Australia's Birds

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Australia's Birds T HE S TATEOF A USTRALIA’ S B IRDS 2004 Water, Wetlands and Birds Compiled by Penny Olsen and Michael Weston Supplement to Wingspan, vol. 14, no. 4, December 2004 II The State of Australia’s Birds 2004 The State of Australia’s Birds reports present an overview of the status of Australia’s birds, the major threats they face and the conservation actions taken. This second report focuses on wetland birds. With the continuation of drought conditions over much of the country, exacerbating long-term damage to wetlands and other habitats, water issues are taking centre stage, but too often birds and the environment receive scant attention. Restoration of environmental flows to Australia’s stressed waterways and wetlands is essential. Wetlands and their birds need water. Environmental flow: sufficient water in rivers and groundwater systems, at appropriate times, to maintain downstream ecosystems. THE KEY FINDINGS There is mixed news on the status of Australia’s wetland birds. helps protect wetlands listed as internationally significant Some positive initiatives are underpinned by developing (Ramsar wetlands). cooperation between Federal and State Governments and • Agreements are in place with some countries to protect improvements in management strategies. However, widespread, internationally migratory birds and their habitats. The Federal sustainable recovery of damaged wetlands is a long way off. There Government is investigating whether additional agreements can are many uncertainties because of lack of information, and in be forged with countries in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway. developed parts of the continent much of the news is bleak. • Private landowners are restoring or protecting wetlands on their properties, thus contributing to the conservation of Favourable news wetland birds. • Moves are under way to better manage the use of water, and • Coastal and other areas under pressure from heavy human governments have recognised the importance of water reform. recreational use can be improved for birds by fencing, revege- Nonetheless, political, social and economic forces must be tation, control of dogs and human access, etc. Wetlands on farms reconciled before reform is achievable. Long-term sustainability can be reinvigorated. Much of this work is now underway. dictates that environmental needs should be paramount, and • Efforts to monitor wetland birds are increasing, and major that environmental flows be determined on the basis of studies are planned for hitherto little known drainages such as ecological considerations. the Channel Country of Queensland. • Management of water requires cross-border cooperation between States and other jurisdictions, and it is appropriate Unfavourable news that the Federal Government has taken a leading role in • Many major wetlands are in trouble. These include several in managing Australia’s water resource. the south-east—the once great Macquarie Marshes and • The National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality, and Menindee Lakes, mid-Lachlan and upper-Macquarie valleys, the National Dryland Salinity Program have been prepared Barmah-Millewa Forest, the Gwydir wetlands, Booligal and endorsed by all Federal and State environment ministers. Swamp, Narran Lakes and, in particular, the Lowbidgee, to • Wetlands, such as the Paroo, Cooper’s Creek, Fitzroy and the Coorong, South Australia—and south-west. Studies point Ovens (Wentworth) still retain high conservation value, and to acute wetland bird declines in these areas. should be given the highest conservation priority. • In the south-west and south-east massive allocation to water- • Australia’s relatively pristine, tropical rivers, stretch from the hungry ventures such as agriculture is the major threat to Great Barrier Reef coast, across the north to the Kimberley. wetland birds, and this threat is spreading northwards in Together, they form one of the last great river networks and eastern Queensland. are an internationally significant asset. The same can be said of • Despite a greater recognition of the problem, the Murray- the unique rivers and wetlands of the Lake Eyre Basin. Darling and other major river systems and wetlands have yet • The Federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation to be given a chance to recover by a significant increase in Act 1999 confers greater protection to migratory shorebirds, environmental flows. and one resident wetland bird has recently been listed under the • In Tasmania recent changes in weather patterns have left waterbird Act as Threatened (Australian Painted Snipe). The Act also habitat starved of water, while drought has brought higher The State of Australia’s Birds 2004 III Wetlands come in many forms: a Buff-banded Rail bathes in a septic outlet, Lady Elliot Island, Queensland. Photo by Raoul Slater. numbers of previously uncommon species, presumably as they • No accurate information is available on population size for seek refuge from the dry conditions on the mainland. any wetland bird, and population trends over time are • Salinisation is an increasing threat to inland wetlands, and is known for only a few sites. There is an urgent need to particularly evident in the wheatbelt of Western Australia. monitor wetland birds on a national scale over a sufficient • Across tropical Australia, exotic aquatic weeds and other time period to understand natural cycles of abundance invasive species such as pigs are a significant and and decline. Use of birds as indicators would provide increasing threat to wetlands and their birds. monitoring