998 and 2008 may be inaccurate as they are extrapolated numbers from a small sample area (Jaensch 1998; R. Jaensch in litt. 2008; Kingsford 1996; Kingsford et al. 1989; 1990, 1991, 1992, 1997, 2000, 2003; Kingsford and Porter 2006). Breeding colonies of pelicans, Caspian Tern, spoonbills, ibises, egrets and cormorants were found in 2008 (R. Jaensch in litt. 2009). Non-waterbird species recorded at Lake Galilee include near threatened Australian Bustard and Bush Stone-curlew (Atlas of Australian Birds database).

Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Control Parkinsonia infestation. Minimise impact of livestock and feral animals on fringing vegetation and other sensitive habitats. Monitor human disturbance of waterbirds.

Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
Lake Galilee is listed on the National Heritage Register. The catchment is being managed to protect its values. Parts of the catchment are included in the Aramac Bushcare Area (Australian Wetlands Database 2001).

Protected areas
None.

Land ownership
Leasehold (Eastmere, Hazelmere, Fleetwood and Oakvale stations).

Acknowledgements
Richard Kingsford kindly provided aerial survey data; and Roger Jaensch of Wetlands International provided data from 1998 and 2008, and comments.


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Lake Galilee (Australia). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/lake-galilee-iba-australia on 19/12/2024.