Sites - Important Bird Areas (IBAs)

Summary This site supports a very small but regular breeding population of the endangered Regent Honeyeater. It also supports significant populations of the near threatened Diamond Firetail, at the northern edge of the species' distribution.

Ornithological information The Traprock IBA holds populations of the following species listed under Queensland's Nature Conservation Act (1994) (NCA) or in The Action Plan for Australian Birds 2000 (AP) (Garnett and Crowley 2000): Glossy Black-Cockatoo (Vulnerable, NCA; Near Threatened, AP), Turquoise Parrot and Black-chinned Honeyeater (Rare, NCA; Near Threatened, AP), Powerful Owl (Vulnerable, NCA), Hooded Robin, Grey-crowned Babbler and Speckled Warbler (Near Threatened, AP). Occasional records from the IBA exist for the vulnerable (AP) Painted Honeyeater and Superb Parrots (max 16 in 2004; L. Welsh and D. Stewart pers. comm.) and the biome-restricted Black Honeyeater.

Site description The IBA is comprised of grassy woodlands west of Warwick in the Nandewar biogeographic region of south-east Queensland. This IBA is defined as the area in which Regent Honeyeaters have recently been recorded, including Durikai State Forest and the upper catchment of McIntyre Brook (including Oakey Creek and Spring Creek) to a point about 3.5 km downstream of the confluence of McIntyre Brook and Spring Creek. Most of the area comprises partially cleared sheep-grazed grassy woodland, and Durikai and McIntyre State Forests. The two state forests contain significant tracts of selectively logged (in places) eucalypt forest and woodlands comprised mainly of spotted gum (Corymbia citriodora) associations and box-ironbark associations. The area is largely rocky; metamorphosed sedimentary rocks and interbedded volcanics with poor infertile soils, largely unsuitable for agriculture, located in the western watershed of the upper Murray-Darling system. Regent Honeyeaters are dispersive, have previously occurred in neighbouring areas, and the IBA could be extended to include additional areas if honeyeaters were found to occur regularly. The IBA could also be extended to include more of the Nandewar region, of significance as the northernmost significant population of Diamond Firetails.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Habitats

Land ownership The IBA is owned by a handful of large private land-owners (50,608ha), with an additional 13,376ha in State Forest (Durikai SF, McIntyre SF).

Land use

Other biodiversity The Traprock IBA hosts the following species listed under Queensland's Nature Conservation Act (1994): Border Thick-tailed Gecko Underwoodisaurus sphyrurus (Vulnerable) and Little Pied Bat Chalinolobus picatus (Rare). The following ecosystems, listed as Of Concern or Endangered in Queensland (EPA 2007), are represented in this IBA: 13.3.4 (Endangered): Eucalyptus conica, E. microcarpa, E. melliodora woodland on alluvial plains; 13.11.8 (Endangered): Eucalyptus melliodora and/or Eucalyptus microcarpa/ E. moluccana woodland on metamorphics; 13.3.5 (Of Concern): Eucalyptus camaldulensis fringing open forest; 13.11.3 (Of Concern): Eucalyptus crebra woodland on metamorphics; 13.11.5 (Of Concern): Eucalyptus sideroxylon, E. fibrosa subsp. nubila open forest on metamorphics.

Management considerations Conservation awareness and action involving landholders is essential to ensure future land-use practices maintain and even enhance existing woodland habitats. Specific management actions would include tree planting and fencing-off watercourses, as has been done in Regent Honeyeater habitat in New South Wales.

Protection status None.

Conservation response Traprock Wool Project is producing a reference book introducing the key fauna and flora species for land-owners. This project has held many workshops with land-owners and undertaken demonstrations of the impacts of grazing.

Access/Land-Owner requests State Forests are readily accessible; however, all Queensland Government signs must be obeyed and gates must be left as found. Entry to private lands require the owners' permission.

Acknowledgements Chris Armstrong and Michael Mathieson wrote the nomination. Lorraine Welsh and Harry Hines are thanked for their insights into the natural history values of the area.

References Armstrong, C. (2009) A brush with royalty. Rosella Ramblings 6: 1-2.

EPA (2007) Regional Ecosystem Description Database (REDD). Version 5.2 Updated November 2007. Database maintained by Queensland Herbarium, Environmental Protection Agency, Brisbane.

EPA (2009) WildNet database, EPA Environmantal Sciences, Brisbane, Qld.

Garnett, S.T. and Crowley, G.M. (2000) The Action Plan for Australian Birds 2000. Canberra: Environment Australia.

Hines, H.B. (2008) Some observations on the vertebrate fauna of Durikai State Forest, Southeast Queensland, 2000-2008. Queensland Naturalist 46: 44-69.

Sattler, P.S. and Williams, R.D. (eds) (1999) The Conservation Status of Queensland's Bioregional Ecosystems. Brisbane: EPA.

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Traprock. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 19/06/2013

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