Survey of waterbird communities
of the Hydrological Indicator Sites
-October-November 2010
R.T. Kingsford &
J.L. Porter
Australian Wetlands
and Rivers Centre,
School of Biological,
Earth &
Environmental
Sciences, University
of New South Wales
September 2011
Final Report
September 2011 – Final Report
Survey of waterbird communities of Hydrological Indicator Sites – October-November
2010
To be cited as:
R.T. Kingsford and J.L. Porter (2012)
Survey of waterbird communities of Hydrological Indicator sites – October-November 2010
Australian Wetlands and Rivers Centre, University of New South Wales. Report to MurrayDarling Basin Authority, 20pp.
© Copyright Murray-Darling Basin Authority/ University of New South Wales 2011
Enquiries in respect of this copyright may be directed to the Murray-Darling Basin Authority.
This work is copyright. With the exception of the photographs, any logo or emblem, and any
trademarks, the work may be stored, retrieved and reproduced in whole or in part, provided the
information is not sold or used for commercial benefit. Any reproduction of information from this
work must acknowledge the Murray-Darling Basin Authority, the Commonwealth of Australia,
University of New South Wales, or the relevant third party, as appropriate, as the owner of
copyright in any selected material or information.
Apart from any use permitted under the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth) or above, no part of this work
may be reproduced by any process without prior written permission from the copyright owners
obtained via the Murray-Darling Basin Authority.
Disclaimer
The information contained in this publication is intended for general use, to assist public
knowledge and discussion and to help improve the integrated and sustainable management of
the Basin’s natural water resources. It may include general statements based on scientific
research. Readers are advised that this information may be incomplete or unsuitable for use in
specific situations. Before taking any action or decision based on the information in this
publication, readers should seek expert professional, scientific and technical advice and form
their own view of the applicability and correctness of the information.
To the extent permitted by law, the Commonwealth of Australia, the Murray–Darling Basin
Authority (including its employees and consultants), University of New South Wales (including
their employees and consultants), and the authors of this publication do not assume liability of
any kind whatsoever resulting from any person’s use or reliance upon the content of this
publication.”
Cover photograph: Great Cumbung Swamp November 2010 (John Porter)
Summary
1. Most of the major wetlands (27) known to be important for waterbirds were surveyed
across the Murray-Darling Basin to provide estimates of waterbird numbers and
composition of communities.
2. A total of about 480,000 waterbirds was estimated for 27 major wetlands, comprising
46 species or groups of species where species could not be identified.
3. Large wetlands can hold up to 80% of all waterbirds in dry times but in 2010, many
waterbirds were also likely to be distributed among small wetlands.
4. There were significant differences between the wetlands in terms of the abundance
and composition of waterbird communities with some of the wetlands supporting
considerably more waterbirds than others.
5. The three wetlands with the highest numbers of waterbirds, included a complex
comprising the Booligal and Lachlan swamps (~144,000), the Macquarie Marshes
(~95,000) and Yantabulla Swamp (~83,000).
6. Many other areas provided wetland habitat for waterbirds besides the major wetlands
surveyed, throughout the Murray-Darling Basin and other river basins nearby,
particularly the Bulloo-Bancannia and Lake Eyre Basins.
7. There was significant breeding on many of the sites surveyed with a total of 27
species recorded breeding. There was a significant breeding event of colonial
waterbirds with large colonies of ibis and egrets surveyed on the Booligal wetlands,
Kerang Lakes, Currawinya Lakes, Lowbidgee wetlands, Macquarie Marshes and
Lake Cowal.
8. The most abundant species were straw-necked ibis reflecting the importance of the
Murray-Darling basin for breeding of this species and other breeding colonial
waterbird species.
3
Introduction
Management of the Murray-Darling Basin will depend on availability of long term data
indicating the importance of different areas and their relative improvement over time. There
are 18 hydrological indicator sites scattered throughout the basin and all are important for
waterbird populations. There is currently no basin-wide assessment of the relative
importance of these sites or their value to waterbirds based on condition monitoring. This is
despite considerable long term data (1983-2010) for some sites (10%) across the MurrayDarling Basin (see Table 1, Fig. 1, Kingsford and Porter 2009) which are surveyed as part of
the eastern Australian aerial survey and the Living Murray icon sites (2007-2010). There is
also increasing recognition that Australia will need to meet reporting and evaluation
obligations under state, federal and international conservation initiatives and agreements
(e.g. Ramsar Convention, EPBC Act) in terms of measuring changes in ecological character
of wetlands.
Over the last decade, there has been increasing awareness that waterbird surveys offer a
rapid and cost effective methodology for assessing change in wetland character, largely
because waterbird communities can reflect significant changes in ecosystems. Aerial surveys
of waterbirds can track changes in waterbird populations, communities and breeding at
wetland sites and are a useful measure of wetland health (Kingsford 1995, Kingsford &
Porter 1994, Kingsford et al. 1999, Halse et al. 2005; Kingsford and Porter 2009b). We report
results of aerial surveys of wetlands of importance for waterbirds in the Murray-Darling Basin
(Fig. 1), in October-November 2010. This project focused on surveying the 18 hydrological
indicator sites identified for the environmental watering plan across the basin (Fig. 1). In
addition, the survey also incorporated sites known to be important to waterbirds but not
identified as hydrological indicators because there are no major extractions of water from the
rivers (e.g. wetlands of the Paroo and Warrego Rivers, Table 1, Fig. 1). These can also
operate as potential reference sites for comparison of long-term changes.
The survey aims were to undertake:
4
Aims
1. an annual aerial waterbird surveys of the 18 Hydrological Indicator Sites and other major
wetlands in the Murray-Darling Basin during 2010 and;
2. surveys at a scale to inform on waterbirds on water bodies and wetlands within
Hydrological Indicator Sites.
Methods
Waterbird surveys
Each hydrological indicator site was surveyed twice, following standard methods
established for aerial surveys of waterbirds in eastern Australia (Braithwaite et al. 1986,
Kingsford 1999). The first survey count was followed immediately by a replicate count to
provide an estimate of counting error. Waterbirds were counted in October-November 2010
from a Cessna 206 fixed wing aircraft flown at a height of 30-46 m and a speed of 167-204
km/h (90-110 knots), within 150 m of the shoreline, where waterbirds usually congregate
(Kingsford & Porter 1994; Kingsford 1999). An observer on each side of the aircraft counted
all waterbirds sighted on their side of the aircraft. Waterbird species were identified and their
numbers estimated and immediately recorded on digital audio recorders.
