Current view: Text account
Site description (2008 baseline):
Site location and context
The IBA is comprised of grassy woodlands west of Warwick in the Nandewar biogeographic region of south-east Queensland. This IBA is defined as the area in which Regent Honeyeaters have recently been recorded, including Durikai State Forest and the upper catchment of McIntyre Brook (including Oakey Creek and Spring Creek) to a point about 3.5 km downstream of the confluence of McIntyre Brook and Spring Creek. Most of the area comprises partially cleared sheep-grazed grassy woodland, and Durikai and McIntyre State Forests. The two state forests contain significant tracts of selectively logged (in places) eucalypt forest and woodlands comprised mainly of spotted gum (Corymbia citriodora) associations and box-ironbark associations. The area is largely rocky; metamorphosed sedimentary rocks and interbedded volcanics with poor infertile soils, largely unsuitable for agriculture, located in the western watershed of the upper Murray-Darling system. Regent Honeyeaters are dispersive, have previously occurred in neighbouring areas, and the IBA could be extended to include additional areas if honeyeaters were found to occur regularly. The IBA could also be extended to include more of the Nandewar region, of significance as the northernmost significant population of Diamond Firetails.
The Traprock IBA holds populations of the following species listed under Queensland's Nature Conservation Act (1994) (NCA) or in The Action Plan for Australian Birds 2000 (AP) (Garnett and Crowley 2000): Glossy Black-Cockatoo (Vulnerable, NCA; Near Threatened, AP), Turquoise Parrot and Black-chinned Honeyeater (Rare, NCA; Near Threatened, AP), Powerful Owl (Vulnerable, NCA), Hooded Robin, Grey-crowned Babbler and Speckled Warbler (Near Threatened, AP). Occasional records from the IBA exist for the vulnerable (AP) Painted Honeyeater and Superb Parrots (max 16 in 2004; L. Welsh and D. Stewart pers. comm.) and the biome-restricted Black Honeyeater.
Non-bird biodiversity: The Traprock IBA hosts the following species listed under Queensland's Nature Conservation Act (1994): Border Thick-tailed Gecko Underwoodisaurus sphyrurus (Vulnerable) and Little Pied Bat Chalinolobus picatus (Rare). The following ecosystems, listed as Of Concern or Endangered in Queensland (EPA 2007), are represented in this IBA: 13.3.4 (Endangered): Eucalyptus conica, E. microcarpa, E. melliodora woodland on alluvial plains; 13.11.8 (Endangered): Eucalyptus melliodora and/or Eucalyptus microcarpa/ E. moluccana woodland on metamorphics; 13.3.5 (Of Concern): Eucalyptus camaldulensis fringing open forest; 13.11.3 (Of Concern): Eucalyptus crebra woodland on metamorphics; 13.11.5 (Of Concern): Eucalyptus sideroxylon, E. fibrosa subsp. nubila open forest on metamorphics.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Conservation awareness and action involving landholders is essential to ensure future land-use practices maintain and even enhance existing woodland habitats. Specific management actions would include tree planting and fencing-off watercourses, as has been done in Regent Honeyeater habitat in New South Wales.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
Traprock Wool Project is producing a reference book introducing the key fauna and flora species for land-owners. This project has held many workshops with land-owners and undertaken demonstrations of the impacts of grazing.
None.
The IBA is owned by a handful of large private land-owners (50,608ha), with an additional 13,376ha in State Forest (Durikai SF, McIntyre SF).
Site access / Land-owner requests
State Forests are readily accessible; however, all Queensland Government signs must be obeyed and gates must be left as found. Entry to private lands require the owners' permission.
Chris Armstrong and Michael Mathieson wrote the nomination. Lorraine Welsh and Harry Hines are thanked for their insights into the natural history values of the area.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Traprock (Australia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/traprock-iba-australia on 22/11/2024.
