Two Peoples Bay and Mount Manypeaks (24839)
Australia, Australasia

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1e, B1, B2, D1a

Year of last assessment: 2018

National site name: Two Peoples Bay and Mount Manypeaks

Central coordinates: Latitude: -34.9007, Longitude: 118.2413

System: marine, terrestrial

Elevation (m): 0 to 662

Area of KBA (km²): 266.81602

Protected area coverage (%): 41.08

KBA classification: Global

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: This IBA contains a 50 km length of coastal heathland east of Albany in south-west Australia. It is defined by the adjacent Albany Management Zone (AMZ) management units, which support Noisy Scrub-birds and Western Bristlebirds, comprising of the protected areas of Two Peoples Bay, Mount Manypeaks, Arpenteur and Bald Island Nature Reserves and Waychinicup National Park, and the adjacent unprotected land (bound to north and west by Crown and freehold land). It is located in a temperate coastal zone and supports dense low shrubland and heathlands. The landscape ranges from flat at the base of the larger mountains to steep on the upper slopes, including Bald Island. Numbers and locations of key birds are increasing through active management but are locally extirpated by occasional wild fires. The IBA also includes a series of coastal wetlands, comprising Moates Lake, Gardner Lake and Angove Lake, which together appear to support small numbers of Australasian Bittern. It also includes Coffin Island which supports large numbers of nesting seabirds.

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. Alliance for Zero Extinction (2018): site confirmed as an AZE site during the AZE project (2015-2018). Taxonomy, nomenclature and Red List category follow the IUCN 2016 Red List.

Additional biodiversity: The IBA is likely to support more than 1% of the world population of Great-winged Petrel nesting on Coffin Island (which is used by 'many thousands' of this species) and Bald Island, but precise numbers are not known (Department of Conservation and Land Management 1995; Johnstone & Storr 1998). Long-billed Black-Cockatoos are uncommon visitors in small numbers (A. Danks pers. comm. 2008; Atlas of Australian Birds database). Hooded Plovers are regularly observed at the eastern end of Nanarup Beach (max. 5) and at Norman's Beach, in south-west of Waychinicup NP (max. 5) (A. Bondin pers. comm.). Other species of interest that occur within the IBA include Peregrine Falcon and Square-tailed Kite (Department of Conservation and Land Management 1995) and Fairy Tern (Atlas of Australian Birds database). Non-bird biodiversity: Significant terrestrial fauna species identified at this site include Gilbert's Potoroo (CR), Quokka (VU), Western Ringtail Possum (VU), Honey Possum (LR), Western Brush Wallaby (LR), Mardo (LR), and Quenda (LR). There are also numerous endemic and threatened flora species within the boundaries of the site.

Other site values: Western Australian State government with the Department of Environment & Conservation (WA); City of Albany responsible for management. There are some areas of restricted public access because of the risk of damage and disease introduction to highly sensitive habitats. Birdwatchers wishing to see the key bird species are recommended to seek advice from the Department of Environment and Conservation office in Albany or Two People's Bay.

Habitats

Land use: nature conservation and research (70%) | tourism/recreation (10%) | water management (20%)

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Marine Coastal/Supratidal	20
Forest	5
Shrubland	75

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Maintain the existing diverse array of habitats that support the key bird species through appropriate fire management including prescribed burns. Monitor and control pest species, particularly Phytophthora.

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Natural system modifications	Fire & fire suppression	Trend Unknown/Unrecorded	Ongoing
Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases	Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases	Unspecified species	Ongoing

Additional information

References: Abbott, I. (1981) Seabird Islands No. 108. Bald Island, Western Australia. Corella 5: 64-65. Department of Conservation and Land Management (1995) Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve Management Plan 1995-2005. Perth: Department of Conservation and Land Management. Jaensch, R.P., Vervest, R.M. and Hewish, M.J. (1988) Waterbirds in Nature Reserves of South-Western Australia 1981-1985. Reserve Accounts. Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union Report 30. Canning Bridge, Western Australia: Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union. Johnstone, R.E. and Storr, G.M. (1998) Handbook of Western Australian Birds. Vol.1. Non-Passerines (Emu to Dollarbird). Perth: Western Australian Museum. Smith, G.T. and Kolichis, N. (1981) Seabird Islands No. 109. Coffin Island, Western Australia. Corella 5: 66-68.