• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Map
• Reference and further resources

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
Swift Parrot Lathamus discolor	CR	non-breeding (1996–2006)	70 birds	A1
Flame Robin Petroica phoenicea	LC	non-breeding (1998–2008)	uncommon	A1
Diamond Firetail Stagonopleura guttata	VU	resident (1998–2008)	uncommon	A1

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2009. The most recent assessment (2008) is shown below.

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Climate change and severe weather	happe­ning now	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	high
Biological resource use	happe­ning now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	medium

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Designation	Planning	Action	Result
Not assessed	Not assessed	Not assessed	not assessed

Year	Protected Area	Designation (management category)	% coverage of IBA
1982	Gobarup N.C.R.	Natural Features Reserve (Ia)	1
1982	Baileston B.R	Natural Features Reserve (IV)	<1
1982	Rushworth B.R.	Natural Features Reserve (IV)	<1
1982	Pink Cliffs G.R.	Natural Features Reserve (III)	<1
1998	Rushworth Forest	Reference Area (Ia)	1
2002	Heathcote-Graytown National Park	National Park (II)	25
2002	Murchison - Rushworth rail line N.C.R.	Natural Features Reserve (Ia)	<1
2002	Spring Creek N.C.R.	Natural Features Reserve (Ia)	1
2002	Rushworth - Colbinabbin rail line B.R.	Natural Features Reserve (IV)	<1
2006	Waranga H116 B.R.	Natural Features Reserve (IV)	1
2006	Redcastle B.R.	Natural Features Reserve (IV)	<1
2008	Whroo N.C.R.	Natural Features Reserve (Ia)	5
2008	Crosbie N.C.R.	Natural Features Reserve (Ia)	4
2008	Spring Plains N.C.R.	Natural Features Reserve (Ia)	3
2016	Heathcote	National Park (II)	-

Habitat	% of IBA	Habitat detail
Forest	major (>10)	Eucalypt woodlands

Land use	% of IBA
forestry	major (>10)
nature conservation and research	major (>10)

Protected areas and state forests are owned and managed by the Victorian state government; the IBA also contains small areas of private land.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Rushworth Box-Ironbark Region (Australia). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/rushworth-box-ironbark-region-iba-australia on 23/12/2024.