Nesting birds and those with broods were also identified and counted. Some waterbird
species could not reliably be identified to species level from the air and were grouped as
follows: small grebes (Australasian little grebe; hoary headed grebe), large egrets
(Intermediate Egret and Great Egret), terns (crested tern; lesser Crested tern; see Appendix
1) and small and large migratory wading birds (Charadriiformes; see Appendix 1). Wetland
percent full (by area) was also estimated for each discrete wetland counted, enabling an
index of wetland area to be constructed.
Three count types were used: total, proportional and transect counts. For total counts the
whole wetland was circumnavigated while for proportional counts, a portion of the wetland
(usually > 50 %) is counted. All major wetlands had more than 90% of their areas counted in
2009. Counts for each species were totalled for each observer to give either a total count for
a wetland or a proportional count for the wetland. Counts on proportions of wetlands were
then extrapolated to give an index of total waterbird numbers for the whole wetland
5
(Kingsford et al. 2004). Widespread flooding of some wetlands in this survey (BarmahMillewa, Gunbower-Koondrook-Pericoota Forests, Macquarie Marshes, Yantabulla Swamp)
required the use of aerial survey transects. We flew five to ten transects, each 200m wide
across the long axis of each of these wetlands. Transect locations were randomly chosen
before the survey. All birds within the survey transects were counted and estimates of total
numbers determined using variable transect lengths (Caughley 1977).
Final choice of counting approach was flexible to enable variable waterbird distribution,
abundance and wetland composition to be adequately sampled. Within each wetland site,
selected water bodies marked on 1:250 000 topographic maps and discrete bodies of open
water >1 ha in size were counted separately to allow distribution of waterbird community
within the site to be described. A GPS tracker on the plane allowed us to track the flight path
of the aircraft and all sites counted across each wetland and wetland complex. Waterbird
species were separated into five functional groups (ducks and grebes; herbivores; piscivores;
large wading birds and shorebirds) designed to reflect diet and foraging habitat (modified
from Kingsford & Porter 1994; see Appendix 1). The data for the The Living Murray (TLM)
Icon sites has been previously reported (Kingsford and Porter 2011) but were included in this
report for comparison.
6
Figure 1. Locations of the 27 wetland sites, including hydrological indicator sites, in the
Murray-Darling surveyed in October-November 2010 for waterbirds (names of wetlands are
given in Table 1), superimposed on the wetland coverage across the Murray-Darling Basin,
showing floodplain wetlands, freshwater lakes, reservoirs and saline lakes (see Kingsford et
al. 2004 for details).
Analyses
Waterbird abundance and species richness were compared with ANOVA using SYSTAT
v12 software (Systat Inc. 2007). Data were log or fourth root transformed to stabilise variance
and improve normality. Differences in waterbird communities among Icon sites, wetlands and
7
replicate counts were compared using analysis of similarities (ANOSIM) (Clarke 1993) with
PRIMER v6 software (Clarke & Gorley 2006). A one way global analysis was followed by pair
wise comparisons to determine differences. The number of comparisons was generally small
relative to the number of replicates, significantly reducing the risk of Type I error (Clarke
1993). A Bray-Curtis dissimilarity matrix of species abundance was calculated after log
transformation to reduce heteroscedasticity and lower the risk of Type I error. Similarities and
groupings among wetland species assemblages were analysed using hybrid non-metric
multidimensional scaling (nMDS) (PRIMER v6 software; Clarke & Gorley 2006). Ordinations
were done on a Bray-Curtis dissimilarity matrix (described above). Configurations were
calculated in two dimensions after 50 random starts and Shepard diagrams examined for
degenerate solutions (Legendre & Legendre 1998).
River flow data
We also collected daily flow data for the 10 year period 2002 (Jan) to 2011 (Dec) for the
nearest appropriate flow gauges, closest to each of the major wetlands, to provide further
information about flooding. Flow data were sourced from government water monitoring web
databases provided by the Department of Sustainability and Environment (Victoria), NSW
Office of Water (New South Wales), Department of Water (South Australia), Department of
Environment and Resource Management (Queensland) and the Murray-Darling Basin
Authority (see Appendix 2.
Results and discussion
Abundance
A total of about half a million waterbirds were surveyed across all major wetland sites in
the Murray-Darling Basin (Table 1). These included a total of 46 species or groups of species
(Appendix 1). Major wetlands, most of which we surveyed, generally carry most of waterbirds
in the landscape. For example, during surveys of about 2000 wetlands across eastern
Australia, only 30 wetlands in the entire survey supported 80% of all waterbirds (Kingsford
and Porter 2009). The October-November 2010 survey covered most of the large wetlands
that form waterbird habitat for waterbirds in the Murray-Darling Basin and so was likely to
represent a substantial proportion of the waterbirds in the Murray-Darling Basin. This
proportion is likely to be more reduced in 2010 than in dry years because waterbirds tend to
8
spread out in years where there is significant flooding, as in 2010 across the Murray-Darling
basin and the adjoing drainage basins of the Bulloo-Bancannia and Lake Eyre Basin.
Table. 1. Mean abundance (two counts), range of counts, number of waterbird species and
range of species identified for each of the 27 wetlands surveyed for waterbirds in OctoberNovember 2010 (locations signified by numbers on Fig. 1).
Wetland
3. Barmah Millewa
1. Booligal/Lachlan wetland
26. Chowilla Lindsay Wallpolla
23. Currawinya Lakes
2. Edward River
4. Fivebough Swamp
5. Goulburn River
6. Great Cumbung Swamp
7. Gunbower-Koondrook-Pericoota
Forests
8. Gwydir Wetlands
9. Hattah Lakes
10. Kerang
11. Lake Brewster
12. Lake Buloke
13. Lake Cargelligo
14. Lake Cowal
15. Lake Hindmarsh
16. Lake Tyrell
17. Lowbidgee
18. Lower Balonne River Floodplain
19. Lower Darling (Menindee Lakes)
27. Lower Lakes-Coorong
20. Macquarie Marshes
21. Murrumbidgee River
22. Narran Lakes
19. Paroo Overflow Lakes
24. Yantabulla Swamp
Total
Abundance
7930
78898
2559
4367
766
142
Range
28895 - 128901
1627 - 3491
2726 - 6007
124 – 160
Species
10
24
27
29
6
8
103
5767
5 - 201
416 - 11118
4
20
8334
-
14
4764
264
29356
3986
4937
1097
18170
432
4
32295
661
1805
64919
110454
1162
24793
5698
83008
480301
3898 - 5630
29
10
17
27
19
10
26
17
2
30
7
22
35
23
15
27
36
28
46
28302 - 30410
2771 - 5200
3631 - 6242
955 - 1239
14833 - 21507
380 - 484
2-5
27626 - 36963
1412 - 2197
60310 - 69528
13508 - 36077
5383 - 6012
196835 – 371664
Range
23 - 25
24 - 30
28 - 29
7-9
2 6
17 - 23
28 - 29
16 - 18
24 - 29
7 - 12
24 - 27
15 - 18
28 - 32
21 - 22
33 – 37
26 - 28
35 - 37
-
There was a considerable difference in the numbers of waterbirds supported by the
different wetlands surveyed (Fig. 2, Table 1). Seven wetlands exceeded 20,000 waterbirds.
