Current view: Text account
Site description (2008 baseline):
Site location and context
This IBA is an area of hills 45 km north of Katherine in the southern Top End of the Northern Territory. The IBA is defined as the area known to support a breeding population of Gouldian Finches, bounded by Nitmiluk National Park and the Arnhem Plateau in the east. It is a series of rolling hills of skeletal sandy loams overlaid by angular cobbles. Mean annual precipitation is about 1000 mm, falling mostly from December to March. The hills are drained by a network of ephemeral creeks, which retain water through the dry season in scattered small pools. The rocky wooded hills are dominated by smooth-barked gums with an understorey of annual and perennial native grasses. The key features supporting the Gouldian Finches are the lack of grazing and few extensive hot fires, which enables native grasses to seed, persistent waterholes and springs for drinking, hollow-bearing trees for nesting, and perennial grasses on adjacent lowlands for feeding in the wet season. The site has been used by Traditional Owners and more recently for gold mine exploration.
Small numbers of the near threatened Australasian Bittern and Partridge Pigeon and the northern subspecies of the Crested Shrike-tit have been recorded (Woinarski and Tidemann 1991; NRETA 2007). The restricted-range (endemic) Yellow-rumped Mannikin is occasionally encountered within the IBA (Atlas of Australian Birds database).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The frequency and timing of fires must be continually managed. Review current conservation programmes and develop formal conservation agreement with landholders. Review possible inclusion of significant areas in Nitmiluk National Park.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
The Yinberrie Hills are classified as a site of conservation significance by the Northern Territory Government (Harrison et al. 2009; Ward & Harrison 2009). The Jawoyn Aboriginal Corporation in collaboration with Parks and Wildlife Service NT, conduct an annual program of fire management in the hills and intermittent feral pig control in the lowland areas fringing the hills. PWSNT conduct annual surveys of the Gouldian Finch population at waterholes within the hills.
IBA includes a small area of Nitmiluk National Park.
Predominantly Aboriginal freehold land (Wagiman Aboriginal Land Trust and Barnjarn Aboriginal Corporation). West of the Stuart Highway there are some parcels of privately owned freehold land and a small area of Nitmiluk National Park.
Site access / Land-owner requests
Access off the roads requires permission from the Traditional Owners.
Louise Harrison of NRETA provided draft accounts and advice on the site.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Yinberrie Hills (Australia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/yinberrie-hills-iba-australia on 23/11/2024.
