Cabbage Tree and Boondelbah Islands (23859)
Australia, Australasia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1b, B1, D1a
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Cabbage Tree and Boondelbah Islands
Central coordinates: Latitude: -32.6962, Longitude: 152.2250
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 123
Area of KBA (km2): 0.44504
Protected area coverage (%): 99.97
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The IBA, which is the only breeding site for the Vulnerable Gould's Petrel in Australia, consists of Cabbage Tree and Boondelbah Islands, located approximately 1 km offshore from Yacaaba Head at Port Stephens in New South Wales. The site has a temperate, maritime climate with rain falling both in summer and winter. Both islands are composed of volcanic toscanite dissected by basaltic dykes. Most of Cabbage Tree Island is covered with sub-tropical rainforest containing Cabbage Tree Palm Livistona australis, with non-forested areas of the island dominated by Spiny-headed Mat-rush Lomandra longifolia. Boondelbah Island, which has fewer trees than Cabbage Tree Island, is dominated by Spiny-headed Mat-rush (Priddel & Carlile 2004a,b).
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 also supports breeding colonies of Little Penguin (~140 pairs on Cabbage Tree Island and probably less than 100 pairs on Boondelbah Island), Wedge-tailed Shearwater (~1,050 pairs on Cabbage Tree Island and ~13,000 pairs on Boondelbah Island), Sooty Shearwater (~45 pairs on Cabbage Tree Island and ~2,500 pairs on Boondelbah Island), White-faced Storm-Petrel (~140 breeding pairs on Boondelbah Island), Great Cormorant (40 to 50 breeding pairs on Cabbage Tree Island) and Sooty Oystercatcher (one to two pairs on Cabbage Tree Island) (Priddel & Carlile 2004b). Other significant species of bird that breed on the islands include White-bellied Sea-Eagle and Peregrine Falcon.
Other site values: NSW State Government - Department of Environment and Conservation.
Habitats
Land use: nature conservation and research (100%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 50 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 10 | |
| Shrubland | 40 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Eradicate or continue to otherwise control Bird-lime Tree. Continue to cull Pied Currawong and Australian Raven, where necessary, and investigate need for and means of control for other less common avian predators. Maintain no-fly zone around Cabbage Tree and Boondelbah Islands. Prohibit access to Gould's Petrel habitat except where necessary for research or conservation purposes.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural system modifications | Fire & fire suppression | Increase in fire frequency/intensity | Only in the future |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Named species | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Department of Environment and Conservation [New South Wales] (2006)'Gould's Petrel (Pterodroma leucoptera leucoptera) Recovery Plan'. (Department of Environment and Conservation [New South Wales]: Hurstville.) Priddel, D., Carlile, N., Davey, C. and Fullagar, P.J. (1995) The status of Gould's Petrel, Pterodroma leucoptera leucoptera, on Cabbage Tree Island, New South Wales. Wildlife Research 22, 601-610. Priddel, D. and Carlile, N. (1997) Conservation of the Endangered Gould's Petrel Pterodroma leucoptera leucoptera. Pacific Conservation Biology 3, 322-329. Priddel, D. and Carlile, N. (2004a) Seabird Islands no. 22/1: Boondelbah Island, New South Wales. Corella 28, 104-106. Priddel, D. and Carlile, N. (2004b)Seabird Islands no. 35/1: Cabbage Tree Island, New South Wales. Corella 28, 107-109. Priddel, D. and Carlile, N. (2007) Population size and breeding success of Gould's Petrel Pterodroma leucoptera leucoptera on Cabbage Tree Island, New South Wales: 1996-97 to 2005-06. Corella 31: 79-82.
Contributors: Thanks to David Priddel for assistance with the nomination which was compiled by the BIGNET IBA Taskforce.