The Macquarie Marshes had more than 100,000 waterbirds, while Yantabulla Swamp, the
Lower Lakes and the Coorong, and the Booligal wetlands and Lachlan swamps had more
9
than 50,000 waterbirds and the Lowbidgee and Narran Lakes had more than 20,000
waterbirds (Table 1, Fig. 2). There was considerable variability in some of the replicate
counts, particularly the Booligal/ Lachlan wetland complex and Narran Lakes. Variability for
the former probably reflects its extent and the difficulty of surveying the area twice. Some of
the variability for Narran Lakes was related to a flock of waterbirds that departed the area
between counts.
Figure 2. Abundance on 27 wetlands surveyed for waterbirds across the Murray-Darling
Basin in October-November 2010 (see Fig. 1 for locations). Error bars indicate the difference
between maximum and mean of two counts for each wetland. For the Macquarie Marshes,
Yantabulla Swamp, Barmah-Millewa Forest and Gunbower-Koondrook-Pericoota, a series of
transects made up a single estimate.
There was no significant difference in the species abundances recorded in replicate counts
for each of the major wetlands (global R=-0.024; P=0.661). This indicates that overall, survey
methodology was consistent and waterbird mobility did not unduly bias results.
10
Transform: Fourth root
Resemblance: S17 Bray Curtis dissimilarity
2D Stress: 0.14
Wetland
Booligal/Lachlan
Currawinya Lakes
wetlands
Edward River
Lake Cowal
Lake Hindmarsh
Fivebough Swamp
Lake Tyrell
Lowbidgee
Goulburn River
Great Cumbung Swamp
Lower Balonne River Floodplain
Lower Darling
Gunbower-Koondrook-Pericoota Forests
Gwydir Wetlands
Macquarie Marshes
Murrumbidgee wetlands
Kerang
Lake Brewster
Narran Lakes
Paroo Overflow Lakes
Lake Buloke
Lake Cargelligo
Yantabulla Swamp
Figure 3. Ordination plot (nMDS) of waterbird species abundance in replicate counts of
wetlands surveyed in October-November 2010. Some sites had only one count (no replicate
– e.g. Edward river, Lower Balonne River Floodplain, Macquarie Marshes, Yantabulla
Swamp).
Waterbird species
Much of the overall abundance of the waterbird community was made up of relatively few
species (Fig. 4). In particular, straw-necked ibis and grey teal were the most numerous
species over all wetlands in the survey. Remaining species made up the remainder of the
waterbirds surveyed (Fig. 4).
11
100.000
species abundance (%)
SNI
GTL
10.000
1.000
0.100
0.010
0.001
0
10
20
30
40
50
rank
Figure 4. Relative abundance of species over all 27 wetlands surveyed in the Murray-Darling
Basin, showing mean waterbird species abundance (%) against abundance rank for each
species (each point on the plot represents a species – two most abundant species Strawnecked ibis SNI and Grey teal GTL are labelled).
There was also a strong significant positive relationship between species’ diversity and
abundance (R2=0.63, P<0.001, n=24, Fig. 5). High diversity in the waterbird community tends
to be associated with abundance, reflecting habitat complexity and size.
Mean total species
40
30
20
10
0
10
100
1000
10000
100000
Mean total abundance
Figure 5. Significant relationship between mean total abundance and mean total number of
species over all 27 wetlands surveyed in the Murray-Darling Basin.
12
Species diversity among wetlands varied from 2 (Lake Tyrell) to 36 (Paroo Overflow Lakes)
(Fig. 4, Table 1). A total of 46 species were recorded among all wetlands surveyed. Wetlands
with high abundance tended to also have high diversity, and this was statistically significant
The more diverse wetlands for waterbirds (>25 species) included the Currawinya Lakes,
Gwydir wetlands, Lake Brewster, Lowbidgee, Paroo overflow lakes, Yantabulla Swamp,
Chowilla-Lindsay-Wallpolla wetlands and Lower Lakes and the Coorong. Low species
diversity occurred mainly on the wetlands that were predominantly deep river channels (e.g.
Edward River, Murrumbidgee River) or were highly saline (e.g. Lake Tyrell).
Figure 6. Number of species of waterbirds on 27 wetlands surveyed for waterbirds across
the Murray-Darling Basin in October-November 2010 (see Fig. 1 for locations). Error bars
indicate the difference between maximum and mean of two counts for each wetland. For the
Macquarie Marshes, Yantabulla Swamp, Barmah-Millewa Forest and Gunbower-KoondrookPericoota, a series of transects made up a single estimate.
13
Figure 7. Percentage composition of the ten most numerous species on 27 wetlands
surveyed across the Murray-Darling Basin in October-November 2010.
Waterbird communities were dominated by a few highly abundant species - Straw-necked
ibis alone accounted for more than 58% of total waterbird abundance across all wetlands
(Figs 3 and 7, Table 2). The 10 most abundant species (straw-necked ibis, grey teal, egrets,
whiskered terns, black-winged stilts, white ibis, hardhead, Australian pelican, black-tailed
native-hen, and glossy ibis) comprised more than 91% of total waterbird abundance (Fig. 3).
The composition of species and their abundance varied among the different wetlands (Table
2). Most wetlands had a few dominant species (e.g. Barmah-Millewa forest, Australian white
ibis; Currawinya Lakes, Eurasian coot and Australian pelican; straw-necked ibis, Macquarie
Marshes, Egrets, Grey teal, Australian white ibis; Table 2).
14
Table 2. Waterbird species and their average abundances among wetlands surveyed in
October-November 2010.
