Western Port


IBA Justification

The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2009 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species') at the site:
Species Red List Season (year/s of estimate) Size IBA criteria
Pied Oystercatcher Haematopus longirostris LC resident (2001–2006) 233–391 birds A4i
Far Eastern Curlew Numenius madagascariensis EN non-breeding (2001–2006) 557–872 birds A4i
Red-necked Stint Calidris ruficollis NT non-breeding (2001–2006) 4,246–8,903 birds A4i
Pacific Gull Larus pacificus LC resident (1993–2006) 118–540 birds A4i
Fairy Tern Sternula nereis VU resident (1993–2006) 2–108 birds A1, A4i
Orange-bellied Parrot Neophema chrysogaster CR non-breeding (1995–2007) 5 birds A1

IBA Conservation

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2009. The most recent assessment (2008) is shown below.

IBA conservation assessment
Year of assessment State Pressure Response
2008 not assessed medium not assessed
Whole site assessed? State assessed by Accuracy of information
yes unset medium

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat Timing Scope Severity Result
Agricultural expansion and intensification happe­ning now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) medium
Invasive and other problematic species and genes happe­ning now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) medium
Residential and commercial development happe­ning now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) no or slight decline (<1% over 3 gener­ations) low
Pollution happe­ning now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) no or slight decline (<1% over 3 gener­ations) low

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Designation Planning Action Result
Not assessed Not assessed Not assessed not assessed

IBA Protection

Year Protected Area Designation (management category) % coverage of IBA
- Phillip Island Phillip Island Nature Park (III) <1
1981 French Island (east) Reference Area (Ia) <1
1981 French Island (north) Reference Area (Ia) <1
1997 Reef Island and Bass River Mouth N.C.R Natural Features Reserve (Ia) <1
2002 Mornington Peninsula & Western Port UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve (UA) 100
2002 French Island Marine National Park (II) 4
2002 North Western Port N.C.R. Natural Features Reserve (Ia) 2
2002 French Island National Park National Park (II) 2
2002 Yaringa Marine National Park (II) 2
2002 Churchill Island Marine National Park (II) 1
2002 Warrengine Creek SS.R. Natural Features Reserve (III) <1
2008 Warneet N.F.R. Natural Features Reserve (IV) <1
2013 Phillip Island Nature Park Other (III) 1

Habitats

Habitat % of IBA Habitat detail
Marine Intertidal major (>10)
Marine Neritic major (>10)

Land use

Land use % of IBA
nature conservation and research major (>10)
fisheries/aquaculture minor (<10)
military minor (<10)
urban/industrial/transport minor (<10)
tourism/recreation minor (<10)

Land ownership
Unreserved Crown Land, coastal, nature, marine & public purpose parks & reserves managed by Parks Victoria; waters and sea beds (unreserved Crown Land) & shoreline near Somers managed by DSE; declared naval waters managed by Dept of Defence; Port of Hastings managed by Victorian Channels Authority; Shoreline Stony Point to Jacks Beach managed by Committee of Management; Finders Phillip Island Nature Park managed by park authority; Elizabeth and Sandstone Islands (both very small) - freehold.


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Western Port (Australia). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/western-port-iba-australia on 23/12/2024.