Spencer Gulf (25122)
Australia, Australasia

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Global KBA criteria: D1a

Year of last assessment: 2009

National site name: Spencer Gulf

Central coordinates: Latitude: -33.3032, Longitude: 137.8945

System: marine, terrestrial

Elevation (m): 0 to 10

Area of KBA (km²): 466.32589

Protected area coverage (%): 38.25

KBA classification: Global

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: This IBA consists of the mudflats of the north-east of Spencer Gulf, from Ward Spit to Tickera. The IBA starts at the extensive mudflats of Ward Point, opposite Whyalla, extending south to also include the coastal saltmarshes and mangroves from north of Port Pirie to Wood Point, and ending where the mudflats narrow at the south of Tickera Bay. The IBA includes an estimated 190 km2 of intertidal mud and sand. Moderate numbers of shorebirds have been recorded further north to Port Augusta and further south to Port Victoria but the stretch identified as an IBA is generally believed to be the most important length of coast.

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: Aerial flights in 2000 counted 7206 shorebirds whereas 17,835 were counted in 1983; the authors suggest multiplying by 1.6 to account for under-counting. The 2000 surveys estimated a total of 12,000 shorebirds including 5056 Red Knot, 998 Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, 776 Banded Stilt and 69 Pied Oystercatcher. The 1993 counts included 1905 Banded Stilt at Tickera Bay (Wilson 2000). A single record of the critically endangered Orange-bellied Parrot was made in 1992 (Orange-bellied Parrot Winter Count and Re-sights Database). One high count of 3292 Australian Shoveler at Point Paterson Swamp in 1984 (Kingsford and Porter 2006). Fairy Terns were recorded in four of 309 (1%) Atlas of Australian Birds surveys from 1998 to 2008 (Atlas of Australian Birds database) but have not been recorded breeding. There have been a few records of the restricted-range Chirruping Wedgebill and Rock Parrot (Atlas of Australian Birds database).

Other site values: Mostly state government.

Habitats

Land use: not utilised

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Marine Intertidal	100

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: More research is needed on to determine numbers and trends of shorebirds, and any threats.

Additional information

References: Kingsford, R. and Porter, J. (2006) Eastern Australian aerial survey database. Accessed 2006. Wilson, J.R. (2000) South Australia wader surveys. January and February 2000. Melbourne: Australian Wader Studies Group unpublished report.