Species
Australasian shoveler
Australian Pelican
Australian shelduck
Australian White Ibis
Australian Wood duck
Banded Stilt
Black Swan
Black-tailed native hen
Black-winged stilt
Cape Barren Geese
Caspian Tern
Chestnut teal
Darter
Dusky moorhen
Egrets
Eurasian coot
Freckled duck
Glossy Ibis
Great Cormorant
Great crested grebe
Great egret
Grebes
Grey Teal
Gull billed tern
Hardhead
Large wader
Little black cormorant
Little pied cormorant
Masked Lapwing
Musk Duck
Pacific Black duck
Pacific heron
Pied Cormorant
Pied oystercatcher
Pink-eared duck
Purple Swamphen
Red necked avocet
Royal spoonbill
Silver Gull
Small waders
Sooty Oystercatcher
Straw necked Ibis
Tern
Whiskered tern
White faced heron
Yellow billed spoonbill
BarmahMillewa
0
0
0
6081
0
0
195
0
0
0
0
0
49
0
389
0
0
0
292
0
0
0
97
0
0
0
292
487
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
49
0
BooligalLachlan
Wetland
0
234
10
331
59
0
6
1276
289
0
0
0
0
0
22
43
0
654
12
0
7
0
654
0
244
0
15
0
0
0
22
25
0
0
28
1
0
62
0
1
0
75349
0
157
0
16
Chow Lin
Wall
0
350
458
217
65
0
400
1
18
0
0
4
30
0
11
5
0
341
48
0
11
2
341
0
107
0
244
11
10
0
28
0
73
0
2
5
0
2
49
9
0
67
0
0
14
18
15
Currawinya
Lakes
Edward
River
Fivebough
Swamp
0
1217
0
7
108
0
478
11
51
0
65
0
27
0
11
1198
20
354
46
2
19
1
354
35
12
0
334
2
6
0
17
0
107
0
157
1
0
6
8
0
0
7
0
49
3
28
0
0
0
0
27
0
0
0
0
20
0
0
20
0
80
0
8
0
0
0
0
0
7
20
0
0
5
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
8
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
10
0
4
0
0
0
7
0
0
0
0
21
0
0
0
0
21
0
0
0
7
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
683
0
0
21
0
Table 2 continued Waterbird species and their average abundances among wetlands
surveyed in October-November 2010.
Species
Australasian shoveler
Australian Pelican
Australian shelduck
Australian White Ibis
Australian Wood duck
Banded Stilt
Black Swan
Black-tailed native hen
Black-winged stilt
Cape Barren Geese
Caspian Tern
Chestnut teal
Darter
Dusky moorhen
Egrets
Eurasian coot
Freckled duck
Glossy Ibis
Great Cormorant
Great crested grebe
Great egret
Grebes
Grey Teal
Gull billed tern
Hardhead
Large wader
Little black cormorant
Little pied cormorant
Masked Lapwing
Musk Duck
Pacific Black duck
Pacific heron
Pied Cormorant
Pied oystercatcher
Pink-eared duck
Purple Swamphen
Red necked avocet
Royal spoonbill
Silver Gull
Small waders
Sooty Oystercatcher
Straw necked Ibis
Tern
Whiskered tern
White faced heron
Yellow billed spoonbill
Goulburn
River
Great
Cumbung
Swamp
0
0
7
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
88
0
0
0
7
0
0
0
7
7
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
56
0
172
678
0
59
2784
339
0
0
0
0
0
59
115
0
9
10
6
0
0
1966
0
414
0
27
6
0
0
248
139
5
0
0
5
0
0
0
9
0
539
0
9
9
0
GunbowerKoondrookPericoota
Forest
133
67
1333
67
933
0
67
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
67
0
3667
0
0
0
400
67
0
0
333
200
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
200
0
0
800
0
16
Gwydir
Wetlands
10
142
0
308
204
0
17
0
53
0
0
0
11
0
1113
5
0
0
16
0
0
1
684
0
317
0
46
5
10
0
96
84
1
0
0
110
0
3
5
104
0
750
0
85
18
26
Hattah
Lakes
1
2
0
0
36
0
32
25
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
99
0
0
0
2
0
0
65
0
0
0
3
1
0
0
13
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Kerang
2
21
221
6887
1
60
138
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
101
18
0
0
7
1
0
0
722
0
30
0
1
0
0
0
4
0
5
0
0
0
0
31
40
3
0
21136
0
0
0
0
Table 2. continued Waterbird species and their average abundances among wetlands
surveyed in October-November 2010.
Species
Australasian shoveler
Australian Pelican
Australian shelduck
Australian White Ibis
Australian Wood duck
Banded Stilt
Black Swan
Black-tailed native hen
Black-winged stilt
Cape Barren Geese
Caspian Tern
Chestnut teal
Darter
Dusky moorhen
Egrets
Eurasian coot
Freckled duck
Glossy Ibis
Great Cormorant
Great crested grebe
Great egret
Grebes
Grey Teal
Gull billed tern
Hardhead
Large wader
Little black cormorant
Little pied cormorant
Masked Lapwing
Musk Duck
Pacific Black duck
Pacific heron
Pied Cormorant
Pied oystercatcher
Pink-eared duck
Purple Swamphen
Red necked avocet
Royal spoonbill
Silver Gull
Small waders
Sooty Oystercatcher
Straw necked Ibis
Tern
Whiskered tern
White faced heron
Yellow billed spoonbill
Lake
Brewster
5
802
5
13
417
0
78
0
407
0
0
0
7
0
154
251
0
85
108
0
3
0
818
0
106
0
228
14
4
0
83
22
58
0
14
0
2
17
104
50
0
26
0
104
15
14
Lake
Buloke
5
0
92
0
17
0
10
4
35
0
0
0
0
0
6
32
0
0
1
0
0
0
4476
0
55
0
0
0
8
0
21
4
0
0
20
0
0
0
62
51
0
5
0
34
0
1
Lake
Cargelligo
0
48
0
34
0
0
12
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
73
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
922
3
0
0
0
1
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
2
0
17
Lake
Cowal
2
35
0
368
74
0
121
0
131
0
0
0
0
0
33
300
2
4
0
0
0
0
642
2
245
0
11
4
4
0
80
13
0
0
4
20
0
33
4
0
0
11309
0
3760
15
11
Lake
Hindmarsh
4
10
51
0
10
0
2
2
1
0
0
0
0
0
2
3
0
0
4
0
0
0
261
8
0
0
80
0
6
0
7
11
0
0
4
0
0
0
17
0
0
8
0
6
4
1
Lake
Tyrell
0
0
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Table 2. continued Waterbird species and their average abundances among wetlands
surveyed in October-November 2010.
