Current view: Text account
Site description (2008 baseline):
Site location and context
The IBA is comprised of the remnant vegetation of the Lake Magenta Nature Reserve, but excluding the lake itself, and a large area of unallocated Crown Land to the east, which is also managed by the Department of Environment and Conservation. It is situated in the south of the Western Australian wheatbelt, about 190 km north-east of Albany. The site consists primarily of mallee and mallee-heath, with woodlands occurring to a lesser degree. The IBA represents the largest remaining area of high productivity mallee in Western Australia, with the IBA typically receving over 400 mm of rain per year. The area represents one of the largest remaining remnants within the wheatbelt and contains high productivity mallee and intact woodland communities that have largely been cleared elsewhere. It supports relatively large numbers of Malleefowl and is known as the "Chook Reserve" to the local community.
Other birds have not been documented for this IBA.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Investigate the impact of fire regimes on Malleefowl persistence. Investigate the effect of fox control on Malleefowl.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
Western Australian Dept of Environment and Conservation: Factors affecting fauna recovery in the wheatbelt - Lake Magenta and Dunn Rock Nature Reserves. Western Australian Dept of Environment and Conservation: Status and ecology of the heath mouse (Pseudomys shortridgei) in Western Australia. Western Australian Dept of Environment and Conservation/CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems: Fire, fragmentation, weeds and the conservation of plant diversity in wheatbelt Nature Reserves.
Lake Magenta Nature Reserve overlaps the IBA.
Western Australian State Government with the nature reserve and the unallocated Crown Land managed by WA Dept of Environment and Conservation, although the unallocated Crown Land is not formally listed.
Site access / Land-owner requests
Permits are required for access to Lake Magenta Nature Reserve.
Thanks to Blair Parsons for writing the nomination and to Carl Gosper for his assistance.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Lake Magenta (Australia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/lake-magenta-iba-australia on 22/12/2024.
