Current view: Text account
Site description (2008 baseline):
Site location and context
The IBA is identical to Werrikimbe National Park, which is located in the Great Dividing Range of New South Wales, 70 km inland of Port Macquarie. The national park is located within a contiguous series of protected areas, and all of the key bird species occur more widely with the exception of the Rufous Scrub-bird, which is restricted to Werrikimbe. The parks are located in a region which receives substantial rainfall (average 1655 mm per year at 155 m altitude, much higher at high altitudes); average summer temperatures are 27-28 Celsius and winter temperatures 6-18 Celsius at this altitude. The park is situated on the eastern escarpment of the Great Dividing Range and represents rugged wilderness, with two major rivers, the Forbes and the Hastings. The vegetation is dominated by sub-tropical and cool temperate rainforests, and tall eucalypt forests with significant areas of Antarctic Beech used by Rufous Scrub-birds. When under the former State Forest tenure, some areas of the park were selectively logged for cedar and tallowwood, with some areas clear felled. The National Park rainforests are included in the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area and some of the park is declared as wilderness area(s). The IBA could be extended to include the adjacent Mt Boss State Forest, which has previously supported small numbers of Rufous Scrub-birds.
Other birds have not been documented for this IBA.
Non-bird biodiversity: Werrikimbe NP is home to nearly 1000 plant species, including nearly 30 that are listed as rare or threatened. A total of 38 native mammal, 26 reptile, 15 amphibian and 150 bird species have been recorded within the park, of which 31 species are classified as threatened in NSW, including the endangered Hastings River Mouse and Giant Barred Frog.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Manage fire in a manner that sustains suitable habitat for key species. Eradicate or otherwise control introduced plants and animals. Undertake scrub-bird surveys before weed control. Investigate cause or causes of decline in Rufous Scrub-bird.
Identical to Werrikimbe National Park.
NSW State Government with management the responsibility of NSW NPWS.
Thanks to Peter Ekert (NSW DEC) for advice on Rufous Scrub-birds.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Werrikimbe (Australia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/werrikimbe-iba-australia on 23/11/2024.
