Shoal Bay (Darwin) (23429)
Australia, Australasia

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1c, D1a

Year of last assessment: 2009

National site name: Shoal Bay (Darwin)

Central coordinates: Latitude: -12.3417, Longitude: 131.0070

System: marine, terrestrial

Elevation (m): 0 to 10

Area of KBA (km²): 92.17872

Protected area coverage (%): 0.25

KBA classification: Global

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: This IBA is a stretch of muddy and sandy coast just east of Darwin, from the shorebird roost at Lee Point to the end of the muddy bay at Tree Point. The northern extent of the boundary is poorly defined and could extend to the northern boundary of the Shoal Bay Conservation Area or to Gunn Point (the end of the bay); this requires more fieldwork. The IBA extends inland to include the mangroves but not the terrestrial vegetation.

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 IBA has supported up to 1313 near threatened Black-tailed Godwit (A. & S. Keates in litt. 2007). It also supports nationally important numbers of Greater Sand Plover (700-1500 in Nov 2006-Jan 2007) and high numbers of Terek Sandpiper (e.g. 337 at Tree Point on 5 Nov 2006) and a handful of Beach Stone-curlews (A. & S. Keates in litt. 2007). Other species recorded in the IBA or on adjacent wetlands and plains include Little Whimbrel, Little Tern, Chestnut Rail, Bush Stone-curlew, Varied Lorikeet, Yellow Chat, White-gaped Honeyeater, Australian Yellow White-eye, Australian Bustard and Red Goshawk (Chatto 2006; DEWHA 2008; Atlas of Australian Birds database).

Other site values: Department of Defence and unallocated Crown Land.

Habitats

Land use: military | tourism/recreation

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Marine Intertidal	100

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Any large-scale infrastructure development should be planned to avoid impacting the intertidal mudflats. Human disturbance needs to be controlled along the beach.

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Residential & commercial development	Commercial & industrial areas		Only in the future
Human intrusions & disturbance	Recreational activities		Ongoing

Additional information

References: DEWHA (2008) Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia. Shoal Bay - Micket Creek - NT032. http://www.environment.gov.au/water/publications/environmental/wetlands/database/ accessed 2008. 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. Keates, A. and S. unpublished counts. 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.