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 Warby-Chiltern region of central Victoria (as defined by Kennedy and Tzaros 2005). This is east of the Rushworth Box-Ironbark Region IBA. 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 includes Reef Hills (SP), Dookie, Goorambat, Balmattum and Creighton Hills (private), Warby Ranges State Park, Boweya Flore & Fauna Reserve, Chiltern National Park, Rutherglen Conservation Reserve and Mt Lady Franklin reserve. Other adjacent areas of woodland, including the Lurg Hills, 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.
Bush Stone-curlew declined in Chiltern NP to two pairs by 1996 (Traill et al. 1996) and extirpated by 2008 when pairs probably restricted to remnants outside the IBA, including Department of Primary Industries research centre east of Rutherglen and Peechelba (E. Collins in litt. 2009). Other declining woodland birds include Brown Treecreeper, Speckled Warbler, Hooded Robin, Grey-crowned Babbler and Gilbert's Whistler; and occasional records of migrant Black Honeyeater (e.g. four records in 820 Atlas surveys from 1998 to 2008) and Pink Robin (e.g. two records in 820 Atlas surveys from 1998 to 2008). Many are still in decline: Grey-crowned Babbler, Gilbert's Whistler and Crested Bellbird became extirpated from Chiltern in the 1990s and Hooded Robin is much rarer now than in the past (Traill et al. 1996; E. Collins in litt. 2009).
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, Eileen Collins, Ian Davidson, Simon Kennedy and Chris Tzaros provided data and comments. The Friends of Chiltern have collected bird data and helped conserve the forest for many years.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Warby-Chiltern Box-Ironbark Region (Australia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/warby-chiltern-box-ironbark-region-iba-australia on 23/12/2024.