Species
Lowbidgee
Australasian shoveler
Australian Pelican
Australian shelduck
Australian White Ibis
Australian Wood duck
Banded Stilt
Black Swan
Black-tailed native hen
Black-winged stilt
Cape Barren Geese
Caspian Tern
Chestnut teal
Darter
Dusky moorhen
Egrets
Eurasian coot
Freckled duck
Glossy Ibis
Great Cormorant
Great crested grebe
Great egret
Grebes
Grey Teal
Gull billed tern
Hardhead
Large wader
Little black cormorant
Little pied cormorant
Masked Lapwing
Musk Duck
Pacific Black duck
Pacific heron
Pied Cormorant
Pied oystercatcher
Pink-eared duck
Purple Swamphen
Red necked avocet
Royal spoonbill
Silver Gull
Small waders
Sooty Oystercatcher
Straw necked Ibis
Tern
Whiskered tern
White faced heron
Yellow billed spoonbill
2
33
11
742
30
0
75
63
93
0
4
0
5
0
201
60
0
52
18
2
1
0
1244
8
88
0
14
7
0
0
41
12
11
0
10
0
0
148
25
0
0
28905
20
323
7
49
Lower
Balonne
River
Floodplain
0
63
0
0
315
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
0
23
0
0
0
252
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Lower
LakesCoorong
Lower
Darling
0
511
21
1
120
0
41
0
0
0
0
0
9
0
108
0
0
2
63
0
3
0
21
1
23
0
469
3
2
0
6
0
221
0
5
0
0
34
33
0
0
93
0
0
3
21
2
5065
7009
943
0
2400
2410
0
30
175
74
386
2
0
73
1
0
0
15050
4
54
0
101
25
20
22
4741
31
49
9
119
0
1424
3
0
5
0
2
6964
7341
1
8130
1619
388
38
17
18
Macquarie
Marshes
Murrumbidgee
River
0
489
0
3789
84
0
585
0
4401
0
0
0
56
0
16552
0
0
1783
111
0
0
111
10335
0
1476
0
557
0
0
0
474
2146
0
0
0
0
0
1699
0
0
0
47411
0
10390
1421
1074
0
25
0
1
227
0
4
0
0
0
0
0
12
0
63
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
448
0
0
0
132
13
0
0
17
63
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
98
52
Table 2. continued Waterbird species and their average abundances among wetlands
surveyed in October-November 2010.
Species
Australasian shoveler
Australian Pelican
Australian shelduck
Australian White Ibis
Australian Wood duck
Banded Stilt
Black Swan
Black-tailed native hen
Black-winged stilt
Cape Barren Geese
Caspian Tern
Chestnut teal
Darter
Dusky moorhen
Egrets
Eurasian coot
Freckled duck
Glossy Ibis
Great Cormorant
Great crested grebe
Great egret
Grebes
Grey Teal
Gull billed tern
Hardhead
Large wader
Little black cormorant
Little pied cormorant
Masked Lapwing
Musk Duck
Pacific Black duck
Pacific heron
Pied Cormorant
Pied oystercatcher
Pink-eared duck
Purple Swamphen
Red necked avocet
Royal spoonbill
Silver Gull
Small waders
Sooty Oystercatcher
Straw necked Ibis
Tern
Whiskered tern
White faced heron
Yellow billed spoonbill
0
489
0
19
184
0
480
4
2
0
0
0
4
0
200
265
0
163
163
4
2
0
1705
4
544
0
134
21
0
0
25
2
8
Paroo
Overflow
Lakes
0
1400
14
30
290
0
280
496
1
0
32
0
15
0
33
128
2
38
38
0
13
0
370
11
18
0
56
1
7
1
39
1
228
122
0
0
10
0
0
71
0
131
33
51
2
3157
0
189
332
0
0
16804
0
3115
1
21
88
13
181
1
85
37840
0
2494
0
1010
Narren
Lakes
Yantabulla
Swamp
Total - all
wetlands
16
1563
0
2100
142
0
679
3868
16
0
0
0
63
0
2447
0
79
0
0
0
174
0
2226
16
7530
0
32
16
395
0
253
16
0
182
12642
9236
22110
4041
2460
6249
8534
5875
175
175
390
305
0
21609
2543
103
3506
16317
21
354
117
31307
110
11230
22
8752
692
501
10
1941
2752
2146
3
3594
147
322
2413
7362
7570
1
249351
1652
21107
2519
2448
19
Waterbird communities
There were considerable differences among functional groups of waterbirds using the
wetlands (Fig. 8). Herbivorous waterbirds formed a significant part of waterbird communities
on Lake Tyrell, Currawinya Lakes, Chowilla-Lindsay-Walpolla, Balonne River floodplain and
the Booligal/ Lachlan swamp system. Shorebirds were prominent in Yantabulla swamp and
Lake Brewster while large wading birds formed a significant proportion of the waterbird
community on Barmah-Millewa, Booligal/ Lachlan wetland, Edward River, Kerang Lakes,
Lake Cowal, Lowbidgee, Macquarie Marshes, Narran Lakes, Paroo overflow lakes and
Yantabulla swamp. This reflected the abundant populations of ibis and egrets on these
wetlands (Table 2).
Figure 8. Functional groups of waterbirds on 27 wetlands surveyed across the MurrayDarling Basin (Murray icon sites omitted) in October-November 2010. Major groups included
shorebirds (Sh), Piscivores (Pi), large waders (La), Herbivores (He) and duck species (Du)
(See Appendix 1 for species included in each of the functional groups).
20
There was considerable variation in the composition of waterbird communities among
wetlands (Fig. 9). Overall (mean) species abundance varied significantly (R=0.80; p=0.001).
Lake Tyrell had low abundance and few species (probably a consequence of high salinity)
and was strongly separated from other wetlands. Wetlands consisting mainly of deep river
channel type habitat (Edward, Goulburn and Lower Balonne Rivers) generally had low
abundance (<1000) and few species (<10) separated well from floodplain and shallow
terminal lakes (e.g. Paroo overflow and Booligal/Lachlan wetlands, Fig.9).
Transform: Fourth root
Resemblance: S17 Bray Curtis dissimilarity
2D Stress:
0.12
Wetland
Booligal/Lachlan wetlands
Currawinya Lakes
Edward River
Fivebough Swamp
Goulburn River
Great Cumbung Swamp
Gunbower-Koondrook-Pericoota
Gwydir Wetlands
Forests
Kerang
Lake Brewster
Lake Buloke
Lake Cargelligo
Lake Cowal
Lake Hindmarsh
Lake Tyrell
Lowbidgee
Lower Balonne River
Lower Darling
Floodplain
Macquarie Marshes
Murrumbidgee wetlands
Narran Lakes
Paroo Overflow Lakes
Yantabulla Swamp
Figure 9. Ordination plot (nMDS) of mean abundance in counts of waterbird communities on
wetlands surveyed in October-November 2010.
21
Waterbird Breeding
There was considerable breeding across many of the major wetland sites (Fig. 10, Table 3). There was
a total of about 100,000 nests and 80 broods estimated during aerial surveys of waterbirds, mostly
colonial waterbird breeding on a few of the major wetland sites (Fig. 10, Table 3). Key sites for
breeding colonies included the Booligal/ Lachlan wetland complex, Kerang wetlands, Lake Cowal,
Lowbidgee, Macquarie Marshes and the Lower Lakes and the Coorong (Fig. 10).
