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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 ('triggering') IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species') at the site:

Species	Red List	Season (year/s of estimate)	Size	IBA criteria
Australian Bustard Ardeotis australis	LC	resident (1998–2008)	frequent	A1
Inland Dotterel Peltohyas australis	LC	resident (1998–2008)	frequent	A3
Grey Falcon Falco hypoleucos	VU	resident (1998–2008)	uncommon	A1, A3
Rufous-crowned Emu-wren Stipiturus ruficeps	LC	resident (1998–2008)	common	A3
Eyrean Grasswren Amytornis goyderi	LC	resident (1998–2008)	rare	A2, A3
Black Honeyeater Sugomel nigrum	LC	resident (1974–2007)	frequent	A3
Pied Honeyeater Certhionyx variegatus	LC	resident (1974–2007)	frequent	A3
Gibberbird Ashbyia lovensis	LC	resident (1974–2008)	frequent	A3
Grey-headed Honeyeater Ptilotula keartlandi	LC	resident (2006–2008)	common	A3
Banded Whiteface Aphelocephala nigricincta	LC	resident (1974–2008)	frequent	A3
Cinnamon Quail-thrush Cinclosoma cinnamomeum	LC	resident (1974–2008)	common	A3
Chiming Wedgebill Psophodes occidentalis	LC	resident (2006–2008)	common	A3
Chirruping Wedgebill Psophodes cristatus	LC	resident (2001–2008)	common	A3
Painted Finch Emblema pictum	LC	resident (2006–2008)	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 (2008) is shown below.

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Invasive and other problematic species and genes	happe­ning now	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	no or slight decline (<1% over 3 gener­ations)	low

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
-	Ethabuka Nature Refuge	Nature Reserve (-)	9
-	Mulligan River Nature Refuge	Nature Reserve (-)	9
-	Craven's Peak Nature Refuge	Nature Reserve (-)	10
1972	Simpson Desert	Conservation Park (Ia)	30
1994	Simpson Desert	National Park (II)	44
2005	Mulligan River	Nature Refuge (VI)	9
2005	Ethabuka	Nature Refuge (II)	9
2005	Ethabuka	Nature Refuge (VI)	9
2008	Cravens Peak	Nature Refuge (II)	10
2008	Cravens Peak	Nature Refuge (VI)	10
2011	Munga-Thirri	National Park (II)	43

Habitat	% of IBA	Habitat detail
Grassland	major (>10)	Hummock grasslands; Tussock grasslands
Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks)	major (>10)
Desert	minor (<10)	Semi-desert (includes gibber plains)
Shrubland	minor (<10)	Acacia shrublands; Chenopod shrubs, samphire shrubs and forblands
Wetlands (inland)	minor (<10)	Ephemeral

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

Mulligan River Nature Refuge is managed by the North Australian Pastoral Company; Cravens Peak Nature Refuge and Ethabuka Nature Refuge are managed by Bush Heritage Australia; Simpson Desert National Park is managed by the Queensland State Government; and Simpson Desert Conservation Park is managed by the South Australian Government.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Simpson Desert (Australia). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/simpson-desert-iba-australia on 22/12/2024.