Waterbird resurgence in the Murray-Darling Basin
CEWO | Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
Photos have been taken during approved scientific monitoring
2021-22 has been a big year for waterbirds, with the most widespread breeding across the Murray-Darling Basin in more than 20 years.
The types of birds that have bred across the Basin include Straw-necked ibis, Australian white ibis, Glossy ibis, Royal spoonbill, Pelicans, Egrets, Cormorants and Night herons. Scientists also observed some endangered species such as Australian bitterns.
Explore the map below to discover some of the significant bird breeding events.
Bird numbers are preliminary estimates based on analysis of monitoring data so far. Photos have been taken during approved scientific monitoring.
Note on map markers: Bird colonies have been spotted at multiple sites across the Basin, including but not limited to the specific points on the map.
Dharriwaa (Narran Lakes)
Dharriwaa (Narran Lakes). Click to expand.
10,000 pairs of waterbirds, mainly Straw-necked ibis, at Dharriwaa (Narran Lakes).
Gwydir Wetlands
Gwydir Wetlands. Click to expand.
30,000 pairs of waterbirds including Royal spoonbills, Cormorants, Egrets, Nankeen night herons, Glossy ibis and Straw-necked ibis in the Gwydir Wetlands.
Macquarie Marshes
Macquarie Marshes. Click to expand.
150,000 pairs of Ibis, Egrets, Spoonbills and Night herons at Macquarie Marshes.
Lachlan Valley
Lachlan Valley. Click to expand.
15,000 Pelican pairs at Lake Brewster, 25,000 Ibis pairs at Lake Cowal and 25,000 Ibis pairs at Booligal Swamp in the Lachlan valley.
Lower Murrumbidgee Wetlands
Lower Murrumbidgee Wetlands. Click to expand.
30,000 pairs of Ibis and Spoonbills and over 10,000 pairs of breeding Pelicans in the lower Murrumbidgee wetlands.
Barmah-Millewa Forest
Barmah-Millewa Forest. Click to expand.
Over 2,600 mixed nests of Australian white ibis, Straw-necked ibis, Royal spoonbills, Nankeen night herons in Barmah-Millewa Forest.
Coorong
Coorong. Click to expand.
7,000 Black swans in the Coorong, an increase of 34% from 2021.
Dharriwaa (Narran Lakes)
10,000 pairs of waterbirds, mainly Straw-necked ibis, at Dharriwaa (Narran Lakes).
Photo: Pat Johnston, NSW NPWS.
Gwydir Wetlands
30,000 pairs of waterbirds including Royal spoonbills, Cormorants, Egrets, Nankeen night herons, Glossy ibis and Straw-necked ibis in the Gwydir Wetlands.
Photo: Jared Reid, 2ROG.
Macquarie Marshes
150,000 pairs of Ibis, Egrets, Spoonbills and Night herons at Macquarie Marshes.
Photo: Nicola Brookhouse, NSW NPWS.
Lachlan Valley
15,000 Pelican pairs at Lake Brewster, 25,000 Ibis pairs at Lake Cowal and 25,000 Ibis pairs at Booligal Swamp in the Lachlan valley.
Photos: Mal Carnegie.
Lower Murrumbidgee Wetlands
30,000 pairs of Ibis and Spoonbills and over 10,000 pairs of breeding Pelicans in the lower Murrumbidgee wetlands.
Photo: Ali Borrell, MDWWG.
Barmah-Millewa Forest
Over 2,600 mixed nests of Australian white ibis, Straw-necked ibis, Royal spoonbills, Nankeen night herons in Barmah-Millewa Forest.
Photo: Keith Ward, GBCMA.
Coorong
7,000 Black swans in the Coorong, an increase of 34% from 2021.
Photo: SA DEW.
Dr Heather McGinness fitting a satellite tracker to a straw-necked ibis. Photo: Ben Gawne.
The Commonwealth Environmental Water Office (CEWO) has had a team of scientists monitoring these breeding events to assess how water for the environment is making a difference, as part of the Flow-MER (Monitoring, Evaluation and Research) Program.
CSIRO Senior Research Scientist and Flow-MER Researcher, Dr Heather McGinness said so far 2022 was a special year for bird breeding.
"There really is a sense of joy seeing large numbers of baby birds thriving. With conditions so good, you see many different species nesting near each other and the parent birds are much easier to see out and about during the day because they are so busy gathering food for all the chicks.
"It’s pleasing to see our research informing decisions on delivering water for the environment. When water is in the right place at the right time, it provides habitat for waterbirds," she said.
University of New South Wales (Sydney) Senior Research Fellow, Dr Kate Brandis said she and her research team along with monitoring staff at the NSW Department of Planning and Environment had also been busy monitoring bird breeding events across 13 sites.
White ibis chicks. Photo: Warren Chad.
"We’re certainly more optimistic about waterbird populations as a result of these breeding events. It’s not lost on us that these are stunning places to work and every year we’re building our knowledge to better protect these precious species," she said.
Black swans at Macquarie Marshes. Photo: Nicola Brookhouse, NSW NPWS.
Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder, Hilton Taylor said water for the environment has played its part in supporting waterbird habitats.
"Water for the environment was delivered to help wetlands through the worst of the drought conditions, ensuring these sites were healthy once the floods returned.
Intermediate egrets at Macquarie Marshes. Photo: Nicola Brookhouse, NSW NPWS.
"We also delivered environmental flows to keep water levels stable at the breeding sites – if levels drop away too quickly, it can reduce the available food and expose nests to predators," he said.
Australian bittern chick at Yanga National Park. Photo: Simone Carmichael, DPE.
While it has been a successful year, it is important to put these outcomes in perspective. Waterbird populations have been declining over the last 35 years and it is critical that we support waterbird populations to rebuild while breeding conditions are good.
The graph shows the steep decline of waterbird abundance from 700,000 waterbirds in 1983 to fewer than 100,000 in 2021. Source: MDBA, Waterbirds.
The CEWO works with a range of partners to deliver water for the environment across the Basin. Invaluable knowledge, resources and skill come from State Governments, First Nations, local communities and landholders, industry and environmental groups, and scientists.
For further information about the Flow MER program and on the work of Dr McGinness and Dr Brandis go to:
Read more stories about how water for the environment has made a difference .
Straw-necked ibis colony at Gayini, NSW. Photo: Ali Borrell, MDWWG.
