North-west Tasmanian Coast Important Bird Area
Encyclopedia
The North-west Tasmanian Coast Important Bird Area comprises a 2438 km2 stretch of coastal and subcoastal land covering the northern section of the coast of western Tasmania
, south-eastern Australia
.
(IBA) is defined as the 10 km-wide coastal fringe extending along the western coast of Tasmania from Low Rocky Point
in the south to Rocky Cape
in the north, constituting the mainland Tasmanian section of migratory habitat used by Orange-bellied Parrot
s. In the south it adjoins the complementary Melaleuca to Birchs Inlet IBA
which covers the south-west Tasmanian coast, with the two IBAs meeting at Macquarie Harbour
. In the north it abuts the Robbins Passage and Boullanger Bay IBA
.
The coast is characterised by rocky headlands, sandy beaches and sand dunes, and is backed by a coastal plain containing lagoon
s, swamp
s, heathland
, eucalypt
forest
s and woodland
s, and areas of buttongrass
. The climate is wet temperate maritime
with an average annual rainfall of about 1000 mm on the coast, increasing with altitude to about 2000 mm in the highlands.
as an IBA because it regularly supports critically endangered
Orange-bellied Parrots on their annual migration
between the breeding ground in South West Tasmania
and the wintering sites in coastal mainland south-eastern Australia. It also provides non-breeding habitat for the Swift Parrot
s and supports populations of Fairy Tern
s, Hooded Plover
s, Cape Barren Geese
and Pied Oystercatcher
s, as well as most of Tasmania’s endemic bird species. Other birds recorded from the site include Sooty Oystercatcher
s, Eastern Ground Parrots, Flame
and Pink Robin
s, Tawny-crowned Honeyeater
s and Southern Emu-wren
s.
West Coast, Tasmania
The West Coast of Tasmania is the part of the state that is strongly associated with wilderness, mining and tourism, rough country and isolation...
, south-eastern Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Description
The Important Bird AreaImportant Bird Area
An Important Bird Area is an area recognized as being globally important habitat for the conservation of bird populations. Currently there are about 10,000 IBAs worldwide. The program was developed and sites are identified by BirdLife International...
(IBA) is defined as the 10 km-wide coastal fringe extending along the western coast of Tasmania from Low Rocky Point
Low Rocky Point
The Low Rocky Point is a location on the coast of South West Tasmania that is used a location for weather forecasting in Tasmania. It is almost due west of Hobart, it is south of Point Hibbs and north of South West Cape...
in the south to Rocky Cape
Rocky Cape National Park
Rocky Cape is a national park in Tasmania , approximately 400 km northwest of Hobart. The nearest town is Burnie.-See also:* Protected areas of Tasmania...
in the north, constituting the mainland Tasmanian section of migratory habitat used by Orange-bellied Parrot
Orange-bellied Parrot
The Orange-bellied Parrot is a small broad-tailed parrot endemic to southern Australia, and one of only two species of parrot which migrate. The adult male is distinguished by its bright grass-green upperparts, yellow underparts and orange belly patch. The adult female and juvenile are duller...
s. In the south it adjoins the complementary Melaleuca to Birchs Inlet IBA
Melaleuca to Birchs Inlet Important Bird Area
The Melaleuca to Birchs Inlet Important Bird Area comprises a 2315 km2 section of coast and sub-coastal land in South West Tasmania. It stretches southward from the southern end of Birchs Inlet , encompasses Melaleuca and Port Davey, and extends to Louisa Bay on the coast facing the...
which covers the south-west Tasmanian coast, with the two IBAs meeting at Macquarie Harbour
Macquarie Harbour
Macquarie Harbour is a large, shallow, but navigable by shallow draft vessels inlet on the West Coast of Tasmania, Australia.-History:James Kelly wrote in his narrative "First Discovery of Port Davey and Macquarie Harbour" how he sailed from Hobart in a small open five-oared whaleboat to discover...
. In the north it abuts the Robbins Passage and Boullanger Bay IBA
Robbins Passage and Boullanger Bay Important Bird Area
The Robbins Passage and Boullanger Bay Important Bird Area is a 238 km2 tract of land at the western end of the north coast of Tasmania, south-eastern Australia. It comprises extensive areas of intertidal mudflats and saltmarsh with adjacent farmland...
.
The coast is characterised by rocky headlands, sandy beaches and sand dunes, and is backed by a coastal plain containing lagoon
Lagoon
A lagoon is a body of shallow sea water or brackish water separated from the sea by some form of barrier. The EU's habitat directive defines lagoons as "expanses of shallow coastal salt water, of varying salinity or water volume, wholly or partially separated from the sea by sand banks or shingle,...
s, swamp
Swamp
A swamp is a wetland with some flooding of large areas of land by shallow bodies of water. A swamp generally has a large number of hammocks, or dry-land protrusions, covered by aquatic vegetation, or vegetation that tolerates periodical inundation. The two main types of swamp are "true" or swamp...
s, heathland
Heath
-Habitats:* Heath or heathland, low-growing woody vegetation, mostly consisting of heathers and related species* Heaths in the British National Vegetation Classification system...
