The Commonwealth Environmental Water Office (CEWO) is predicting there will be a boom of baby water birds squeezing into their family nests this month.
Local Engagement Officer at CEWO, Jason Wilson said the wet weather and plentiful conditions at the Macquarie Marshes in New South Wales (NSW) were providing a perfect platform for the highly distinctive Intermediate egrets (pictured) to breed.
“Other species of egrets as well as ibis, herons and cormorants are also prevalent in a significant bird breeding event not seen for several years,” Mr Wilson said.
“There has been a long-term trend of declining waterbird populations across the Murray Darling Basin,” he said.
“These large colonies are critical to sustaining and ultimately recovering waterbird populations.”
Mr Wilson said a NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE) helicopter flight in November confirmed there were colonies of egrets nesting in river red gum woodlands at several locations in the Macquarie Marshes, on both private and public land.
He said more recent inspections on foot and with drones indicated those colonies had expanded in response to the November rain.
“There are now large-scale ibis colonies that include all three ibis species (Straw-necked, Glossy and Australian white),” he said.
Senior Wetlands and River Conservation Officer at NSW DPIE, Tim Hosking said the Department would monitor the colonies and conditions and decide if any water for the environment was needed to support the colonies over the coming months.
“It’s important to maintain water levels so colonial birds can feed and gather food for their young and for the juvenile birds to continue to feed after they leave the nest,” Mr Hosking said.
