Bundarra-Barraba (24337)
Australia, Australasia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Bundarra-Barraba
Central coordinates: Latitude: -30.4413, Longitude: 150.8700
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 500 to 1100
Area of KBA (km2): 3542.94694
Protected area coverage (%): 3.31
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: This IBA consists of an area of woodland remnants south of Bundarra and east of Barraba, inland of Armidale in northern New South Wales. The boundary is defined by recent records of Regent Honeyeater but, in the absence of clear ecological boundaries, it follows roads for clarity and convenience: from Bundarra west to The Basin, then south-east to 5km south of Mount Yarrowyck Nature Reserve, then cross-country due west to Kingstown, south-west to Manilla and Ranagari then north to Barraba and Cobbadah and east to Gulf Creek and Bundarra. This includes remnants of Grassy White Box Woodlands and mugga ironbark woodlands which are mostly preserved as Travelling Stock Routes (TSR). It also includes intervening sections of TSR with different dominant trees, as Regent Honeyeaters occasionally use these other species and are believed to use the TSRs as corridors, including the Borah (200 ha), Black Springs, Mille Creek, Garibaldi, Gwydir Park Road, Coonoor and Tintinhull Travelling Stock Reserves, Ironbark Nature Reserve and Linton Nature Reserve. These TSRs are managed by the Tamworth Rural Lands Protection Board of the Tamworth Regional Council. The northern part of the IBA is dominated by the Nandewar Range of hills, and the south-east by the Namoi River, part of which is in the Warrabah National Park. Warrabah's vegetation is mainly woodland, with white cypress pine, hill red gum and Caley's ironbark. Barraba experiences average maximum temperatures of 16-18°C in winter and 31-32°C in summer with annual rainfall of 860 mm.
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 IBA supports populations of a suite of declining woodland species, notably Brown Treecreeper, Hooded Robin, Speckled Warbler, Turquoise Parrot and Black-chinned Honeyeater. The near threatened Flame Robin and biome-restricted Black Honeyeater are rare visitors to the IBA (Atlas of Australian Birds database).
Other site values: Combination of Leasehold, freehold, nature reserves and Crown Land. Crown Land is managed by The Rural Lands Protection Board and nature reserves by NPWS.
Habitats
Land use: nature conservation and research | rangeland/pastureland
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 50 | |
| Savanna | 50 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Tamworth Council should continue to follow the recommendations for conservation of these woodlands. The Rural Lands Protection Board should continue to ensure that these woodlands are not over-grazed.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Agro-industry grazing, ranching or farming | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Logging & wood harvesting | Unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Only in the future |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Unspecified species | Ongoing |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Problematic native species/diseases | Named species | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Agro-industry farming | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Fire & fire suppression | Increase in fire frequency/intensity | Ongoing |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Named species | Ongoing |
| Transportation & service corridors | Roads & railroads | Ongoing | |
| Climate change & severe weather | Habitat shifting & alteration | Only in the future | |
| Climate change & severe weather | Droughts | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Austin, J.R. (2002) Conservation and identification of biodiversity on Travelling Stock Reserves of north west New South Wales. North West Rural Lands Protection Boards. National Heritage Trust project NW0163.99. Canberra: National Heritage Trust. Ley, A.J., Oliver, D.L., and Williams, B. (1996) Observations on colour-banded Regent Honeyeaters Xanthomyza phrygia. Corella 20: 88-92. Mitchell, G. (2004/5 and 2005/6) State of the Environment Report. Tamworth, NSW: Tamworth Regional Council. Williams, B. (2005) Bundarra-Barraba. Where the Regents Roam 15: 10-11.
Contributors: Thanks to Russ Watts as the compiler and the Tamworth Birdwatchers Incorporated for input. We also wish to acknowledge the assistance of Geoff Mitchell, Tamworth Regional Council and Damon Oliver, NPWS in Armidale.