Legune (Joseph Bonaparte Bay)


IBA Justification

The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2009 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('key species') at the site:
Species Red List Season (year/s of estimate) Size IBA criteria
Pied Heron Egretta picata LC breeding (1990–2000) 3,000 individuals A4i

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 status
Year of assessment State Pressure Response
2008 not assessed medium not assessed
Whole site assessed? State assessed by Accuracy of information
yes unset medium

Pressure (threats to the key species and/or their habitats)
Threat Timing Scope Severity Result
Invasive and other problematic species and genes happen­ing now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) slow deteri­oration (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) medium
Climate change and severe weather likely in long term (beyond 4 years) some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) slow deteri­oration (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) medium

Response (conservation actions taken for the key species and/or their habitats)
Designation Planning Action Result
Not assessed Not assessed Not assessed not assessed

Habitats

Habitat % of IBA Habitat detail
Forest major (>10) Mangroves; Melaleuca forests & woodlands
Marine Coastal/Supratidal major (>10)
Marine Intertidal major (>10)
Wetlands (inland) major (>10) Riverine floodplains
Artificial/Terrestrial minor (<10) Improved grassland & pasture

Land use

Land use % of IBA
rangeland/pastureland major (>10)

Land ownership
Legune Station.


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: Legune (Joseph Bonaparte Bay) (Australia). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/legune-(joseph-bonaparte-bay)-iba-australia on 14/01/2025.