Milingimbi Islands (22523)
Australia, Australasia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1c, D1a
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Milingimbi Islands
Central coordinates: Latitude: -12.0622, Longitude: 134.9012
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 10
Area of KBA (km2): 89.90569
Protected area coverage (%): 92.82
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: This IBA includes the small inshore islands of Darbada, Crocodile, Yabooma, Gananggarngur and Mooroongga, and the coastal fringe of Milingimbi Island. The shorebirds are likely to use other adjacent mudflats including the remainder of Castlereagh Bay but there is insufficient data to map feeding areas off these islands. The adjacent floodplains of the Glyde River have large numbers of waterbirds but the limited data do not qualify this area for IBA status. The IBA is mostly intertidal mudflats with fringing mangroves and samphire (chenopod) shrubland, with some sandy beaches and dunes on some exposed shores.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs.
Additional biodiversity: The islands also support large numbers of other waterbirds including counts of 1000 Radjah Shelduck, 800 Terek Sandpiper, 5650 Bar-tailed Godwit and 3000 Common Tern (Chatto 2003, 2006). A waterbird nesting colony on an island north of Milingimbi had about 2000 egrets in 1999 (Chatto (2000a) waterbird breeding colony ref W064). Chestnut Rails have been recorded on the islands but their local abundance is poorly known (Chatto 2006).
Other site values: This IBA is on Traditionally Owned land.
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Intertidal | 100 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: More research is needed to identify threats and management actions but the area is likely to be susceptible to the impacts of sea-level rise.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Climate change & severe weather | Storms & flooding | Only in the future |
Additional information
References: Chatto, R. (2000a) Waterbird breeding colonies in the Top End of the Northern Territory. Technical Report 69, Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory, Palmerston. Chatto, R. (2000b) A management strategy and protected areas system for coastal wildlife. (Documentation of selected sites in the Northern Territory of Australia which would qualify for nomination under the East Asian - Australasian Shorebird Site Network). Unpublished report, Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory, Palmerston. Chatto, R. (2003) The distribution and status of shorebirds around the coast and coastal wetlands of the Northern Territory. Technical Report 73, Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory, Palmerston. Chatto, R. (2006) The distribution and status of waterbirds around the coast and coastal wetlands of the Northern Territory. Technical Report 76, Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory, Palmerston. Harrison, L., McGuire, L., Ward, S. Fisher, A., Pavey, C., Fegan, M. and Lynch, B. (2009) An inventory of sites of international and national significance for biodiversity values in the Northern Territory. Department of Natural Resources, Environment, the Arts & Sport, Darwin, NT. Ward, S. and Harrison, L. (2009) Recognising sites of conservation significance for biodiversity values in the Northern Territory. Department of Natural Resources, Environment, the Arts & Sport, Darwin, NT.