data as well as allowing assessment of progress • A high proportion of the bird species that decreased towards sustainability/wise water management goals and nationally in the second Atlas of Australian Birds were wetland health. wetland birds, despite a slight increase in rainfall. Several • The absence of reliable monitoring information means of these birds are also reported to be in decreased numbers that the tolerance of populations to potential threats by more local monitoring programs in the States. such as hunting, wetland destruction and degradation, • In populated areas, coastal wetlands and their birds are reduced frequency of floods and breeding events are under intense pressure from development, disturbance poorly understood. Hence, management of these threats and pollution. may not be effective. Uncertain news Wetland birds to watch • Many wetland birds are dispersive or migratory and • The increasing rarity of the Australasian Bittern suggests depend on a network of wetlands, hence, the that it meets the requirements for listing as nationally consequences of undesirable change in one region can be Endangered. Four subspecies also warrant consideration far-reaching. However, such mobility can also allow for listing as nationally Threatened: the Bulloo Grey certain birds to move to more favourable areas. Grasswren, Alligator Rivers’ Yellow Chat, Tasmanian • While many birds make use of artificial wetlands, Lewin’s Rail and eastern Hooded Plover. especially sewerage ponds, their conservation importance • Other birds of concern include Yellow-billed Spoonbill, is mixed: they offer habitat for certain bird species, but the Red-kneed Dotterel and Nankeen Night Heron, which are large grazers and predators they attract can render smaller still common but their populations appear to have artificial wetlands unsuitable for certain birds. Some declined in recent years. man-made wetlands have also been created at the expense • The Australian Painted Snipe is the first resident wetland of the original, natural wetland. species to be listed as nationally Threatened under the • In the rangelands, bores are being capped and water is EPBC Act—it could become a flagship species for being piped to reduce wastage. This saves water wastage, freshwater wetlands. and helps to maintain water supplies, but the implications • The outlook for the Critically Endangered Capricorn of these changes for birds are unclear and in need of Yellow Chat appears reasonable provided sufficient urgent study. Caution is urged to avoid undesirable habitat is maintained and other threats identified consequences for conservation. and managed. The State of Australia’s Birds 2004 farms and irrigation channels. They range from permanent to ephemeral, regular to episodic, freshwater to brackish and saline (see box). They may be on private or public land, protected or unprotected. Scattered from the low tide mark to the heart of the continent, they form a network of possible habits for waterbirds, many of which must move with the seasons or according to annual conditions. Wetlands support a variety of birds, some of which live in fringes and margins, others in the water itself. Furthermore, waterways, wetlands and shorelines are concentration points for all sorts of birds, and landmarks for their navigation. The more permanent wetlands promise concentrations of food, and drinking water, and refugia during drought. Their more ephemeral Budgerigars alight to drink at an isolated dam, counterparts fill briefly, and spasmodically, Birds Australia’s Gluepot Reserve, South Australia. offering a flush of plenty and a rare opportunity Photo by Nicholas Birks INTRODUCTION for an abundance of birds to breed. IN 2003, THE first State of Australia’s Birds Wiser use of water—a scarce, vital resource (SOAB) report was launched by Senator Gary in this driest of populated continents—is a most Types of wetlands Humphries at Birds Australia’s Australasian topical and pressing issue. In July
Recommended publications
  • Painted Snippets the Newsletter of the Australian Painted Snipe Project
    Painted Snippets The newsletter of the Australian Painted Snipe Project Volume 4 May 2012 A stunning female bathes herself, unperturbed by onlookers at Canberra’s Kelly Swamp. Photo: David Stowe None of us would have predicted the events Just add water which unfolded in the months that followed, It’s been an eventful 2 years since our last when one-in-10-year rains extended south edition of Painted Snippets hit the stands. After from the tropics and caused extensive flooding the 2008/09 summer, our concerns for the throughout 4 states, rejuvenating wetland and species were reinforced by a return of just 11 river systems throughout the Murray Darling, individuals observed across Australia. Bulloo-Bancannia and Lake Eyre Basins as well as across the Top End. Once the floods began to subside, observers Contents ventured out, discovering ephemeral wetlands which, in some cases, hadn’t been inundated in 1. Just Add Water 20 years! Soon enough, Australian Painted 2. Around the soggy grounds Snipe (APS) records started rolling in. With 5. Déjà vu 2005 conditions remaining wet throughout the year 6. A bird in the hand and Tropical Cyclone Yasi providing similar flows in early 2011, the last 2 years have seen 7. BirdLife Australia Wetland Birds Project over 400 individual APS1 recorded (Fig 2)across 8. iBis for your iPhone every state and territory except Tasmania, in 8. APS EPBC listing upgrade what has been true testament to the 9. Moolort Plains wetland project opportunistic nature of this enigmatic wader. 9. APS surveys. How to contribute to species conservation.
