Current view: Text account
Site description (2008 baseline):
Site location and context
This IBA (~ 9.4 ha) consists of a series of small cays in the Swain Reefs of the southern outer Great Barrier Reef off Rockhampton. The IBA is defined as the collection of small cays and reefs enclosed within a minimum polygon between the cays which are recorded as having significant numbers of nesting Roseate Terns, but also extended south to the limit of the Swain Reefs. The Swain Reefs is a complex group of approximately 370 patch reefs covering an area of about 2000 km2. There are nine cays that regularly support breeding and non-breeding seabirds, including: Gannet Cay 1.7 ha, Bylund Cay 0.6 ha, Thomas Cay 1 ha, Bacchi Cay 0.5 ha, Frigate Cay 2 ha, Price Cay 1.6 ha, Distant Cay 0.25 ha, Riptide Cay 0.25 ha and Bell Cay 1.5 ha. Gannet Cay, for instance, is a 1.7 ha cay with shifting sands and variable vegetation cover. Three islands no longer have vegetation, and the other cays are vegetated primarily with grass and herbs. The whole area is in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park; some cays are Preservation Zones, some are in the Marine National Park, others are in the general use zone or habitat protection zone.
Thirty-seven species have been recorded on the cays, including: Lesser Frigatebird, Silver Gull, Black-naped Tern, Sooty Tern, Bridled Tern, Crested Tern, Lesser Crested Tern, Little Tern, Black Noddy and Common Noddy. Masked Booby numbers ranged between 95-274 pairs on nine cays in 1990-1994, with up to 394 pairs recorded in the 1980s; Brown Booby: 144-610 pairs in 1990-1994 but up to 1424 pairs in the 1980s; maximum counts for other seabirds in 1990-1994 included 110 pairs of Lesser Frigatebirds, 51 pairs of Black-naped Terns, 50 pairs of Sooty Terns, 350 pairs of Bridled Terns, 2030 pairs of Crested Terns, 157 pairs of Lesser Crested Terns and 1400 pairs of Common Noddies (Heatwole et al. 1996). Estimated 1000-2000 Black-naped Terns, but few nesting, in 1986 (Walker 1986).
Non-bird biodiversity: Estuarine Crocodile, Dugong, Green Turtle, Flatback Turtle, Loggerhead Turtle and Hawksbill Turtle.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Monitor numbers and breeding success of seabird colonies. Raise awareness of likely impacts of sea-level rise and sea warming.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
The IBA is part of Swain Reefs National 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: Swain Reefs (Australia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/swain-reefs-iba-australia on 26/12/2024.
