Sir Joseph Banks Islands (23941)
Australia, Australasia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: B1, D1a
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Sir Joseph Banks Islands
Central coordinates: Latitude: -34.5940, Longitude: 136.2992
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 50
Area of KBA (km2): 12.84379
Protected area coverage (%): 67.98
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The Sir Joseph Banks Islands IBA consists of all 20 islands in the Sir Joseph Banks Group at the neck of the Spencer Gulf in South Australia. It includes the 18 islands that make up Sir Joseph Banks Group Conservation Park, which together cover a total land area of approximately 1242 ha and a total area of 47,528 ha, and also Dangerous Reef to the south. The islands are low-lying, reaching a maximum height of 50 m on Spilsby Island, and are composed mainly of limestone on a granite base topped with calcrete or sandy soil. Many of the islands in the group are covered by low shrubland dominated by Nitre Bush and/or African Boxthorn. Some islands, especially those recovering from disturbance, support tall shrubland dominated by Coastal Boobialla or Coastal Daisy-bush. Most islands also have some areas of sandy loam with shrubland dominated by Marsh Saltbush, and some of the larger islands retain patches of woodland and open scrub. Introduced grasses and Burr Medick are prevalent on islands formerly used for grazing. Spilsby Island, which is excluded from the conservation park but included in the IBA, continues to be grazed by some sheep, and also has a small number of holiday houses. The Cape Barren Goose was recorded breeding on 14 islands during a survey in 1996, including a total of 328 adults on Reevesby Island. Introduced cats, House Mice, chinchilla rabbits and goannas are present on many of the islands in the IBA.
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 Eastern Reef Egret has been recorded in the group and is listed as a threatened species in South Australia under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972. The Little Penguin bred and was present in good to large numbers on several islands in the IBA in 1979-80, with at least several hundred pairs on Reevesby Island in 1979-80 and approximately 50 pairs on Lipson Island in 1990-91 (Copley 1996). The Silver Gull was abundant on Blythe, Duffield and Sibsey Islands and common on Stickney Island in 1979-80, with a large breeding colony on Marum Island in 1979-80 and about 60 adults plus chicks on Dangerous Reef in 1982 (Copley 1996). The Crested Tern breeds in colonies on Kirkby (380 nestlings banded 1966-67), Lipson (790 nestlings banded 1986-87) and Winceby (a 'large' breeding colony 1979-80) Islands (Copley 1996). Non-bird biodiversity: The Australian Sea-lion breeds on islands in the Sir Joseph Banks Group and the Greater Stick-nest Rat was reintroduced to Reevesby Island in 1990/91. The Australian Sea-lion and Greater Stick-nest Rat are listed as nationally threatened species under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. The Tiger Snake is common on several of the islands within the IBA.
Other site values: Eighteen islands are owned by the state and managed by the Department for Environment and Heritage; two islands are private land.
Habitats
Land use: nature conservation and research | rangeland/pastureland | tourism/recreation
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Shrubland | 50 | |
| Introduced Vegetation | 50 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Access to the islands is difficult to regulate. Consequently, human intrusions may cause difficulties for some species during their breeding seasons.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Biological Database of South Australia (2007) Date of retrieval October 2007. Department for Environment and Heritage. Copley, P.B. (1996) The status of seabirds in South Australia. Pp. 139-180 in G.J.B. Ross, K. Weaver and J.C. Greig, eds. The Status of Australia's Seabirds: Proceedings of the National Seabird Workshop, Canberra, 1-2 November 1993. Canberra: Biodiversity Group, Environment Australia. Jones, F.W., Condon, H., Mack, G., Rutter, J.F. and Tubb, J.A. (1938) The Sir Joseph Banks Islands. Reports of the Expedition of the McCoy Society for Field Investigation and Research. 13. Aves. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria 50: 399-413. Marchant, S. and Higgins, P.J. (1990) Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic birds. Volume 1: Ratites to Ducks. Melbourne: Oxford University Press. Robinson, T., Canty, P., Mooney, T. and Ruddock, P. (1996) South Australia's Offshore Islands. Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service. van Tets, G.F. and Marlow, J. (1977) Seabird Islands No. 53. Dangerous Reef, South Australia. Corella 1: 70-71.