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 |
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 |
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 |
Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
---|---|---|
Wetlands (inland) | major (>10) | Ephemeral; Freshwater lakes & pools; Permanent herbaceous swamps & bogs; Saline lakes |
Land use | % of IBA |
---|---|
nature conservation and research | major (>10) |
tourism/recreation | major (>10) |
water management | major (>10) |
hunting | minor (<10) |
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.