    [Show full text]
  • Table 7: Species Changing IUCN Red List Status (2014-2015)
    IUCN Red List version 2015.4: Table 7 Last Updated: 19 November 2015 Table 7: Species changing IUCN Red List Status (2014-2015) Published listings of a species' status may change for a variety of reasons (genuine improvement or deterioration in status; new information being available that was not known at the time of the previous assessment; taxonomic changes; corrections to mistakes made in previous assessments, etc. To help Red List users interpret the changes between the Red List updates, a summary of species that have changed category between 2014 (IUCN Red List version 2014.3) and 2015 (IUCN Red List version 2015-4) and the reasons for these changes is provided in the table below. IUCN Red List Categories: EX - Extinct, EW - Extinct in the Wild, CR - Critically Endangered, EN - Endangered, VU - Vulnerable, LR/cd - Lower Risk/conservation dependent, NT - Near Threatened (includes LR/nt - Lower Risk/near threatened), DD - Data Deficient, LC - Least Concern (includes LR/lc - Lower Risk, least concern). Reasons for change: G - Genuine status change (genuine improvement or deterioration in the species' status); N - Non-genuine status change (i.e., status changes due to new information, improved knowledge of the criteria, incorrect data used previously, taxonomic revision, etc.); E - Previous listing was an Error. IUCN Red List IUCN Red Reason for Red List Scientific name Common name (2014) List (2015) change version Category Category MAMMALS Aonyx capensis African Clawless Otter LC NT N 2015-2 Ailurus fulgens Red Panda VU EN N 2015-4
    [Show full text]
  • Nordmann's Greenshank Population Analysis, at Pantai Cemara Jambi
    Final Report Nordmann’s Greenshank Population Analysis, at Pantai Cemara Jambi Cipto Dwi Handono1, Ragil Siti Rihadini1, Iwan Febrianto1 and Ahmad Zulfikar Abdullah1 1Yayasan Ekologi Satwa Alam Liar Indonesia (Yayasan EKSAI/EKSAI Foundation) Surabaya, Indonesia Background Many shorebirds species have declined along East Asian-Australasian Flyway which support the highest diversity of shorebirds in the world, including the globally endangered species, Nordmann’s Greenshank. Nordmann’s Greenshank listed as endangered in the IUCN Red list of Threatened Species because of its small and declining population (BirdLife International, 2016). It’s one of the world’s most threatened shorebirds, is confined to the East Asian–Australasian Flyway (Bamford et al. 2008, BirdLife International 2001, 2012). Its global population is estimated at 500–1,000, with an estimated 100 in Malaysia, 100–200 in Thailand, 100 in Myanmar, plus unknown but low numbers in NE India, Bangladesh and Sumatra (Wetlands International 2006). The population is suspected to be rapidly decreasing due to coastal wetland development throughout Asia for industry, infrastructure and aquaculture, and the degradation of its breeding habitat in Russia by grazing Reindeer Rangifer tarandus (BirdLife International 2012). Mostly Nordmann’s Greenshanks have been recorded in very small numbers throughout Southeast Asia, and there are few places where it has been reported regularly. In Myanmar, for example, it was rediscovered after a gap of almost 129 years. The total count recorded by the Asian Waterbird Census (AWC) in 2006 for Myanmar was 28 birds with 14 being the largest number at a single locality (Naing 2007). In 2011–2012, Nordmann’s Greenshank was found three times in Sumatera Utara province, N Sumatra.