Figure 10. Number of nests and broods of waterbirds estimated across different breeding
sites in the Murray-Darling Basin during aerial surveys in October-November 2010.
Many different species (28) nested or had broods on the wetlands (Table 3). There is an obvious
negative bias with estimation of breeding populations, particularly species that are not breeding in
colonies so our estimates are likely to considerably underestimate the amount of breeding in
wetlands. The more numerous species included colonially breeding species, particularly strawnecked ibis which bred in large colonies on a number of wetlands (Table 3).
22
Table 2. Estimates of number of breeding records (nests and broods) for waterbird species on
wetlands surveyed in October-November 2010 in the Murray-Darling Basin.
Species
Australian pelican
Australian white ibis
Australian wood duck
Black Swan
Chestnut Teal
Egret
Eurasian coot
Glossy ibis
Great cormorant
Grey Teal
Hardhead
Masked lapwing
Magpie goose
Pacific black duck
Pacific heron
Plumed whistling-duck
Pied cormorant
Pied stilt
Purple swamphen
Wetland
Currawinya Lakes
Lower Lakes-Coorong
Booligal/ Lachlan wetlands
Kerang Lakes
Lake Cowal
Lowbidgee
Paroo overflow lakes
Lake Cowal
Barmah Millewa
Chowilla Lindsay Wallpolla
Currawinya
Fivebough
Great Cumbung Swamp
Gwydir Wetlands
Hattah Lakes
Kerang Lakes
Lake Buloke
Lake Cowal
Lower Lakes-Coorong
Lowbidgee
Murrumbidgee River
Paroo Overflow Lakes
Lower Lakes-Coorong
Hattah Lakes
Lowbidgee
Lake Cowal
Lake Hindmarsh
Paroo Overflow Lakes
Kerang Lakes
Gunbower Koondrook Perricoota
Hattah Lakes
Lake Cowal
Lake Cowal
Lower Lakes-Coorong
Kerang Lakes
Gwydir
Lake Cowal
Lake Cowal
Paroo overflow lakes
Lake Cowal
Booligal/ Lachlan
Paroo Overflow Lakes
Lake Cowal
Paroo Overflow lakes
Great Cumbung Swamp
23
Nests
1890
1400
400
6,770
251
310
26
0
25
0
4
7
2
0
4
25
0
31
29
1
4
0
0
100
85
44
3
1401
10
0
0
0
0
0
8
0
0
0
3
0
50
30
0
0
0
Broods
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
10
0
12
25
3
0
1
9
5
3
14
40
2
3
18
5
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
2
166
30
2
3
3
5
5
0
30
0
0
57
9
1
Red-necked avocet
Rufous night heron
Royal spoonbill
Silver Gull
Straw-necked ibis
Yellow-billed spoonbill
Whiskered Terns
White-faced heron
Total
Lake Cowal
Lake Cowal
Lake Cowal
Booligal/ Lachlan wetlands
Kerang Lakes
Lake Cowal
Lowbidgee
Paroo overflow lakes
Great Cumbung Swamp
Booligal/ Lachlan wetlands
Kerang Lakes
Lake Cowal
Lowbidgee
Macquarie Marshes
Currawinya Lakes
Gwydir wetlands
Lake Buloke
Lake Cowal
Lowbidgee
Lake Cowal
Lake Brewster
Paroo Overflow Lakes
Lower Lakes-Coorong
Lake Cowal
0
1
1
60
20
30
127
9
1
30,154
6,750
10,611
24,895
14,000
1
6
1
5
46
1660
32
9
1800
8
101,101
19
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
80
Individual wetlands
Barmah Millewa
A number of small flows occurred in the Murray River upstream of the Barmah-Millewa in the
period 2004-2006 but by far the greatest flow events occurred over the summer of 2010-11 (Fig 12a).
This wetland had a total of about 7,930 waterbirds, comprised of 10 species (Table 1). The more
numerous species included mainly large wading birds and fish eating birds on this wetland but this
wetland was primarily dominated by Australian white ibis which were nesting at the time of the
survey (Fig. 11).
24
Figure 11. The ten highest ranked species and their percentage abundance of all waterbirds, for each
of the wetlands surveyed in October-November 2010. Three letter acronyms identify the differen
species (see Appendix 1).
25
Booligal/ Lachlan wetlands
The Lachlan River upstream of this site has received low flows for the past decade, good flows
returned in 2010-11 (fig. 12b). There was an estimated total of 78,898 waterbirds, including 24
species (Tables 1 and 2). While there were many different species on this wetland complex (Table 2),
numbers of waterbirds were dominated by straw-necked ibis which were breeding in a large colony
on the wetland (Table 3).
Chowilla-Lindsay-Wallpolla
The Murray river hydrology has been dominated by low flows over the past decade, late 2010
saw the largest flows in the river over this period (Fig. 12c). This wetland system had a wide range of
species (Tables 1 and 2, 27 species) and an estimated 2,559 waterbirds (Table 1). There were few
species that were noticeably dominant, compared to other wetlands. The wetland had most
functional groups appearing in the ten most numerous species (Fig. 11).
Currawinya Lakes
Three significant flow events have occured upstream of Currawinya lakes in the Paroo river over
the past decade. These occured in summers of 2004, 2007-08, and 2010 (Fig. 12d). Currawinya Lakes
had a total of about 4,400 waterbirds, consisting of 29 species (Table 1). There was a reasonably
large colony of Australian pelicans breeding on the wetland (Table 3). Other species breeding on this
wetland included black swans and yellow-billed spoonbills (Table 3). Australian pelicans, black swans
and Eurasian coot dominated the wetland (Fig. 11).
Edward River
A number of small flow events occured down the Edward river in the first half of last decade
(2002-2006) followed by a depression in flows over the years 2007 to 2010. The summer of 2010-11
saw large flows thought the system (Fig. 12e). This wetland had relatively few waterbirds (766) and
26
few species (6) (Tables 1 and 2). There was no breeding recorded. In terms of composition, the
waterbird composition was dominated by straw-necked ibis (Fig. 11).
Fivebough swamp
There were relatively few (142) waterbirds utilising Fivebough swamp, including only eight
species (Tables 1 and 2). There were no breeding records. Black swans, Eurasian coot and Australian
pelicans were the dominant species (Fig. 11).
Goulburn River
Low flows dominated the hydrograph for Goulburn river since 2002. A return of substantial flows
occured mid-2010 (Fig. 12f). There were relatively few waterbirds (103) on the Goulburn River,
consisting of four species (Tables 1 and 2). There were no records of breeding. Grey teal and Pacific
black duck dominated the species’ composition (Fig. 11).
Great Cumbung Swamp
Flow events in the Lachlan river upstream of the Great cumbung swamp occured at the end of
2006, beginning of 2008, mid and late 2010, and early 2011 (Fig. 12g). There were an estimated
5,767 waterbird, consisting of 20 species on this wetland (Tables 1 and 2). There were relatively few
records of breeding (Table 3). Species composition was dominated by black-tailed native-hen, grey
teal and Australian wood duck (Fig. 11).
Gunbower-Koondrook-Pericoota
The largest flows down the Murray river of the past decade occured in 2010-11 (Fig. 12h). There
were an estimated 8,334 waterbirds, consisting of 14 species on this wetland (Tables 1 and 2). There
were relatively few breeding records (Table 3). Grey teal, Australian shelduck and Australian wood
duck were the dominant species (Fig. 11).
27
Gwydir wetlands
The Gwydir river has a history of large and yet shortlived flow events. Flows in the past decade
have generally occured in the summer months coinciding with releases from Copeton dam upstream
(Fig. 12i). There were an estimated 4,764 waterbirds, consisting of 29 species on this wetland (Tables
1 and 2). There were relatively few breeding records (Table 3). There was a wide range of species
that were equally dominant in terms of abundance on this wetland, including large wading birds and
duck species (Fig. 11).
28
Figure 11 continued. The ten highest ranked species and their percentage abundance of all
waterbirds, for each of the wetlands surveyed in October-November 2010. Three letter acronyms
identify the differen species (see Appendix 1).
29
Figure 11 continued. The ten highest ranked species and their percentage abundance of all
waterbirds, for each of the wetlands surveyed in October-November 2010. Three letter acronyms
identify the differen species (see Appendix 1).
30
Hattah lakes
The largest flows down the Murray river of the past decade occured in 2010-11 (Fig. 12j). There
were an estimated 264 waterbirds, consisting of 10 species on this wetland (Tables 1 and 2). There
were relatively few breeding records (Table 3). Eurasian coot, grey teal, Black Swan and Australian
wood duck the most abundant species (Fig. 11).
Kerang
Low flows dominated the hydrograph for Loddon river since 2002. A series of flow events
occured in 2010-11 (Fig. 12k). There were an estimated 29,356 waterbirds, consisting of 17 species
on this wetland system (Tables 1 and 2). There were large numbers of Straw-necked ibis and
Australian white ibis nesting (Table 3). Straw-necked ibis, Australian white ibis and Grey teal were
the dominant species (Fig. 11).
Lake Brewster
Small flow events occured in the Lachlan river during 2005 and 2008, while more substantial
flows occured in 2010 and 2011 (Fig. 12l). There were an estimated 3,986 waterbirds, consisting of
27 species on this wetland (Tables 1 and 2). There were relatively few breeding records (Table 3).
Grey teal, Australian pelican, Australian wood duck and Black-winged stilt were the more abundant
species (Fig. 11).
Lake Buloke
Two small shorltlived flows (~20ML d-1) occured in the Richardson river in 2008. Flow data was
unavailable for the Richarson river after Mar-09. (Fig. 12m). There were an estimated 4,937
waterbirds, consisting of 19 species on this wetland (Tables 1 and 2). There were relatively few
breeding records (Table 3). Grey teal, Australian shelduck, Silver gull and Hardhead were the more
abundant species on this wetland (Fig. 11).
31
Lake Cargellico
In the Lachlan river a shortlived moderate flow event occured in 2005, a series of more
substantial flows occured in 2010-11 (Fig. 12n). There were an estimated 1,097 waterbirds, consisting
of 10 species on this wetland (Tables 1 and 2). There were relatively few breeding records (Table 3).
Little black cormorant, Great cormorant and Australian pelican were the more abundant species (Fig.
11).
Lake Cowal
In the Lachlan river a shortlived moderate flow event occured in 2005, a series of more substantial
flows occured in 2010-11 (Fig. 12o). There were an estimated 18,170 waterbirds, consisting of 26
species on this wetland (Tables 1 and 2). There was a wide range of birds breeding on Lake Cowal
(>15 species recorded) with large numbers of Straw-necked ibis (10,611) and Whiskered tern (1,660)
(Table 3). Straw-necked ibis, Whiskered tern and Grey teal were the more abundant species (Fig. 11).
Lake Hindmarsh
There were no flow events in the Wimmera river between 2002 to late 2009. Small flows occured in
late 2010 and 2011 (Fig. 12p). There were an estimated 432 waterbirds, consisting of 17 species on
this wetland (Tables 1 and 2). There were relatively few breeding records (Table 3). Grey teal and
Australian shelduck were the more abundant species (Fig. 11).
Lake Tyrell
There were no flow events in the Avoca river between 2002 and 2010. A series of small flows
occured in late 2010 and 2011 (Fig. 12q).There were an estimated 4 waterbirds, consisting of 1
species on this wetland (Tables 1 and 2). There were no breeding records (Table 3). Australian
shelduck was the only species recorded (Fig. 11).
32
Lowbidgee
There were only minor flow events over the last decade (2002 – mid-2010) in the Murrumbidgee
river. More substantial flows occured in 2010-11 (Fig. 12r). There were an estimated 32,295
waterbirds, consisting of 30 species on this wetland (Tables 1 and 2). There was a large (24,895 nests)
breeding colony of Straw-necked ibis as well as White ibis, Yellow-billed spoonbill, Royal spoonbill
and Australian white ibis breeding (Table 3). Straw-necked ibis, Grey teal and Whiskered tern were
the more abundant species (Fig. 11).
Lower Balonne River Floodplain
Flow events occured in the Balone river in early 2010 and the summer of 2010-11 (Fig. 12s).
There were an estimated 661 waterbirds, consisting of 7 species on this wetland (Tables 1 and 2).
There were relatively few breeding records (Table 3). Great cormorant and Australian wood duck
were the more abundant species (Fig. 11).
Lower Darling (Menindee Lakes)
Flows on the Darling River in 2010 were the highest since 2002, resulting in the filling of all
Menindee Lakes (Fig. 12t). There were an estimated 1,805 waterbirds, consisting of 22 species on this
wetland (Tables 1 and 2). There were relatively few breeding records (Table 3). Australian Pelican,
Little black cormorant and egrets were the more abundant species (Fig. 11).
Lower Lakes - Coorong
Flows past Lock 1 of the Murray river were at their highest in 2010-11 (Fig. 12u). There were an
estimated 64,919 waterbirds, consisting of 35 species on this wetland (Tables 1 and 2). There were
large numbers (1,800 nests) of Whiskered tern and Australian Pelican (1,400 nests) breeding (Table
3). Great cormorant, Straw-necked ibis, small waders, Australian shelduck, Silver gull and Australian
pelican were the more abundant species (Fig. 11).
