Bulloo Floodplain (23835)
Australia, Australasia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Bulloo Floodplain
Central coordinates: Latitude: -28.8568, Longitude: 142.8775
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 20 to 50
Area of KBA (km2): 9463.9243
Protected area coverage (%): 30.93
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: This IBA is defined as the whole floodplain as it is a single hydrological system and is used by the key birds as a single site at times of extensive flooding. The lower flood plain of the Bulloo River includes the Bulloo Lakes, Lake Bullawarra, Bulloo overflow, Caryapundy Swamp, Jerrira Swamp and Lake Altibouka (=Lake Salisbury) which, when fully flooded, form a single large wetland across the NSW and Queensland border. The amount of water in the system is extremely variable from complete coverage to almost completely dry. Lignum dominates the areas most frequently flooded with other depressions filled with Cane Grass. Sand islands are found throughout the area and can be many square kilometres in extent. Areas adjacent to the depressions are usually dominated by Old Man Saltbush, which is inhabited by Grey Grasswrens and Redthroats during flood periods. During drier periods these birds inhabit and breed in the damper lignum and canegrass in the deeper channels. Breeding by these species is probably more successful during flood years as emergent lignum can still be used and will generally offer a safer refuge from predators. The average annual rainfall of the Altibouka area is 214mm with the highest rainfall occurring January - March. Temperatures range from a mean daily minimum of 5 degrees C in July to a mean daily maximum of 36 degrees C in January (DEWHA 2008). Lake Altibouka is usually fed from a drainage to the south-west, but the lake flooded in 1976 from the Bulloo overflow. At times of little flow down the Bulloo River, the NSW section ('Bulloo overflow') is fed by rainfall to the west.
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 supports small numbers of the near threatened Bush Stone-curlew and the biome-restricted Inland Dotterel, Bourke's Parrot, Hall's Babbler, Gibberbird, Black Honeyeater and Pied Honeyeater, but possibly not in significant numbers (up to four records of each in 137 Atlas surveys in the Atlas of Australian Birds database). The IBA also supports the largest Redthroat population in New South Wales and there are regular reports of Flock Bronzewing. A count of 9860 Hardhead in 1998 is close to 1% of the world population. An aerial survey of the Queensland section in about 2001 recorded huge numbers of Purple Swamphen and Coots in the canegrass area, and small breeding colonies of Glossy Ibis, Yellow-billed Spoonbill. Australian Pelican and Freckled Duck. Blue-billed Ducks breed in the Bulloo Lakes core area (Wetlands International unpublished data). Non-bird biodiversity: The Bulloo River system has three endemic fish taxa, poorly known (Wetlands International unpublished data).
Other site values: Cattle grazing properties.
Habitats
Land use: rangeland/pastureland (100%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Shrubland | 5 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 90 | |
| Forest | 5 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Pigs destroy the Lignum; rabbits and goats destroy the Old Man Saltbush.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Agro-industry grazing, ranching or farming | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Dams & water management/use | Abstraction of surface water (unknown use) | Only in the future |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Named species | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources | Intentional use: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Climate change & severe weather | Droughts | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: DEWHA (2008) Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia. http://www.environment.gov.au/water/publications/environmental/wetlands/database/ accessed 2008. Hardy, J.W. (2002) A banding study of the Grey Grasswren Amytornis barbatus in the Caryapoundy swamp of south-eastern Queensland. Corella 26: 106-109. Kingsford, R. T., M. Bedward, and J. L. Porter (1994) Waterbirds and Wetlands in Northwestern New South Wales.National Parks and Wildlife Service, Hurstville NSW. Martindale, J. (1983) Counts of the Freckled Duck Stictonetta naevosa in eastern Australia during January-February 1983. RAOU report no. 13. Melbourne: RAOU. Martindale, J. (1986) The Freckled Duck – an RAOU conservation statement. RAOU report no. 22. Melbourne: RAOU. McAllan, I.A.W. and Cooper, R.M. (1995) Distribution of the Grey Grasswren, Aust Birds 28:65-70. McGreevy, D. G. (1987) Mammals, Birds, Reptiles, and Amphibians of the Bulloo Shire, Queensland. Queensland Journal of Agricultural and Animal Sciences, 44(1): 75-93. Office of the Queensland Parliamentary Counsel (2006) Water Resource (Warrego, Paroo, Bulloo and Nebine) Plan 2003 http://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/LEGISLTN/CURRENT/W/WaterReWarP03.pdf
Contributors: Thanks to Ian McAllan and Chris Brandis-NSW Bird Atlassers for drafting the nomination, to Ian McAllan and Dick Cooper for organising a NSW Bird Atlasser expedition to further assess the distribution of the Grey Grasswren in 1988, to the land-owners of the IBA and to Roger Jaensch (of Wetlands international) for comments.