    [Show full text]
  • Long-Billed Curlew Distributions in Intertidal Habitats: Scale-Dependent Patterns Ryan L
    LONG-BILLED CURLEW DISTRIBUTIONS IN INTERTIDAL HABITATS: SCALE-DEPENDENT PATTERNS RYAN L. MATHIS, Department of Wildlife, Humboldt State University, Arcata, Cali- fornia 95521 (current address: National Wild Turkey Federation, P. O. Box 1050, Arcata, California 95518) MARK A. ColwELL, Department of Wildlife, Humboldt State University, Arcata, California 95521; [email protected] LINDA W. LEEMAN, Department of Wildlife, Humboldt State University, Arcata, California 95521 (current address: EDAW, Inc., 2022 J. St., Sacramento, California 95814) THOMAS S. LEEMAN, Department of Wildlife, Humboldt State University, Arcata, California 95521 (current address: Environmental Science Associates, 8950 Cal Center Drive, Suite 300, Sacramento, California 95826) ABSTRACT. Key ecological insights come from understanding a species’ distribu- tion, especially across several spatial scales. We studied the distribution (uniform, random, or aggregated) at low tide of nonbreeding Long-billed Curlew (Numenius americanus) at three spatial scales: within individual territories (1–8 ha), in the Elk River estuary (~50 ha), and across tidal habitats of Humboldt Bay (62 km2), Cali- fornia. During six baywide surveys, 200–300 Long-billed Curlews were aggregated consistently in certain areas and were absent from others, suggesting that foraging habitats varied in quality. In the Elk River estuary, distributions were often (73%) uniform as curlews foraged at low tide, although patterns tended toward random (27%) when more curlews were present during late summer and autumn. Patterns of predominantly uniform distribution across the estuary were a consequence of ter- ritoriality. Within territories, eight Long-billed Curlews most often (75%) foraged in a manner that produced a uniform distribution; patterns tended toward random (16%) and aggregated (8%) when individuals moved over larger areas.
    [Show full text]
  • Motion 2- RAMSAR Listing Menindee Lakes.Pdf
    Motion 2 Region 4 – Central Darling Shire Council Motion: That the MDA calls on Basin Governments to endorse the Menindee Lakes, or a portion of the Lake system to be listed as a Ramsar site, in further consultation with the community. Objective: To protect the Menindee Lakes as a wetlands of cultural and ecological significance and to preserve and to conserve, through wise use and management, those areas of the system identified as appropriate for listing. Key Arguments: • In 2010-11 there were attempts to have a proportion of the Menindee Lakes recognised as being listed as a Ramsar site. Regional Development Australia Far West NSW (RDAFW) invested resources and efforts into having a proportion of the Lakes listed as a Ramsar Sites on behalf of Central Darling Shire and the Far West region. At this point in time, the State Government recognised the significance of the Menindee Lakes, however they were not able to support the project with the position of the Murray Darling Basin plan at the time. • Ramsar Convention and signing on Wetlands took place on 2 February 1971 at the small Iranian town named Ramsar and came into force on 21 December 1975. Since then, the Convention on Wetlands has been known as the Ramsar Convention. The Ramsar Convention's intentions is to halt the worldwide loss of wetlands and to conserve, through wise use and management, of those that remain. This requires international cooperation, policy making, capacity building and technology transfer. • Under the Ramsar Convention, a wide variety of natural and human-made habitat types ranging from rivers to coral reefs can be classified as wetlands.
    [Show full text]
  • Ramsar Sites in Order of Addition to the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance
    Ramsar sites in order of addition to the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance RS# Country Site Name Desig’n Date 1 Australia Cobourg Peninsula 8-May-74 2 Finland Aspskär 28-May-74 3 Finland Söderskär and Långören 28-May-74 4 Finland Björkör and Lågskär 28-May-74 5 Finland Signilskär 28-May-74 6 Finland Valassaaret and Björkögrunden 28-May-74 7 Finland Krunnit 28-May-74 8 Finland Ruskis 28-May-74 9 Finland Viikki 28-May-74 10 Finland Suomujärvi - Patvinsuo 28-May-74 11 Finland Martimoaapa - Lumiaapa 28-May-74 12 Finland Koitilaiskaira 28-May-74 13 Norway Åkersvika 9-Jul-74 14 Sweden Falsterbo - Foteviken 5-Dec-74 15 Sweden Klingavälsån - Krankesjön 5-Dec-74 16 Sweden Helgeån 5-Dec-74 17 Sweden Ottenby 5-Dec-74 18 Sweden Öland, eastern coastal areas 5-Dec-74 19 Sweden Getterön 5-Dec-74 20 Sweden Store Mosse and Kävsjön 5-Dec-74 21 Sweden Gotland, east coast 5-Dec-74 22 Sweden Hornborgasjön 5-Dec-74 23 Sweden Tåkern 5-Dec-74 24 Sweden Kvismaren 5-Dec-74 25 Sweden Hjälstaviken 5-Dec-74 26 Sweden Ånnsjön 5-Dec-74 27 Sweden Gammelstadsviken 5-Dec-74 28 Sweden Persöfjärden 5-Dec-74 29 Sweden Tärnasjön 5-Dec-74 30 Sweden Tjålmejaure - Laisdalen 5-Dec-74 31 Sweden Laidaure 5-Dec-74 32 Sweden Sjaunja 5-Dec-74 33 Sweden Tavvavuoma 5-Dec-74 34 South Africa De Hoop Vlei 12-Mar-75 35 South Africa Barberspan 12-Mar-75 36 Iran, I. R.
