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important bird places that matter the most areas conserving the norfolk island a conservation statement important bird areas ibas form a worldwide network of sites for the conservation of birds the effective conservation of these sites contributes substantially to the protection of the world s birds and other species northern islets at norfolk island norfolk and nepean islands are internationally recognised as an important bird area partly for supporting globally significant populations of seabirds photo by margaret christian the important bird area program is an initiative of birdlife international an international organisation working in partnership with national organisations such as birds australia to protect and monitor key populations of the world s birds norfolk island

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norfolk island iba the norfolk island iba consists of the whole of norfolk island 3455 ha and nepean island a small 10 ha island located in the western pacific ocean about 1700 km east of sydney the two islands have been designated as a single iba for four globally threatened endemic bird species norfolk island parakeet norfolk island gerygone slender-billed white-eye and white-chested white-eye and congregatory seabirds the two islands support more than one percent of the global populations of wedge-tailed shearwater and red-tailed tropicbird both congregatory seabird species norfolk island also provides critical habitat for a number of endemic sub-species of bushbirds these include endemic sub-species of pacific robin golden whistler grey fantail and sacred kingfisher a number of seabirds including white tern and black noddy breed on norfolk or nepean islands the rocky stacks to the north of norfolk island are only a few metres offshore but provide important rat and cat-free breeding grounds for seabirds including the grey ternlet rainforest is the most important habitat for norfolk island s endemic bushbirds today most of norfolk is covered by mixed farmland e.g pasture croplands orchards and residential/commercial areas the native rainforest and palm and vine forest that once dominated the island have been extensively cleared and are now largely confined to the 650 ha norfolk island national park introduced plants such as red guava african olive wild tobacco lantana and hawaiian holly have invaded and in many instances replaced the native vegetation of the island in addition to these introduced plant species the island also now supports some stands of introduced eucalypts araucaria and tree fern forest norfolk island much of the original habitat of this island important bird area has been cleared the remaining habitat is critically important for the island s globally important endemic bushbirds photo by margaret christian the coastline of norfolk island comprises a combination of sandy beaches rocky shores and coastal cliffs nepean island is a low 30 m island formed of aeolianitic calcarenite that supports coastal herbs and forbs e.g pigface and native spinach moo-oo native rush native flax some coastal fern and several small less than 2 m tall white oaks.

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phillip island norfolk island iba the phillip island norfolk island iba is a small 190 ha uninhabited island located approximately 6 km south of norfolk island in the western pacific ocean was designated as an extension of the norfolk island national park in the 1990s the surface of the island is mostly bare rock and earth but the island does support a rapidly re-generating if still patchy vegetation comprising more than 60 species of native and introduced plants pigs goats and rabbits were deliberately released on phillip island shortly after norfolk island was settled by the british in 1788 these species negatively impacted on the local fauna and flora and ecological integrity of the island and local seabird colonies were almost eliminated in the ensuing decades massive amounts of soil were lost through erosion since rabbits were eradicated from the island in the late 1980s the extent of vegetation on the island has been increasing aided by a restoration program undertaken by the australian government phillip island currently supports small populations of petrels now extinct on norfolk island and restricted to single other islands phillip island has been designated as an iba for supporting populations of two globally threatened petrels providence petrel and white-necked petrel it has also been designated for supporting more than one percent of the world s population of grey ternlet a species that appears to be declining in number over recent decades at least 13 species of seabirds utilise phillip island as breeding grounds including · · · · · · · the regionally significant kermadec petrel listed as vulnerable in new south wales black-winged petrel wedge-tailed shearwater little shearwater masked booby sooty tern and common noddy red-tailed tropic-bird nesting on norfolk island the tropic-birds are one of a number of seabirds utilising critically important breeding habitat on norfolk and phillip islands photo by julie kirkwood conservation significance of the norfolk island ibas both the norfolk island and phillip island norfolk island ibas have been designated for supporting globally significant populations of globally threatened birds or more than one percent of the world s populations of a number of congregatory seabirds these ibas have international national and regional conservation significance that warrants increased and on-going conservation action to manage threats and protect threatened species congregatory seabirds and critical habitats.

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recognised world-wide as practical tools for conservation are site-based i.e they are distinct areas amenable to conservation action identified using standardised agreed criteria non statutory the non-statutory status of ibas provides flexibility and broad public acceptance of the non-governmental process sites that together form part of a wider integrated approach to the conservation and sustainable use of the natural environment important bird areas ibas are places of international significance for the conservation of birds and other elements of biodiversity they are designated for sites that meet at least one of a number of internationally agreed criteria for vulnerable species in australia these criteria are · the site regularly supports species of global conservation concern such species are listed as vulnerable endangered or critically endangered under the iucn criteria and are listed in the iucn red list of threatened species · the site regularly supports representative assemblages of restricted-range endemic species · the site regularly supports at least one per cent of the world s population of at least one congregatory species waterbirds shorebirds seabirds or less frequently terrestrial birds once identified each iba requires regular monitoring or assessment to ensure that its conservation values are retained conservation action is critical ibas can be the focus of conservation initiatives of local communities or individuals or of land managers such as government agencies or larger non-government organisations ibas critical for the conservation of australia s birds have been designated for threatened restricted range and congregatory bird species phase one of this important national and international project designated ibas across all australian states and most off-shore territories engaging multiple stakeholders including government and non-government agencies and organisations community groups birding groups conservation groups and others australia now has 314 ibas encompassing almost 44 million hectares of land these are in all states and most territories including off-shore territories such as norfolk island and ashmore reef ibas in the australian government s offshore territories seven important bird areas ibas have been designated on the australian government s offshore territories these include ashmore reef christmas island the coringa-herald reefs heard mcdonald islands norfolk island phillip island norfolk island and north keeling island but do not include those territories such as lord howe island that are under the jurisdictions of australian states ibas in the australian government group of territories have been designated for threatened island endemics such as the norfolk island parakeet and norfolk island gerygone threatened seabird species such as rockhopper penguin macaroni penguin and black-browed albatross and congregatory seabirds such as red-tailed tropicbird and wedge-tailed shearwater contact us www.birdsaustralia.com.au 8 81111 8888 etc etc

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