Current view: Text account
Site description (2008 baseline):
Site location and context
This IBA encompasses an area of tall eucalypt woodland on colluvial sands in which there is an exceptional density of Red Goshawk nests. It is defined as the suitable habitat on the former pastoral lease, now managed by Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, at Lilyvale Station in south-eastern Cape York Peninsula. The woodland itself is a good sample of the tropical savanna biome. Adjacent areas of woodland may be equally important but have not been surveyed and are not under conservation management. Although within the Cape York Endemic Bird Area (EBA), none of the species characteristic of that EBA are known to occur in the Lilyvale IBA. The IBA has a monsoonal climate, with most rain falling during a hot west season from December to April followed by a long dry season, during which time fires are frequent, although, under current management, rarely annual.
The IBA also supports a range of other tropical woodland species including Black-chinned Honeyeater and Black-backed Butcherbird, a species whose distribution in Australia is restricted to Cape York Peninsula. A single sighting of the near threatened Black-throated Finch was recorded in the Atlas of Australian Birds surveys from 1998 to 2008 (Atlas of Australian Birds database).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Following acquisition by Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, the IBA should be secure but adjacent properties should be surveyed for Red Goshawks.
Queensland State Government
Site access / Land-owner requests
Access is limited to public roads. The location of Red Goshawk nests should not be publicised as there is some risk from egg-collectors.
The nomination was prepared by Stephen Garnett.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Lilyvale (Australia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/lilyvale-iba-australia on 23/11/2024.
