Current view: Text account
Site description (2008 baseline):
Site location and context
This IBA is defined as the contiguous area of suitable habitat for Malleefowl in central southern New South Wales north of Mildura. It includes a very large area of native vegetation, bounded to the west by the Darling River and to the south by the Murray River, extending as far north-east as the area east of Garnpung Lake, and as far south-east as just north of Balranald. The boundaries are defined as the vegetation communities Deep Sand Mallee, East West Dune Mallee, Chenopod Mallee and Mallee Mosaic, excising areas that have been largely cleared or support other vegetation communities (notably Belah Woodland and Chenopod Shrubland). The climate is cool semi-arid, with temperatures ranging from a mean daily maximum in January of 33 Celsius to the daily minimum in July of 4.5 Celsius, and mean annual rainfall in nearby Mildura is 280 mm. The landscape is largely mallee on flat or undulating sand plains, which is mainly used for grazing, although there is some continuing pressure for clearance of chenopod mallee for agricultural purposes. The IBA includes Mallee Cliffs National Park, some of Mungo National Park and many small reserves originally established as offsets when clearing other land.
Other notable species recorded in the IBA include the near threatened Flame Robin, the biome-restricted Black Honeyeater and Pied Honeyeater (recorded in six of 761 (0.8%) Atlas of Australian Birds surveys including two of 216 (0.9%) 2-ha surveys from 1998 to 2008) and the following species which are listed as threatened in New South Wales: Major Mitchell's Cockatoo, Purple-crowned Lorikeet (few records), Regent Parrot (few records), Shy Heathwren, Pied Honeyeater (few records), Southern Scrub-robin (few records), Hooded Robin, Chestnut Quail-thrush and Gilbert’s Whistler.
Non-bird biodiversity: Mallee Cliffs National Park supports 108 species of bird, 17 species of mammal, 39 species of reptile, and 59 species of ants, as well as 171 species of native plant from 48 families. This includes the Western Pygmy Possum (Cercatetus concinnus) and the Mallee Worm Lizard (Aprasia inaurita), which is listed as vulnerable in NSW.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Enforce controls on clearance of native vegetation. Regulate grazing pressure. Continue to close water holes and tanks.
All of the Mallee Cliffs National Park and overlaps with Mungo National Park and the new Southern Mallee Protected Area.
Mostly leasehold but also NSW NPWS.
Peter Ewin (NSW NPWS) commented extensively on the nomination.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Southern NSW Mallee (Australia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/southern-nsw-mallee-iba-australia on 22/11/2024.
