Lockerbie Scrub (24046)
Australia, Australasia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Lockerbie Scrub
Central coordinates: Latitude: -10.8018, Longitude: 142.4752
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 95
Area of KBA (km2): 149.74392
Protected area coverage (%): 0.22
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Lockerbie Scrub is located on the most northerly part of mainland Australia, at the tip of Cape York Peninsula. The IBA boundary is defined as the closed forest vegetation communities at the tip of the peninsula which acts as a funnel for migratory terrestrial birds moving between Australia and New Guinea via the Torres Strait. The surrounding land is predominantly tropical savanna woodland which does not concentrate these migrant birds. There is a mosaic of vegetation types in the IBA although monsoonal rainforest predominates. The IBA could be extended or an additional IBA created to include heathland habitat for the White-streaked Honeyeater but this species' distribution is known too poorly to be mapped. The climate is monsoonal with pronounced wet and dry seasons.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that was identified using previously established criteria and thresholds for the identification of Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) and for which available data indicate that it does not meet global KBA criteria and thresholds set out in the Global Standard.
Additional biodiversity: Also present in the area are a number of Cape York endemics including Palm Cockatoo, Trumpet Manucode, Magnificent Riflebird, Fawn-breasted Bowerbird, Northern Srub-robin, Yellow-legged Flycatcher, Tropical Scrubwren, Frill-necked Monarch, Red-bellied Pitta and Yellow-billed Kingfisher. The endangered Southern Cassowary was last recorded in Lockerbie Scrub in 1986 and is now almost certainly extinct in the area. A single record of the near threatened Bush Stone-curlew, two records of the biome-restricted Silver-crowned Friarbird and three records of the biome-restricted Yellow Honeyeater were obtained during 74 Atlas of Australian Birds surveys from 1998 to 2008. Graceful Honeyeaters are common at Lockerbie Scrub (S. Garnett and A. Freeman pers. obs). Non-bird biodiversity: Other fauna of conservation concern that occurs here includes Northern Quoll and the Spectacled Flying Fox and Bare-backed Fruit-bat. Because of its locality there is also a high probability that other significant bat populations occur in Lockerbie Scrub.
Other site values: Lockerbie Scrub is predominately aboriginal (Deed of Grant in Trust) land with some pockets of freehold particularly around the communities of Bamaga and New Mapoon.
Habitats
Land use: hunting | urban/industrial/transport
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 5 | |
| Introduced Vegetation | 5 | |
| Forest | 80 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Investigate and manage the threat of ongoing degradation from the impacts of feral animals and weeds is currently unmanaged. Investigate the impact of increasing tourist numbers at the tip of Cape York.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Named species | Ongoing |
| Residential & commercial development | Tourism & recreation areas | Only in the future |
Additional information
References: Barrett, G., Silcocks, A., Cunningham, R. and Poulter, R. (2003) The new atlas of Australian birds. Royal Australasian Ornithologists' Union: Melbourne. Duncan, A., Barry Baker, G., and Montgomery, N. (eds.) (1999). 'The action plan for Australian bats'.(Environment Australia: Canberra.) Fox, I.D., Neldner, V.J., Wilson, G.W., Bannick, P.J., Wilson, B.A., Brocklehurst, P.S., Clark, M.J., Dickinson, K.J.M., Beard, J.S., Hopkins, A.J.M., Beeston, G.R., Harvey, J.M., Thompson, E.J., Ryan, T.S., Thompson, S.L., Butler, D.W., Cartan,H., Addicot, E.P., Bailey, L.P., Cumming, R.J., Johnson D.C., Schmeider, M., Stephens, K.M., and Bean, A.R. 2001. The vegetation of the Australian tropical savannas. Queensland Herbarium, Environmental protection Agency, Queensland. Garnett, S., and Crowley, G. (2000). 'The action plan for Australian birds'. (Environment Australia: Canberra.) Grant, J.D., and Leung, L. (1993). Wet season terrestrial fauna survey of the Lockerbie Scrub, Cape York Peninsula. April-May 1993. Unpublished Report prepared for the Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage. Grant, J.D., and Leung, L. (1994). Storm season terrestrial fauna survey of the Lockerbie Scrub, Cape York Peninsula. February 1994. Unpublished Report prepared for the Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage. Strahan, R. (ed.) (1998). 'The mammals of Australia.' Reed New Holland: Sydney.
Contributors: The nomination was prepared by Alastair Freeman.