Mount Lyndhurst Important Bird Area

The IBA is an important site for Chestnut-breasted Whitefaces

Mount Lyndhurst Important Bird Area comprises a 93 km² part of Mount Lyndhurst Station, a pastoral lease lying on the north-west margin of the Flinders Ranges, about 30 km east of the town of Lyndhurst, South Australia. It is accessible via the Strzelecki Track.

Description

The extent of the Important Bird Area (IBA) is defined as all habitat suitable for Chestnut-breasted Whitefaces on Mount Lyndhurst Station. The habitat consists of low hills covered by gibber and shingle rock, forming a bare, stony surface dissected by numerous drainage lines. It also supports patches of low, open shrubland, mainly of Low Bluebush, Bladder Saltbush and other chenopods, with a sparse scattering of larger emu bushes and wattles. The climate is arid with hot summers and mild, dry winters. Mean maximum temperatures range from 35.5°C in January to 17.3°C in July. Mean annual rainfall is 162 mm.^[1]

Birds

The site has been identified by BirdLife International as an IBA because it contains the largest known population of the Chestnut-breasted Whiteface within the eastern part of its range. It also supports populations of Inland Dotterels, Thick-billed Grasswrens, Banded Whitefaces, Black and Pied Honeyeaters, Gibberbirds, Chirruping Wedgebills and Cinnamon Quail-thrushes.^[2]

References

1. ^ BirdLife International. (2011). Important Bird Areas factsheet: Mount Lyndhurst. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 22/08/2011.
2. ^ "IBA: Mount Lyndhurst". Birdata. Birds Australia. http://www.birdata.com.au/iba.vm. Retrieved 2011-08-21. 

Coordinates: 30°11′31″S 138°38′05″E / 30.19194°S 138.63472°E / -30.19194; 138.63472