Sites - Important Bird Areas (IBAs)

Summary The mangroves along the east of Exmouth Gulf have supported more then 1% of the global population of Grey-tailed Tattler and Pied Oystercatcher and also support a population of the restricted-range Dusky Gerygone.

Ornithological information Other high counts of shorebirds include Bar-tailed Godwit (1253), Red-necked Stint (1133) and Greater Sand Plover (1036). Australian Yellow White-eye are very common and widespread (Biota Environmental Sciences 2005).

Site description The Exmouth Gulf Mangroves IBA is located on the eastern side of Exmouth Gulf in northern Western Australia. The IBA is defined by the EPA's Mangrove Mangement Unit (or Benthic Primary Producer Habitat unit), and extends for about 70 km from Giralia Bay to Tubridgi Point. The western boundary of the IBA approximates to the low tide level and the eastern boundary approximates to the inland extent of mangroves. Mudflats are typically 1 km wide but up to 4 km wide at Giralia Bay, and the mangroves are mostly 1 km wide. The shorebirds of this area are poorly known and further surveys may refine the IBA boundary; however it appears that mangroves are much richer along the eastern side of the gulf, which is sheltered and has some rainwater inflows. The mean rainfall at Onslow is 265 mm. Inland of the IBA are bare hypersaline flats, which support some shorebirds roosting at high tides but are otherwise of little value for the key bird species. A nomination for World Heritage listing for Cape Range and Exmouth Gulf is being advanced by the Western Australian government.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Protected areas

Protected area	Designation	Area (ha)	Relationship with IBA	Overlap with IBA (ha)
Burnside And Simpson Island	Nature Reserve	115	protected area contained by site	115
Tent Island	Nature Reserve	2,015	protected area contained by site	2,015

Habitats

Land ownership Crown Land, private (= Yanrey Station pastoral lease), state government (Giralia Station and the two nature reserves managed by Department of Environment and Conservation).

Land use

Other biodiversity The site is one of the major population centres for Dugong in WA.

Management considerations Further surveys are needed to investigate the real importance of Exmouth Gulf for shorebirds. Development proposals must not impact the rainwater inflow to the mangroves.

Protection status Burnside and Simpson Island Nature Reserve and Tent Island Nature Reserve.

Acknowledgements Mike Bamford kindly provided advice.

References Biota Environmental Sciences Pty Ltd (2005) Yannarie Salt Project Mangrove and Coastal Ecosystem Study, North Perth, Western Australia.

Biota Environmental Sciences Pty Ltd (2006) Yannarie Salt Project Mangrove and Coastal Ecosystem Study - Executive Summary, North Perth, Western Australia.

Marine Parks and Reserves Selection Working Group (1994) A Representative Marine Reserve System for Western Australia. Department of Conservation and Land Management, Perth.

DEWHA (2008) A Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia. Exmouth Gulf East - WA007. Accessed June 2008.

Contribute  Please click here to help BirdLife conserve the world's birds - your data for this IBA and others are vital for helping protect the environment.

Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Exmouth Gulf Mangroves. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 24/05/2013

To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife