Montebello Islands (23922)
Australia, Australasia

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Global KBA criteria: A1b, D1a

Year of last assessment: 2009

National site name: Montebello Islands

Central coordinates: Latitude: -20.4335, Longitude: 115.5367

System: marine, terrestrial

Elevation (m): 0 to 20

Area of KBA (km²): 35.49168

Protected area coverage (%): 99.99

KBA classification: Global

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: The IBA consists of all approximately 180 islands, islets and rocks of the Montebello Islands archipelago, which lies approximately 125 km west-north-west of Dampier off the coast of the Pilbara region of Western Australia. All land bodies in the archipelago are included in the IBA because Sooty Oystercatcher nest throughout the archipelago. The Montebello Islands archipelago experiences a hot and arid climate with an average of about 320 mm of rainfall per year. The islands of the archipelago are composed of limestone and sand. The limestone areas are dominated by Triodia hummock grassland with scattered low shrubs, while the sandy areas support grasses, sedges and low (mainly Acacia) shrubs. Small patches of mangrove grow in sheltered bays of the archipelago with larger areas of mangrove in Stephenson Channel at Hermite Island. Three nuclear weapons were tested at the archipelago in 1952 and 1956, causing extensive damage to islands. The largest islands are Hermit Island (1022 ha) and Trimouille Island (522 ha).

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: Crested Terns breed irregularly and have once exceeded the 1% threshold: 8500-9500 pairs in 1994. Other marine species known to breed in the Montebello Islands are Osprey, White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Pied Oystercatcher, Caspian Tern and Bridled Tern. The islands also support 12-15 breeding pairs of Beach Stone-curlew (Burbidge et al. 2000). The Atlas of Australian Birds records a single count of 30 Australian Yellow White-eye at Trimouille Island in 2000. Non-bird biodiversity: Populations of Rufous Hare-wallaby and Djoongari have been translocated to the Montebello Islands as part of recovery efforts for these species.

Other site values: Western Australian State Government with management the responsibility of the Department of Environment & Climate Change (DEC). Permission for visits should be obtained from DEC.

Habitats

Summary of habitats in KBA: A large pearl farm utilizes most of the sheltered bays in the archipelago.

Land use: nature conservation and research (100%)

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Grassland	90
Marine Coastal/Supratidal	10

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Conduct regular monitoring of seabird numbers. Monitor for presence of exotic fauna, flora and pathogens.

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Agriculture & aquaculture	Marine & freshwater aquaculture	Industrial aquaculture	Ongoing
Human intrusions & disturbance	Recreational activities		Ongoing

Additional information

References: Algar, D., Burbidge, A.A. and Angus, G.J. (2002) Cat eradication on Hermite Island, Montebello Islands, Western Australia. In: 'Turning the Tide: The Eradication of Invasive Species'. (Eds C.R. Veitch and M.N. Clout.). (IUCN SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group: Auckland.) Burbidge, A.A. (2004). Montebello renewal: Western Shield review - February 2003. Conservation Science Western Australia 5(2), 194-201. Burbidge, A.A. and Fuller, P.J. (1998). Montebello Islands, Pilbara Region, Western Australia. Seabird Islands No. 241. Corella 22: 118-122. Burbidge, A.A., Blyth, J.D., Fuller, P.J., Kendrick, P.G., Stanley, F.J. and Smith, L.E. (2000). The terrestrial vertebrate fauna of the Montebello Islands, Western Australia. CALMScience 3(2), 95-107.