, eucalypt
Eucalypt
Eucalypts are woody plants belonging to three closely related genera:Eucalyptus, Corymbia and Angophora.In 1995 new evidence, largely genetic, indicated that some prominent Eucalyptus species were actually more closely related to Angophora than to the other eucalypts; they were split off into the...
forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
s and woodland
Woodland
Ecologically, a woodland is a low-density forest forming open habitats with plenty of sunlight and limited shade. Woodlands may support an understory of shrubs and herbaceous plants including grasses. Woodland may form a transition to shrubland under drier conditions or during early stages of...
s, and areas of buttongrass
Gymnoschoenus sphaerocephalus
Gymnoschoenus sphaerocephalus, commonly known as button grass, is a species of tussock-forming grass from southeastern Australia. It forms part of a unique habitat in Tasmania....
. The climate is wet temperate maritime
Oceanic climate
An oceanic climate, also called marine west coast climate, maritime climate, Cascadian climate and British climate for Köppen climate classification Cfb and subtropical highland for Köppen Cfb or Cwb, is a type of climate typically found along the west coasts at the middle latitudes of some of the...
with an average annual rainfall of about 1000 mm on the coast, increasing with altitude to about 2000 mm in the highlands.
Birds
The site has been identified by BirdLife InternationalBirdLife International
BirdLife International is a global Partnership of conservation organisations that strives to conserve birds, their habitats and global biodiversity, working with people towards sustainability in the use of natural resources...
as an IBA because it regularly supports critically endangered
Critically endangered
Version 2010.3 of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species identified 3744 Critically Endangered species, subspecies and varieties, stocks and subpopulations.Critically Endangered by kingdom:*1993 Animalia*2 Fungi*1745 Plantae*4 Protista-References:...
Orange-bellied Parrots on their annual migration
Bird migration
Bird migration is the regular seasonal journey undertaken by many species of birds. Bird movements include those made in response to changes in food availability, habitat or weather. Sometimes, journeys are not termed "true migration" because they are irregular or in only one direction...
between the breeding ground in South West Tasmania
South West Tasmania
South West Tasmania is a region in Tasmania that has evolved over the fifty years between its consideration as a potential resource for development to its consideration as World Heritage wilderness...
and the wintering sites in coastal mainland south-eastern Australia. It also provides non-breeding habitat for the Swift Parrot
Swift Parrot
The Swift Parrot breeds in Tasmania and migrates north to south eastern Australia from Griffith-Warialda in New South Wales and west to Adelaide in the winter. It is related to the rosellas, with the feeding habits of a lorikeet...
s and supports populations of Fairy Tern
Fairy Tern
The Fairy Tern is a small tern which occurs in the southwestern Pacific.There are three subspecies:* Australian Fairy Tern, Sterna nereis nereis - breeds in Australia...
s, Hooded Plover
Hooded Plover
The Hooded Dotterel or Hooded Plover is a species of bird in the Charadriidae family. It is endemic to southern Australia and Tasmania. There are two recognized subspecies, both of which are classifed as Endangered....
s, Cape Barren Geese
Cape Barren Goose
The Cape Barren Goose is a large goose resident in southern Australia. The species is named for Cape Barren Island, where specimens were first sighted by European explorers.-Taxonomy:...
and Pied Oystercatcher
Pied Oystercatcher
The Pied Oystercatcher, Haematopus longirostris, is a species of oystercatcher. It is a wading bird native to Australia and commonly found on its coastline. The similar South Island Pied Oystercatcher The Pied Oystercatcher, Haematopus longirostris, is a species of oystercatcher. It is a wading...
s, as well as most of Tasmania’s endemic bird species. Other birds recorded from the site include Sooty Oystercatcher
Sooty Oystercatcher
The Sooty Oystercatcher, Haematopus fuliginosus, is a species of oystercatcher. It is a wading bird native to Australia and commonly found on its coastline. It prefers rocky coastlines, but will occasionally live in estuaries....
s, Eastern Ground Parrots, Flame
Flame Robin
The Flame Robin is a small passerine bird native to Australia. It is a moderately common resident of the coolest parts of south-eastern Australia, including Tasmania. Like the other two red-breasted Petroica robins—the Scarlet Robin and the Red-capped Robin—it is often simply but...
and Pink Robin
Pink Robin
The Pink Robin is a small passerine bird native to southeastern Australia. Its natural habitats are temperate forests and subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. Like many brightly coloured robins of the Petroicidae family, it is sexually dimorphic...
s, Tawny-crowned Honeyeater
Tawny-crowned Honeyeater
The Tawny-crowned Honeyeater is a passerine bird native to eastern Australia.The Tawny-crowned Honeyeater was originally described by ornithologist John Latham in 1802 as Certhia melanops...
s and Southern Emu-wren
Southern Emu-wren
The Southern Emu-wren is a species of bird in the Maluridae family. It is endemic to Australia. Its natural habitats are temperate forests and Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation.-Taxonomy:...
s.