Astrebla Downs National Park

Astrebla Downs National Park
Queensland
IUCN category II (national park)

Astrebla Downs National Park
Nearest town or city Birdsville
Established 1996
Area 1,740 km2 (671.8 sq mi)
Managing authorities Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service
See also Protected areas of Queensland

Astrebla Downs is a national park in the Channel Country of outback Queensland, Australia, 1298 km west of Brisbane. The landscape is flat and barren with few trees.[1]

The park received an award in March 2007 by the WWF for being among the top 10 reserves of the decade. Recognition was given for the successful efforts to protect the bilby, an endangered mammal native to Australia.[2] By 2008 it was estimated the park contained a bilby population of around 300.[3] In 2009, a plague of long-haired rats descended on the park.[4] The large numbers of rats attract feral cats to the area which pose a threat to the bilby.

Astrebla Downs is also home to the stripe-faced dunnart.[1]

Birds

With Diamantina National Park, Astrebla Downs National Park forms part of the 7,627 km2 Diamantina and Astrebla Grasslands Important Bird Area, identified by BirdLife International as such because it is one of few sites known for the critically endangered night parrot. It also supports globally important populations of the plains-wanderer, Australian bustard, straw-necked ibis, white-necked heron, inland dotterel, Bourke's parrot, black and pied honeyeaters, gibberbird, Hall's babbler, chestnut-breasted quail-thrush, cinnamon quail-thrush and spinifexbird.[5]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Asher Mullard (5 January 2009). "'Mini-hibernation' essential for winter survival". Nature News. Nature Publishing Group. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
  2. ↑ Queensland parks recognised as among best in Australia. 28 March 2007. Retrieved on 31 March 2007.
  3. ↑ Shirley Sinclair (24 March 2008). "Plight of the bilby". Sunshine Coast Daily (Sunshine Coast Newspaper Company). Retrieved 15 March 2011.
  4. ↑ Brian Williams (12 December 2009). "Rat plague hits western Queensland". The Courier-Mail (Queensland Newspapers). Retrieved 15 March 2011.
  5. ↑ "IBA: Diamantina and Astrebla Grasslands". Birdata. Birds Australia. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-18.


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