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• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
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• Reference and further resources

Site description (2008 baseline):

The Moulting Lagoon IBA includes the partially protected areas of Moulting Lagoon Game Reserve (4760 ha), Apsley Marshes Ramsar site (800 ha) and Long Point Reserve (387 ha) on the central-eastern coast of Tasmania, 10 km north-east of Swansea and adjacent to Freycinet National Park. Moulting Lagoon forms at the mouth of the Swan River and is adjacent to, and hydrologically continuous with the Apsley Marshes. Both are Ramsar sites, listed for large numbers of Black Swan and Australasian Shoveler. The area has a diverse geology dominated by Holocene alluvial sands and gravels with pockets of Triassic sandstone and Jurassic dolerite. The Apsley River rises at 500 m elevation and drains a catchment of 228 km², to the Apsley Marshes. Apsley Marshes store and filter flood waters for slow release into adjacent Moulting Lagoon. The hydrology of the lagoon is generally dominated by estuarine processes, however during peak flows these may be overridden by freshwater inputs, particularly from the Swan River catchment. The lagoon contains areas of both shallow and deep water and is surrounded by periodically exposed mudflats and saltmarsh. The western shore has largely been cleared and is used for livestock grazing and intensive agriculture while the eastern shore is relatively undisturbed and covered with native vegetation. The plant communities around Moulting Lagoon reflect the wide diversity of terrain and consequent soil drainage patterns. Zostera seagrasses cover about 2500 ha of the lagoon. The edge of the lagoon supports a belt of Sarcocornia quinqueflora below a fringe of Juncus kraussii and Poa sp. tussocks (these two bands of vegetation range in width from 1-2 m to 30 m) and then Melaleuca ericifolia, Acacia dealbata or some small stands of Callitris rhomboidea or improved pasture for livestock grazing. Apsley Marshes contain large areas of woody vegetation dominated by Melaleuca ericifoliaas, some saltmarsh near Moulting Lagoon, large areas of Phragmites australis and freshwater aquatic herbland. The annual average rainfall recorded at nearby Swansea is 611 mm; average maximum temperature is 22^oC in summer and 13^oC in winter.

The three highest counts for each bird species taken from twice yearly counts 1997-2007 include: Australian Shelduck 2688 (Feb 2002) 1595 (Feb 2006) and 1562 (Feb 2005); Chestnut Teal 1545 (July 2006), 1468 (Feb 1997) and 1114 (July 2003); Australian Shoveler 1200 (2002), 900 (July 2003), 851 (Feb 2002); Musk Duck 352 (July 2007), 197 (Feb 1999), 166 (Feb 1993); Black-faced Cormorant 77 (Feb 2000), 79 (July 2002), 55 (July 2003); Little Pied Cormorant 656 (July 1999), 623 (Sept 1998), 602 (July 2001); Hoary-headed Grebe 1187 (July 2005), 934 (July 2004), 658 (July 2007); Great Crested Grebe 29 (Feb 2006), 23 (Feb 2002), 21 Feb 2007); Crested Tern 118 (Feb 2006), 88 (Sept 1998), 83 (July 2005); Caspian Tern 98 (Feb 2005), 84 (Feb 2004), 73 (Feb 1998); White-faced Heron 338 (July 20010), 262 (July 1997), 249 (July 2006); Masked Lapwing 148 (July 2006), 128 (Feb 2006), 91 (July 1997); Red-capped Plover 150 (July 1997), 72 (July 2001), 26 (July 2005); Red-necked Stint 355 (Feb 2005), 269 (Feb 2007), 284 (Feb 2006); Greenshank 95 (Feb 1997), 86 (Feb 2005), 65 (Feb 2001) and Double-banded Plover 152 (July 1997), 106 (Feb 2002), 61 (July 2006) (DPIWE waterfowl count database). Other species recorded at the wetlands include Flame Robin, Green Rosella, Tasmanian Scrubwren, Tasmanian Thornbill, Yellow Wattlebird and Yellow-throated Honeyeater, and a single sighting of a Swift Parrot (Atlas of Australian Birds database). Striated Fieldwrens are regularly recorded during waterfowl surveys (DPIWE database).

Non-bird biodiversity: Thirteen threatened plant species are found in the Moulting Lagoon area. Several fauna species have been recorded in Long Point Reserve, including Common Wombat, Bennett's Wallaby, the threatened Tasmanian Devil and several reptile species (Tasmanian Land Conservancy 2008). No mammals have been recorded within Moulting Lagoon Game Reserve, however they are seen in the vicinity (Parks and Wildlife Service 2003).

The sea grass beds of Moulting Lagoon need to be maintained by limiting excess sedimentation. Monitor the impact of cattle grazing and fence off areas as necessary. Changes in rainfall/estuarine flows may reduce freshwater flushing of the lagoon.

Control of boxthorn on the island is being conducted in Moulting Lagoon Game Reserve (Parks and Wildlife Service 2003). The Tasmanian Land Conservancy is implementing a woodlands restoration project at Long Point Reserve, including removal of grazing stock, re-vegetation of the woodlands and control of the invasive weed Gorse (Tasmanian Land Conservancy 2008).

Several - see separate section.

Crown land (Moulting Lagoon Game Reserve/Ramsar site) and private land (Long Point Reserve to the Tasmanian Land Conservancy; Apsley Marshes to Apslawn Pty Ltd.).

Much of the land around the lagoon is private with restricted access.

Stewart Blackhall and Denna Kingdom provided information.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Moulting Lagoon (Australia). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/moulting-lagoon-iba-australia on 24/11/2024.