Paroo Floodplain and Currawinya


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 ('triggering') IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger 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 birds A1, A4i
Pink-eared Duck Malacorhynchus membranaceus LC resident (1987–1993) 52,470 birds A4i
Freckled Duck Stictonetta naevosa LC resident (1987–1993) 12,600 birds A4i
Black Swan Cygnus atratus LC resident (1987–1993) 13,330 birds A4i
Hardhead Aythya australis LC resident (1987–1993) 19,700 birds A4i
Australasian Shoveler Spatula rhynchotis LC resident (1987–1989) 26,700 birds A4i
Grey Teal Anas gracilis LC resident (1987–1993) 47,600 birds A4i
Banded Stilt Cladorhynchus leucocephalus LC non-breeding (1987–1993) 4,700 birds A4i
Red-necked Avocet Recurvirostra novaehollandiae LC non-breeding (1987–1993) 14,540 birds A4i
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus LC resident (1987–1993) 7,000 birds A4i
Red-capped Plover Charadrius ruficapillus LC resident (-) 2,380 birds A4i
Inland Dotterel Peltohyas australis LC resident (1980–2008) uncommon A3
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata VU non-breeding (2000–2003) 7,000 birds A4i
Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia LC unknown (1983–2005) 12,680 birds 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

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 assessment
Year of assessment State Pressure Response
2019 very poor very high medium
Whole site assessed? State assessed by Accuracy of information
yes habitat -

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

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat Timing Scope Severity Result
Natural system modifications happe­ning now most of popul­ation/area (50–90%) moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations) high
Invasive and other problematic species and genes happe­ning now most of popul­ation/area (50–90%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) high
Climate change and severe weather happe­ning now few indivi­duals/small area (<10%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) low

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Designation Planning Action Result
Most of area (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

IBA Protection

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

Habitats

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

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

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


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Paroo Floodplain and Currawinya (Australia). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/paroo-floodplain-and-currawinya-iba-australia on 23/12/2024.