North Victorian Wetlands


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
Blue-billed Duck Oxyura australis LC non-breeding (1994–2007) 300 individuals A1, A4i
Freckled Duck Stictonetta naevosa LC non-breeding (1994–2007) 250 individuals A4i
Straw-necked Ibis Threskiornis spinicollis LC resident (1994–2007) 10,000 individuals A4i
Australasian Bittern Botaurus poiciloptilus VU resident (1994–2007) 10 individuals A1
Banded Stilt Cladorhynchus leucocephalus LC non-breeding (1994–2007) 7,000 individuals A4i
Red-necked Avocet Recurvirostra novaehollandiae LC non-breeding (1994–2007) 4,000 individuals A4i
Black-fronted Dotterel Elseyornis melanops LC resident (1994–2007) 170 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 (2019) is shown below.

IBA conservation status
Year of assessment State Pressure Response
2019 unfavourable high high
Whole site assessed? State assessed by Accuracy of information
yes habitat -

State (condition of the key species' habitats)
Habitat Quantity (% remaining) Quality (% carrying capacity) Result
Wetlands (inland) moderate (70–90%) moderate (70–90%) unfavourable

Pressure (threats to the key species and/or their habitats)
Threat Timing Scope Severity Result
Climate change and severe weather happen­ing now whole popul­ation/area (>90%) slow deteri­oration (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) high
Natural system modifications happen­ing now most of popul­ation/area (50–90%) moderate deteri­oration (10–30% in 3 gener­ations) high
Invasive and other problematic species and genes happen­ing now 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
Whole area of site (>90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation A compre­hensive and appropriate manage­ment plan exists that aims to maintain or improve the popul­ations of qualify­ing bird species Substantive conservation measures are being implemented, but these are not comprehensive and are limited by resources and capacity high

IBA Protection

Year Protected Area Designation (management category) % coverage of IBA
1986 Hird Swamp W.R Natural Features Reserve (VI) 7
2013 Cullens Lake W.R. Natural Features Reserve (VI) 10
2013 Johnson Swamp W.R Natural Features Reserve (VI) 8
2013 Koorangie W.R. Natural Features Reserve (VI) 8
2013 Lake Murphy W.R. Natural Features Reserve (VI) 2

Habitats

Habitat % of IBA Habitat detail
Wetlands (inland) major (>10) Ephemeral; Freshwater lakes & pools; Permanent herbaceous swamps & bogs; Saline lakes

Land use

Land use % of IBA
nature conservation and research major (>10)
tourism/recreation major (>10)
water management major (>10)
hunting minor (<10)

Land ownership
Victorian State government and managed by: Parks Victoria, Goulburn-Murray Water, the Department of Sustainability and Environment, the Shire of Gannawarra and Lower Murray Urban and Rural Water Authority.


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: North Victorian Wetlands (Australia). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/north-victorian-wetlands-iba-australia on 13/01/2025.