Current view: Text account
Site description (2008 baseline):
Site location and context
This IBA includes all the box-ironbark woodland remnants that are significant for Swift Parrots in the St Arnaud region of central Victoria (as defined by Kennedy and Tzaros 2005). This is situated between the Maryborough-Dunolly and the Rushworth Box-Ironbark Region IBAs. Where only one area within a forest patch is known to be significant the whole patch is taken, as this is the usual management unit and Swift Parrots are likely to use the remaining woodland in smaller numbers or less regularly. This IBA ranges from Stawell-Ararat in the west to St Arnaud in the east, including the following remnants (with land-ownership status): Jallukar (Nature Conservation Refuge; NCR), Illawarra (NCR and public land), Deep Lead (NCR), Glynwylln (State Forest; SF), Joel Joel (NCR), Moorl Morrl (NCR), Mt Bolangum, Big Tottingham (NCR and private), Little Tottingham (SF), Pyrenees (Landsborough NCR, Landsborough Hill NCR and SF) and St Arnaud Range (NP, Regional Park, Stoney Creek NCR, Stuart Mill NCR, Redbank NCR and SF). Other adjacent areas of woodland are dominated by trees less suitable for these bird species and are excluded from the IBA, although these areas are still important for other woodland birds and support small numbers of the key IBA species. Most of the IBA is within protected areas or state forests, with only small forest blocks on private land.
The vulnerable Painted Honeyeater is uncommon at Deep Lead (where two pairs were recorded in 2005) and at other woodland remnants around the IBA (Tzaros 2005; Atlas of Australian Birds database). Other declining woodland birds in the St Arnaud region include Brown Treecreeper, Speckled Warbler, Hooded Robin and Crested Bellbird, with occasional records of migrant Black Honeyeater and Pink Robin.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Investigate conservation partnerships with land-owners of box-ironbark remnants on private land, especially seeking to link remnants with larger patches of woodland and forest. Investigate habitat restoration and creation on more fertile land close to remnants. Advocate for protection of the 23% of priority box-ironbark sites that are still unprotected.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
77% of priority box-ironbark sites in central Victoria are now protected following an investigation by the Environment Conservation Council in 2001.
Numerous - see separate section.
Protected areas and state forests are owned and managed by the Victorian state government; the IBA also contains small areas of private land.
Site access / Land-owner requests
Some of the forest remnants are on private land without public access.
Gary Cheers, Ian Davidson, Simon Kennedy and Chris Tzaros provided data and comments.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: St Arnaud Box-Ironbark Region (Australia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/st-arnaud-box-ironbark-region-iba-australia on 23/12/2024.