    [Show full text]
  • Local Strategic Planning Statement Coonamble Shire Council
    Local Strategic Planning Statement Coonamble Shire Council April 2020 Adopted by Council: 13/05/2020 Contents Foreword ............................................................................................................................................. 3 About the Statement ........................................................................................................................... 4 Consultation ........................................................................................................................................ 5 Our Vision, Our Future ........................................................................................................................ 6 Context ............................................................................................................................................... 8 Our Shire – A Snapshot ................................................................................................................... 8 Our themes and planning priorities .................................................................................................... 12 Community and Place ....................................................................................................................... 13 Priority 1 - Promote and enhance the identity and unique character of Coonamble and the villages of Gulargambone and Quambone.................................................................................................. 14 Priority 2 - Encourage a connected, active and healthy
    [Show full text]
  • Wetlands Australia
    Wetlands Australia National wetlands update August 2014—Issue No 25 Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Australian Government or the Minister for the Environment. © Copyright Commonwealth of Australia, 2014 Wetlands Australia National Wetlands Update August 2014 – Issue No 25 is licensed by the Commonwealth of Australia for use under a Creative Commons By Attribution 3.0 Australia licence with the exception of the Coat of Arms of the Commonwealth of Australia, the logo of the agency responsible for publishing the report, content supplied by third parties, and any images depicting people. For licence conditions see: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au This report should be attributed as ‘Wetlands Australia National Wetlands Update August 2015 – Issue No 25, Commonwealth of Australia 2014’ The Commonwealth of Australia has made all reasonable efforts to identify content supplied by third parties using the following format ‘© Copyright, [name of third party] ’. Cover images Front cover: Wetlands provide important habitats for waterbirds, such as this adult great egret (Ardea modesta) at Leichhardt Lagoon in Queensland (© Copyright, Brian Furby) Back cover: Inland wetlands, like Narran Lakes Nature Reserve Ramsar site in New South Wales, support high numbers of waterbird breeding and provide refuge for birds during droughts (© Copyright, Dragi Markovic) ii / Wetlands Australia August 2014 Contents Introduction to Wetlands Australia August
    [Show full text]
  • Bird Vulnerability Assessments
    Assessing the vulnerability of native vertebrate fauna under climate change, to inform wetland and floodplain management of the River Murray in South Australia: Bird Vulnerability Assessments Attachment (2) to the Final Report June 2011 Citation: Gonzalez, D., Scott, A. & Miles, M. (2011) Bird vulnerability assessments- Attachment (2) to ‘Assessing the vulnerability of native vertebrate fauna under climate change to inform wetland and floodplain management of the River Murray in South Australia’. Report prepared for the South Australian Murray-Darling Basin Natural Resources Management Board. For further information please contact: Department of Environment and Natural Resources Phone Information Line (08) 8204 1910, or see SA White Pages for your local Department of Environment and Natural Resources office. Online information available at: http://www.environment.sa.gov.au Permissive Licence © State of South Australia through the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. You may copy, distribute, display, download and otherwise freely deal with this publication for any purpose subject to the conditions that you (1) attribute the Department as the copyright owner of this publication and that (2) you obtain the prior written consent of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources if you wish to modify the work or offer the publication for sale or otherwise use it or any part of it for a commercial purpose. Written requests for permission should be addressed to: Design and Production Manager Department of Environment and Natural Resources GPO Box 1047 Adelaide SA 5001 Disclaimer While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure the contents of this publication are factually correct, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources makes no representations and accepts no responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fitness for any particular purpose of the contents, and shall not be liable for any loss or damage that may be occasioned directly or indirectly through the use of or reliance on the contents of this publication.
