Brook Islands (23965)
Australia, Australasia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Brook Islands
Central coordinates: Latitude: -18.1492, Longitude: 146.3000
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 62
Area of KBA (km2): 8.18495
Protected area coverage (%): 100.00
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The Brook Islands are a group of small granitic islands in the inshore Great Barrier Reef, 8 km off Hitchinbrook Island north of Townsville. The four named islands in the group are North (49 ha), Tween (2 ha), Middle (5 ha) and South Brook (14 ha) Islands. The islands are covered with rainforest above highwater mark, most probably derived from the droppings of birds feeding in rainforest on the mainland but breeding on the island. The coral sand beaches also sometimes support substantial numbers of breeding seabirds. The IBA could be extended to include other neighbouring islands that sometimes support large colonies of Lesser Crested Terns such as Taylor Cay (2000 Lesser Crested Tern in 1973 and 3000 in 1988).
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: Brook Islands also supports populations of Roseate Tern and Black-naped Tern breeding on shingle beaches on the island as well as at least one pair of Beach Stone-curlew. Bridled Tern breed among the rocks, Orange-footed Scrubfowl are resident and Noisy Pitta are frequent visitors. Non-bird biodiversity: The island is also notable for the rainforest, almost all of which is thought to be derived from seed brought back by pigeons from the mainland.
Other site values: Australian Government with management the responsibility of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. Permission to visit should be sought from the GBRMPA.
Habitats
Land use: nature conservation and research (100%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Intertidal | 5 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 5 | |
| Shrubland | 90 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Monitor numbers and breeding success of seabird colonies. Raise awareness of likely impacts of sea-level rise and sea warming.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pollution | Agricultural & forestry effluents | Type Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources | Unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Motivation Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing | |
| Climate change & severe weather | Storms & flooding | Ongoing | |
| Pollution | Garbage & solid waste | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: GBRMPA. (1997) Guidelines for Managing Visitation to Seabird Breeding Islands. Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority unpublished report. Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service (2007) GBR seabird database (accessed May 2007). Thorsborne, A.S., Thorsborne, M.G. and Winter, J.W. (1988) Population changes of the Torresian Imperial-Pigeon Ducula spilorrhoa over twenty-one years on North Brook Island, North Queensland. Emu 88: 1-8.
Contributors: Stephen Garnett wrote the IBA nomination. Paul O'Neill provided advice and access to the GBR seabird database.