Current view: Text account
Site description (2008 baseline):
Site location and context
This IBA consists of Sudbury Reef (or Sudbury Cay), in the Great Barrier Reef, about 10 km off the Queensland coast east of Cairns. Sudbury Reef is a small coral reef with no significant islands except for some un-named sand cays. There are numerous other similar reefs in this area, which may also support significant numbers of birds. Sudbury Reef is just in Great Barrier Reef Marine National Park but close to general use waters of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
4000 pairs of Crested Tern in 1988.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Monitor numbers and breeding success of tern colony. Raise awareness of likely impacts of sea-level rise and sea warming.
Part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
Australian Federal Government with management the responsibility of GBRMPA.
Paul O'Neill provided advice and access to the GBR seabird database.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Sudbury Reef (Australia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/sudbury-reef-iba-australia on 23/11/2024.
