General News
3 August, 2023
Flooding sets up bumper season for waterbirds
Native birds are thriving in the aftermath of flooding in the Mallee. With many wetlands and creeks still holding water there has been an influx of waterbirds across the region. Scientists are monitoring the bird abundance, diversity and breeding...
Native birds are thriving in the aftermath of flooding in the Mallee.
With many wetlands and creeks still holding water there has been an influx of waterbirds across the region.
Scientists are monitoring the bird abundance, diversity and breeding activity to assess aquatic ecology health and compare the fresh data to that from dry years.
The ecological monitoring began in 2021 and provides important information to the Mallee Catchment Management Authority (CMA) about the ecosystem’s health and helps to support the planning of future projects.
Surveys have been carried out throughout 2022–23 at 79 floodplain sites and eight wetlands.
Widespread flooding in 2022 and early this year put large areas under water and increased habitat variation such as water depth, plant cover and food resources for many species.
This is providing vital resources for visiting waterbirds in the short term and for breeding in the long term.
There has been a rise in the diversity and abundance of waterbirds, with 43 species recorded, including the plumed whistling-duck, the glossy ibis, the Australian gull-billed tern and the azure kingfisher.
It has also been a great year for waterbird breeding on the floodplain.
Colonies of cormorants and darters have established themselves at wetlands such as Lake Powell.
There are good numbers of the eastern great egret and sightings of other threatened species including the black falcon, the pink cockatoo and the regent parrot.
The project is funded by the Mallee CMA and undertaken by the Victorian Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action's Arthur Rylah Institute.