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Site description (2008 baseline):

This IBA contains a 50 km length of coastal heathland east of Albany in south-west Australia. It is defined by the adjacent Albany Management Zone (AMZ) management units, which support Noisy Scrub-birds and Western Bristlebirds, comprising of the protected areas of Two Peoples Bay, Mount Manypeaks, Arpenteur and Bald Island Nature Reserves and Waychinicup National Park, and the adjacent unprotected land (bound to north and west by Crown and freehold land). It is located in a temperate coastal zone and supports dense low shrubland and heathlands. The landscape ranges from flat at the base of the larger mountains to steep on the upper slopes, including Bald Island. Numbers and locations of key birds are increasing through active management but are locally extirpated by occasional wild fires. The IBA also includes a series of coastal wetlands, comprising Moates Lake, Gardner Lake and Angove Lake, which together appear to support small numbers of Australasian Bittern. It also includes Coffin Island which supports large numbers of nesting seabirds.

The IBA is likely to support more than 1% of the world population of Great-winged Petrel nesting on Coffin Island (which is used by 'many thousands' of this species) and Bald Island, but precise numbers are not known (Department of Conservation and Land Management 1995; Johnstone & Storr 1998). Long-billed Black-Cockatoos are uncommon visitors in small numbers (A. Danks pers. comm. 2008; Atlas of Australian Birds database). Hooded Plovers are regularly observed at the eastern end of Nanarup Beach (max. 5) and at Norman's Beach, in south-west of Waychinicup NP (max. 5) (A. Bondin pers. comm.). Other species of interest that occur within the IBA include Peregrine Falcon and Square-tailed Kite (Department of Conservation and Land Management 1995) and Fairy Tern (Atlas of Australian Birds database).

Non-bird biodiversity: Significant terrestrial fauna species identified at this site include Gilbert's Potoroo (CR), Quokka (VU), Western Ringtail Possum (VU), Honey Possum (LR), Western Brush Wallaby (LR), Mardo (LR), and Quenda (LR). There are also numerous endemic and threatened flora species within the boundaries of the site.

Maintain the existing diverse array of habitats that support the key bird species through appropriate fire management including prescribed burns. Monitor and control pest species, particularly Phytophthora.

Conservation projects within the IBA are concentrated on the Gilbert's Potoroo, Noisy Scrub-bird, Western Bristlebird and Western Whip-bird (western heath subsp). Since its rediscovery in 1994, intensive effort has been invested in the the conservation of the Gilbert's Potoroo whose entire range has been restricted to the IBA. The Noisy Scrub-bird was rediscovered in the 1960s within the IBA and has since been translocated to other areas with some success. Annual population monitoring continues for the Noisy Scrub-bird and less frequently for Western Bristlebird and Western Whipbird (western heath subsp.) within the IBA.

See separate section.

Western Australian State government with the Department of Environment & Conservation (WA); City of Albany responsible for management.

There are some areas of restricted public access because of the risk of damage and disease introduction to highly sensitive habitats. Birdwatchers wishing to see the key bird species are recommended to seek advice from the Department of Environment and Conservation office in Albany or Two People's Bay.

Thanks to Cameron Tiller (DEC) for writing the nomination and also to Sarah Comer, Anne and Fred Bondin for their assistance.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Two Peoples Bay and Mount Manypeaks (Australia). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/two-peoples-bay-and-mount-manypeaks-iba-australia on 22/11/2024.