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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	resident (1987–1993)	150 individuals	A1, A4i
Pink-eared Duck Malacorhynchus membranaceus	LC	resident (1987–1993)	52,470 individuals	A4i
Freckled Duck Stictonetta naevosa	LC	resident (1987–1993)	12,600 individuals	A4i
Black Swan Cygnus atratus	LC	resident (1987–1993)	13,330 individuals	A4i
Hardhead Aythya australis	LC	resident (1987–1993)	19,700 individuals	A4i
Australasian Shoveler Spatula rhynchotis	LC	resident (1987–1989)	26,700 individuals	A4i
Grey Teal Anas gracilis	LC	resident (1987–1993)	47,600 individuals	A4i
Banded Stilt Cladorhynchus leucocephalus	LC	non-breeding (1987–1993)	4,700 individuals	A4i
Red-necked Avocet Recurvirostra novaehollandiae	LC	non-breeding (1987–1993)	14,540 individuals	A4i
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus	LC	resident (1987–1993)	7,000 individuals	A4i
Red-capped Plover Charadrius ruficapillus	LC	resident (-)	2,380 individuals	A4i
Inland Dotterel Peltohyas australis	LC	resident (1980–2008)	uncommon	A3
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata	VU	non-breeding (2000–2003)	7,000 individuals	A4i
Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia	LC	unknown (1983–2005)	12,680 individuals	A4i
Bourke's Parrot Neopsephotus bourkii	LC	resident (1980–2008)	uncommon	A3
Black Honeyeater Sugomel nigrum	LC	resident (1980–2008)	frequent	A3
Pied Honeyeater Certhionyx variegatus	LC	resident (1980–2008)	frequent	A3
Grey-headed Honeyeater Ptilotula keartlandi	LC	resident (1980–2008)	uncommon	A3
Slaty-backed Thornbill Acanthiza robustirostris	LC	resident (1980–2008)	uncommon	A3
Hall's Babbler Pomatostomus halli	LC	resident (1980–2008)	frequent	A3
Chestnut-breasted Quail-thrush Cinclosoma castaneothorax	LC	resident (1980–2008)	uncommon	A3
Chirruping Wedgebill Psophodes cristatus	LC	resident (1980–2008)	frequent	A3

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.

State (condition of the key species' habitats)
Habitat	Quantity (% remaining)	Quality (% carrying capacity)	Result
Shrubland	very poor (<40%)	very poor (<40%)	very unfavourable

Pressure (threats to the key species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
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	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	slow deteri­oration (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	high
Climate change and severe weather	happen­ing now	few individ­uals/small area (<10%)	slow deteri­oration (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	low

Response (conservation actions taken for the key species and/or their habitats)
Designation	Planning	Action	Result
Most of site (50–90%) covered (including the most critical parts for important bird species)	A compre­hensive and appropriate manage­ment plan exists that aims to maintain or improve the popul­ations of qualify­ing bird species	Some limited conservation initiatives are in place	medium

Year	Protected Area	Designation (management category)	% coverage of IBA
-	Naree Station	Conservation Reserve (VI)	<1
1979	Nocoleche	Nature Reserve (Ia)	9
2013	Paroo-Darling	National Park (II)	11
2016	Currawinya	National Park (II)	19

Habitat	% of IBA	Habitat detail
Forest	major (>10)	Acacia forests & woodlands; Eucalypt woodlands
Shrubland	major (>10)	Acacia shrublands; Chenopod shrubs, samphire shrubs and forblands
Wetlands (inland)	major (>10)	Ephemeral; Freshwater lakes & pools; Riverine floodplains; Saline lakes
Grassland	minor (<10)	Tussock grasslands

Land use	% of IBA
rangeland/pastureland	major (>10)
nature conservation and research	major (>10)

Privately owned grazing properties with the national parks under the control of State bodies - Currawinya NP = QPWS; Nocoleche and Paroo-Darling NPs = NSW NPWS.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: Paroo Floodplain and Currawinya (Australia). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/paroo-floodplain-and-currawinya-iba-australia on 25/01/2025.