Yinberrie Hills (24456)
Australia, Australasia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Yinberrie Hills
Central coordinates: Latitude: -14.0917, Longitude: 132.1308
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 150 to 210
Area of KBA (km2): 1023.26743
Protected area coverage (%): 8.12
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: This IBA is an area of hills 45 km north of Katherine in the southern Top End of the Northern Territory. The IBA is defined as the area known to support a breeding population of Gouldian Finches, bounded by Nitmiluk National Park and the Arnhem Plateau in the east. It is a series of rolling hills of skeletal sandy loams overlaid by angular cobbles. Mean annual precipitation is about 1000 mm, falling mostly from December to March. The hills are drained by a network of ephemeral creeks, which retain water through the dry season in scattered small pools. The rocky wooded hills are dominated by smooth-barked gums with an understorey of annual and perennial native grasses. The key features supporting the Gouldian Finches are the lack of grazing and few extensive hot fires, which enables native grasses to seed, persistent waterholes and springs for drinking, hollow-bearing trees for nesting, and perennial grasses on adjacent lowlands for feeding in the wet season. The site has been used by Traditional Owners and more recently for gold mine exploration.
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: Small numbers of the near threatened Australasian Bittern and Partridge Pigeon and the northern subspecies of the Crested Shrike-tit have been recorded (Woinarski and Tidemann 1991; NRETA 2007). The restricted-range (endemic) Yellow-rumped Mannikin is occasionally encountered within the IBA (Atlas of Australian Birds database).
Other site values: Predominantly Aboriginal freehold land (Wagiman Aboriginal Land Trust and Barnjarn Aboriginal Corporation). West of the Stuart Highway there are some parcels of privately owned freehold land and a small area of Nitmiluk National Park. Access off the roads requires permission from the Traditional Owners.
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | 100 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The frequency and timing of fires must be continually managed. Review current conservation programmes and develop formal conservation agreement with landholders. Review possible inclusion of significant areas in Nitmiluk National Park.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Agro-industry grazing, ranching or 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 |
Additional information
References: Harrison, L., McGuire, L., Ward, S. Fisher, A., Pavey, C., Fegan, M. and Lynch, B. (2009) An inventory of sites of international and national significance for biodiversity values in the Northern Territory. Department of Natural Resources, Environment, the Arts & Sport, Darwin, NT. NRETA (2007) Northern Territory Fauna Atlas & Flora Databases. Department of Natural Resources, Environment and the Arts, NT Government, Palmerston. O’Malley, C. (2006) National Recovery Plan for the Gouldian Finch (Erythrura gouldiae). Ward, S. and Harrison, L. (2009) Recognising sites of conservation significance for biodiversity values in the Northern Territory. Department of Natural Resources, Environment, the Arts & Sport, Darwin, NT. WWF-Australia, Sydney and Parks and Wildlife NT, Department of Natural Resources, Environment and the Arts, NT Government, Palmerston. Woinarski, J.C.Z. and Tidemann, S.C. (1991) The bird fauna of a deciduous woodland in the wet-dry tropics of northern Australia. Wildlife Research 18: 479-500. Woinarski, J.C.Z. and Tidemann, S.C. (1992) Survivorship and some population parameters for the enadangered Gouldian Finch Erythrura gouldiae and two other finch species at sites in tropical northern Australia. Emu 92: 33-38.
Contributors: Louise Harrison of NRETA provided draft accounts and advice on the site.