    [Show full text]
  • A Year on the Vasse-Wonnerup Wetlands
    Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development Department of Water and Environmental Regulation A Year on the Vasse-Wonnerup Wetlands An Ecological Snapshot March 2017—January 2018 W IN N T M E U R T U A S P R R I N E G M M U S Musk duck (Biziura lobata) (Photo: Mark Oliver) The Vasse-Wonnerup Wetlands The conservation values of the Vasse-Wonnerup wetlands are recognised on a local, state, national and international level. The wetlands provide habitat to thousands of Australian and migratory water birds as well as supporting the largest breeding population of black swans in the state. In 1990 the wetlands were recognised as a ‘Wetland of International Importance’ under the Ramsar Convention. The wetlands are also one of the most nutrient enriched wetlands in Western Australia, characterised by extensive macroalgae and phytoplankton blooms and occasional major fish kills. Poor water quality in the wetlands is a major concern for the local community. Over the past four years scientists have been working together to investigate options to improve water quality in the wetlands by monitoring seawater inflows through the Vasse surge barrier and modelling options to increase water levels and flows into the Vasse estuary. These trials have successfully shown that seawater inflows can reduce the incidence of harmful phytoplankton blooms and improve conditions for fish in the Vasse Estuary Channel over summer months. What isn’t as well understood is how these management approaches and subsequent increased water levels may impact on the broader wetland system, especially how the ecology of the wetlands responds to changes in the timing and volume of seawater inflow through the surge barriers.
    [Show full text]
  • Appendices, Glossary and Index
    7 Appendices Appendix A: Agency resourcing statement 2010–11 Appendix B: Portfolio Budget Statements reporting 2010–11 Appendix C: Ecologically sustainable development and environmental performance Appendix D: Freedom of information statement Appendix E: Compliance index Christmas Island red crabs. Photo: Parks Australia Appendix A: Agency Resourcing Statement 2010–11 The Agency Resourcing Statement was introduced to Portfolio Budget Statements in 2008–09 to provide information about the various funding sources that the Director of National Parks may draw upon during the year. The Director of National Parks is required to publish the Agency Resourcing Statement in the annual report that reconciles to cash reserves in the financial statements. Actual available Payments Balance appropriation Made Remaining $’000 $’000 $’000 Opening balance/Reserves at bank 38,353 – 38,353 REVENUE FROM GOVERNMENT Ordinary annual services¹ Outcome 1 – – – Total ordinary annual services – – – Other services² Non-operating 2,249 – 2,249 Total other services 2,249 – 2,249 Total annual appropriations 2,249 – 2,249 Payments from related entities3 Amounts from the portfolio department 46,444 46,444 (0) Total 46,444 46,444 (0) Total funds from Government 46,444 46,444 (0) FUNDS FROM OTHER SOURCES Interest 1,575 1,575 – Sale of goods and services 15,486 15,486 – Other 2,328 1,390 938 Total 19,389 18,451 938 Total net resourcing for DNP 106,435 64,895 41,540 All figures are GST exclusive As per the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 Section 514S, DSEWPaC is directly appropriated the Director of National Parks (DNP) appropriations, which is then allocated to the DNP by the Secretary.
    [Show full text]
  • Macquarie River Bird Trail
    Bird Watching Trail Guide Acknowledgements RiverSmart Australia Limited would like to thank the following for their assistance in making this trail and publication a reality. Tim and Janis Hosking, and the other members of the Dubbo Field Naturalists and Conservation Society, who assisted with technical information about the various sites, the bird list and with some of the photos. Thanks also to Jim Dutton for providing bird list details for the Burrendong Arboretum. Photographers. Photographs were kindly provided by Brian O’Leary, Neil Zoglauer, Julian Robinson, Lisa Minner, Debbie Love, Tim Hosking, Dione Carter, Dan Giselsson, Tim Ralph and Bill Phillips. This project received financial support from the Australian Bird Environment Foundation of Sacred kingfisher photo: Dan Giselsson BirdLife Australia. Thanks to Warren Shire Council, Sarah Derrett and Ashley Wielinga in particular, for their assistance in relation to the Tiger Bay site. Thanks also to Philippa Lawrence, Sprout Design and Mapping Services Australia. THE MACQuarIE RIVER TraILS First published 2014 The Macquarie valley, in the heart of NSW is one of the The preparation of this guide was coordinated by the not-for-profit organisation Riversmart State’s — and indeed Australia’s — best kept secrets, until now. Australia Ltd. Please consider making a tax deductible donation to our blue bucket fund so we can keep doing our work in the interests of healthy and sustainable rivers. Macquarie River Trails (www.rivertrails.com.au), launched in late 2011, is designed to let you explore the many attractions www.riversmart.org.au and wonders of this rich farming region, one that is blessed See outside back cover for more about our work with a vibrant river, the iconic Maquarie Marshes, friendly people and a laid back lifestyle.
    [Show full text]