Current view: Text account
Site description (2008 baseline):
Site location and context
The IBA consists of Pink Lake, a coastal brine lake located approximately 6 km west of Esperance in south-western Western Australia. It is 1 km south-west of Lake Warden IBA. The Esperance region experience a temperate Mediterranean-type climate with warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters. Pink Lake is inundated by surface inflow and groundwater. The lake is near-permanent with infrequent periods of drying in autumn. The bed of the lake is formed of silt and clay above underlying siltstone, claystone and sandstone. The waters of the lake sustain high concentrations of the salt-tolerant algae Dunaliella salina, the presence of which renders the lake a pinkish colour, and the cyanobacterium Microcoleus vaginatus. The margins of the lake support samphire vegetation including at least one species of Halosarcia. A small commercial salt-field consisting of eight salt evaporation ponds is located in the north-eastern section of the lake and sometimes supports Hooded Plovers. A buffer of native vegetation more than 1 km wide occurs in south-west parts of the site, but narrower elsewhere; this vegetation has supported some restricted-range species.
At least 14 species of bird waterbird occur at Pink Lake (Atlas of Australian Birds Database).
Non-bird biodiversity: A single invertebrate species, a protozoan in the genus Cladostricha, has been recorded at the lake (Handley 1991).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Monitor the impact of vehicular access on the numbers of birds. Monitor any expansion of the salt works.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
Research has been conducted on the salt balance of the lake and on the potential of the lake as a site of commercial beta-carotene production.
None.
Crown Land managed by state government (Department of Environment and Conservation and Department for Planning and Infrastructure) and local government; and private (leasehold) land managed by WA Salt Supply.
Site access / Land-owner requests
No access to commercial salt works.
Stuart Halse kindly provided details of his 2006 surveys, and Ken Read commented on the nomination.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Pink Lake (Esperance) (Australia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/pink-lake-(esperance)-iba-australia on 23/12/2024.
