The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is celebrating this summer’s wet weather, which has led to the biggest wetland bird breeding event in north-west NSW in a decade.
Acting Director of NPWS, John Whittal said recent floods had filled wetland systems and was supporting the major bird breeding now happening in the Macquarie Marshes and Gwydir Wetlands.
“It’s been a joy to see the wetlands spring back to life after the drought across the whole of northern NSW to enable what is now the biggest breeding event since 2012,” Mr Whittal said.
“We’re all very excited,” he said.
“The wetlands are internationally significant breeding grounds so it’s fantastic to see mass breeding.”
Mr Whittal said NPWS staff had completed 350 hours of aerial pest species shooting over the wetlands in the past two years, as well as follow-up ground programs, to give the birds the best chance of breeding success.
Project Conservation Officer at NPWS, Joanne Ocock said vegetation had returned to the wetlands as brilliant green islands in the semi-arid landscape and was providing waterbirds with plenty of nest-building material.
“The birdlife has been overwhelming and everyone has their favourites,” Dr Ocock said.
“I can’t go past the incredibly pretty freckled and blue-billed ducks, they are threatened species and it’s great to see them gather in such significant numbers,” she said.
Dr Ocock said visitors were welcome to experience the remarkable bird-breeding event by visiting the Waterbird Lagoon bird hide at the Gwydir Wetlands State Conservation Area, about 70 kilometres from Moree in northern NSW.
