Murray-Sunset, Hattah and Annuello (26488)
Australia, Australasia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1b, A1c, A1d, B2
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Murray-Sunset, Hattah and Annuello
Central coordinates: Latitude: -34.7898, Longitude: 141.6702
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 100
Area of KBA (km2): 7048.96384
Protected area coverage (%): 88.58
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The Murray-Sunset, Hattah & Annuello IBA captures a large area of contiguous mallee in north-western Victoria. It encompasses seven protected areas and the contiguous uncleared native vegetation. This entire area is incorporated into a single IBA because it supports a suite of threatened mallee bird species, some of which occur in very small numbers scattered across vast distances. A large area of patchy and degraded habitat in the north-west of Murray-Sunset NP and extending north from the park is excluded because it supports none of the key bird species. The IBA captures the protected Hattah Lakes and wetland systems along the Murray River, but waterbird numbers at these sites are insufficient to justify nomination as an independent IBA. The IBA could be expanded to include a length of the Murray River which supports large numbers of breeding Regent Parrots.
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: Occasional records of Black, Pied and Purple-gaped Honeyeaters and at least one record of Scarlet-chested Parrot (Atlas of Australian Birds database). Up to 288 Hoary-headed Grebes, 101 Freckled Duck, 1960 Pacific Black Duck, 15,053 Grey Teal, 5797 Hardhead, 1280 Pink-eared Duck, 128 Black-fronted Dotterel and 1000 Australian Pelicans have been counted at the Hattah Lakes (DEWHA 2008; Hattah Lakes Ramsar Site Information Sheet) and a maximum 254 Black-fronted Dotterel in 1990 (AWSG database). The endangered Australasian Bittern may occur in small numbers when ephemeral wetlands are inundated. An estimated 1-2 pairs of Grey Falcon were present in 1998-2003 (R. Clarke in litt. 2006).
Other site values: Victorian State Government.
Habitats
Land use: nature conservation and research | tourism/recreation | water management
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Desert | 5 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 5 | |
| Grassland | 23 | |
| Shrubland | 23 | |
| Forest | 23 | |
| Savanna | 23 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Management activities to reduce the incidence of large-scale, high intensity wildfires. On-going research to identify optimal fire age class mosaics and fire management strategies for landscape-scale conservation of threatened mallee species.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural system modifications | Fire & fire suppression | Increase in fire frequency/intensity | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Baker-Gabb, D. (2004) Recovery Plan for the Mallee Emu-wren, Red-lored Whistler, Western Whipbird and other threatened mallee birds. Natural Heritage Trust, Canberra. Burbidge, A.H. (1985) The Regent Parrot. A report on the breeding distribution and habitat requirements along the Murray River in south-eastern Australia. Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service, Report Series No. 4. Clarke, R.H. and Clarke, M.F. (1998) Field management of the Black-eared Miner. Final report to Dept of Natural Resources and Environment, Vic. July 1998. Clarke, R.H., Boulton, R.L. and Clarke, M.F. (in press) Estimating population size of the black-eared miner, with an assessment of landscape-scale habitat requirements. Pacific Conservation Biology. Clarke, R.H. (2005) Ecological requirements of birds specialising in mallee habitats. Modelling the habitat suitability for threatened mallee birds La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia. Clark, R.H (2007) Surveys for Mallee Emu-wrens within the Murray Mallee Reserve System, Victoria, Spring 2006. Internim Report to the Department of Sustainability and Environment, Melbourne. DEWHA (2008) A Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia. http://www.environment.gov.au/water/publications/environmental/wetlands/database/ accessed August 2008. DSE (2003) Hattah-Kulkyne Lakes Ramsar Site: Strategic Management Plan. Melbourne: Department of Sustainability and Environment. Garnett S.T. and Crowley, G.M. (2000) The action plan for Australian birds 2000. Canberra: Environment Australia. Luck, G.W., Possingham, H.P. and Paton, D.C. (1999a) Bird responses at inherent and induced edges in the Murray Mallee, South Australia. 1. Differences in Abundance and Diversity. Emu 99: 157-69. Luck, G.W., Possingham, H.P. and Paton, D.C. (1999b) Bird responses at inherent and induced edges in the Murray Mallee, South Australia. 2. Nest predation as an edge effect. Emu 99:170-75. Silveira, C.E. (1990) Mallee Emu-wren. Pp. 107-109 In Threatened birds of Australia - an annotated list. Brouwer, J. & Garnett, S. (Eds). Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union Report number 68. Moonee Ponds: RAOU. Silveira, C.E. (1993) The recovery plan for Australia’s threatened mallee birds – addressing fire as a threatening process: research phase. Report to the Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service. Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union, Melbourne. Silveira, C.E. (1999) Mallee Emu-wren Stipiturus mallee. Flora and Fauna Guarantee Action Statement. Natural Resources and Environment, Melbourne. Webster, R. and Leslie, D. (1997) Assessment of Regent Parrot Polytelis anthopeplus breeding habitat in south-western New South Wales. Unpublished report to NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and State Forests of New South Wales. Webster, R. (2002) Surveys of Regent Parrot Polytelis anthopeplus monarchoides breeding colonies in Victoria between Piambie State Forest and Nangiloc. Unpublished Report to Mallee Catchment Management Authority. Webster, R. (2003) Further surveys of Regent Parrot Polytelis anthopeplus monarchoides breeding colonies in Victoria between Piambie State Forest and Nangiloc. Unpublished Report to Mallee Catchment Management Authority. Webster, R. (2004) Surveys of potential Regent Parrot Polytelis anthopeplus monarchoides nesting habitat in Victoria between Piambie State Forest and Lambert Island. Unpublished Report to Mallee Catchment Management Authority.
Contributors: Thanks to Tim Dolby for drafting the nomination.