Phillip Island (23937)
Australia, Australasia

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Global KBA criteria: D1a

Year of last assessment: 2009

National site name: Phillip Island

Central coordinates: Latitude: -38.5197, Longitude: 145.2127

System: marine, terrestrial

Elevation (m): 0 to 112

Area of KBA (km²): 20.08627

Protected area coverage (%): 48.22

KBA classification: Global

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: The IBA is comprised of the Phillip Island Nature Park, along the south coast of the island in central Victoria. It includes a number of sandy beaches, patches of coastal vegetation (herblands, grasslands and scrub) and the offshore rock formations of The Nobbies and Seal Rocks, each of which provide habitat for one or more of the Hooded Plover, Little Penguin, Short-tailed Shearwater and Pacific Gull. The IBA does not include (1) inter-tidal areas of north-eastern Phillip Island [these are instead included in the Westernport Bay IBA]; (2) scattered stands of woodland that are irregularly used, for short periods of time, by small numbers of migrating Swift Parrots; or (3) agricultural lands that cumulatively support significant but widely scattered numbers of Cape Barren Geese.

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: Occasional records of the critically endangered Orange-bellied Parrot: recorded in 1985 (seven birds on 30/5/85 and 17 birds on 1/6/85) and 2000 (one bird on 23/6/00 and three birds on 4/7/00 and 5/7/00) (Orange-bellied Parrot Winter Count and Re-sights Database). The IBA supports one of the largest breeding colonies of Crested Terns in Victoria (2800 pairs in 2005-2006; Minton et al. 2006). It also supports small numbers of Pied Oystercatchers (0-76 birds in 2001-2007) and Sooty Oystercatchers (8-36 birds in 2001-2007) (Phillip Island Nature Park Shorebird Surveys). Small numbers of the endangered Swift Parrot occur in most years on Phillip Island, although more often inland of the IBA. Small numbers of the near-threatened Flame Robin occur across the island, including within the IBA. A few pairs of Peregrine Falcon and Wedge-tailed Eagle and one pair of White-bellied Sea-Eagle nest. Non-bird biodiversity: The IBA supports the second largest colony in the world of the Australian Fur Seal (20,000-25,000 individuals, or 25-30% of the global population, breed or haul-out at Seal Rocks).

Other site values: State Government with management the responsibility of Parks Victoria. The rock platform at the Nobbies is closed to the general public. Access to Seal Rocks is restricted to permit holders and is only permitted for research purposes.

Habitats

Land use: nature conservation and research

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Grassland	50
Shrubland	50

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Minimise disturbance of nesting shorebirds and investigate causes of disturbance. Investigate impact of predation by foxes and cats and maintain control programs for each. Maintain fire management to protect the Little Penguin colony.

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Biological resource use	Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources	Unintentional effects: large scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest]	Ongoing
Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases	Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases	Named species	Ongoing
Natural system modifications	Fire & fire suppression	Trend Unknown/Unrecorded	Ongoing
Human intrusions & disturbance	Recreational activities		Ongoing

Additional information

References: Minton, C., Jessop, R., Collins, P., & Taylor, C. (2006). Tern breeding and banding report 2005/06. Victorian Wader Study Group Bulletin 29: 49-51.