33
Macquarie Marshes
A number of small and short flows have occured in the Macquarie river upstream of the
Marshes. The most substantial flows occured in 2006 and 2010-11 (Fig. 12v). There were an
estimated 110,454 waterbirds, consisting of 23 species on this wetland (Tables 1 and 2). There were
large numbers (14,000 nest) of Straw-necked ibis breeding (Table 3). Straw-necked ibis, egrets, Grey
teal and Whiskered terns were the more abundant species (Fig. 11).
Murrumbidgee River
There were only minor flow events over the last decade (2002 – mid-2010) in the Murrumbidgee
river. More substantial flows occured in 2010-11 (Fig. 12w). There were an estimated 1,162
waterbirds, consisting of 15 species on this wetland (Tables 1 and 2). There was no breeding activity
recorded (Table 3). Grey teal and Little black cormorant were the more abundant species (Fig. 11).
Narran Lakes
Flows occured in the Narran river during 2004, 2008, 2010 and 2011. The largest flows occured in
2010 and 2011 (Fig. 12x). There were an estimated 24,793 waterbirds, consisting of 27 species on
this wetland (Tables 1 and 2). There were relatively few breeding records (Table 3). Straw-necked
ibis, Whiskered tern and Grey teal were the more abundant species (Fig. 11).
Paroo Overflow Lakes
Flows occured in the Paroo river in 2004, 2007-08 and 2010 (Fig. 12y). There were an estimated
5,698 waterbirds, consisting of 36 species on this wetland (Tables 1 and 2). There was a large (1,401
nests) colony of Glossy ibis (Table 3). Glossy ibis, Australian pelican and Black-tailed native hen were
the more abundant species (Fig. 11).
34
Yantabulla Swamp
Flows occured in the Warrego river in 2007-08, 2010 and 2011. Flow data was unavailable for the
Warrego River prior to Nov-05 (Fig. 12z). There were an estimated 83,008 waterbirds, consisting of
28 species on this wetland (Tables 1 and 2). There were relatively few breeding records (Table 3).
Straw-necked ibis, Black-winged stilt and Hardhead were the more abundant species (Fig. 11).
Flow data for wetlands
Flows for most river systems supplying the wetlands of the Murray-Darling Basin were relatively
high in 2010 compared to all years since 2002 (Fig. 12a-z).
35
Figure 12. River flow data for a. Murray river at Tocumwal (Barmah-Millewa Forest); b. Lachlan River
at Booligal (Booligal/Lachlan wetland); c. Murray river D/S Lock 9 (Chowilla Lindsay Wallpolla) and d.
Paroo river at Caiwarro (Currawinya Lakes), 2002 (Jan)-2011 (Dec).
36
Figure 12 continued. River flow data for e. Edward River at Moulamein (Edward River wetlands); f.
Goulburn River at Shepparton (Goulburn River wetlands); g. Lachlan River at Corrong (Great
Cumbung Swamp) and h. Murray River at Torrumbarry (Gunbower-Koondrook-Pericoota Forests),
2002 (Jan)-2011 (Dec).
37
Figure 12 continued. River flow data for i. Gwydir River at Pallamallawa (Gwydir Wetlands); j. Murray
River at Euston (Hattah Lakes); k. Loddon River at Kerang (Kerang wetlands) and l. Lachlan River at
Hillston Weir (Lake Brewster), 2002 (Jan)-2011 (Dec).
38
Figure 12 continued. River flow data for m. Richardson River at Donald (Lake Buloke); n. Lachlan
River at Lake Cargelligo Weir (Lake Cargelligo); o. Lachlan River at Forbes (Lake Cowal) and p.
Wimmera River at Horsham (Lake Hindmarsh), 2002 (Jan)-2011 (Dec). Note: Flow data unavailable
for Richarson river after Mar-09.
39
Figure 12 continued. River flow data for q. Avoca River at Quambatook (Lake Tyrell); r.
Murrumbidgee River downstream of Hay Weir (Lowbidgee wetlands); s. Ballone River at Weribone
(Lower Ballone River Floodplain) and t. Darling River at Menindee upstream of Weir 32 (Lower
Darling [Menindee Lakes]), 2002 (Jan)-2011 (Dec).
40
Figure 12 continued. River flow data for u. Murray River downstream of Lock 1 (Lower Lakes –
Coorong); v. Macquarie River downstream of Marebone Weir (Macquarie Marshes); w.
Murrumbidgee River at Narrandera (Murrumbidgee River) and x. Narran River at Narran Park (Narran
Lakes), 2002 (Jan)-2011 (Dec).
41
Figure 12 continued. River flow data for y. Paroo River at Caiwarro (Paroo Overflow Lakes); and z.
Warrego River at Wallen (Yantabulla Swamp) , 2002 (Jan)-2011 (Dec). Note: Flow Data unavailable for
Warrego River prior to Nov-05
Conclusions
This survey of waterbirds is the first comprehensive survey of all the major wetlands in the MurrayDarling Basin for any biota. It provides the initial data for long-term assessment of changes in water
flows, given the long term and natural changes in climate and flooding. The assessment also provides
an assessment of the different wetlands and their use by different waterbird species and functional
groups. Some wetlands are favoured by shorebirds as opposed to large wading birds. There was
considerable breeding of waterbirds on many of the wetland systems. We were able to identify the
more important wetlands for breeding waterbirds.
These data can provide a long-term assessment of different wetlands and their value for waterbirds.
It is likely that most waterbirds will support more species and higher abundances in dry times. The
considerable wetland habitat available in 2010 throughout the Murray-Darling Basin and adjacent
river basins meant that many waterbirds would be spread over large areas of available habitat. Long
42
term data in future years will allow establishment of benchmark for diversity, abundance and
possibly breeding in different wetlands surveyed.
Acknowledgments
We thank Louise Butler for entering and validating the data; Terry Korn for his aerial
survey work; Richard Byrne who flew the aircraft and Jess Armstrong, Daniela Binder,
Camila Ridoutt and Jordan Iles who assisted with compiling this report. The project was
funded by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority and the University of New South Wales.
References
Braithwaite, L.W., Maher, M., Briggs, S.V. and Parker, B.S. (1986) An aerial survey of three
game species of waterfowl (Family Anatidae) in eastern Australia. Australian Wildlife
Research 13, 213-23.
Caughley, G. (1977). Sampling in aerial survey. Journal of Wildlife Management 41, 605-615.
Clarke, K. R. (1993). Non-parametric multivariate analysis of changes in community
structure. Australian Journal of Ecology 18, 117-143.
Clarke, K.R. and Gorley, R.N. (2006) PRIMER V6: User Manual/Tutorial. Plymouth, UK,
Primer-E Ltd.
Clarke, K. R. and Warwick, R. M. (1994). 'Change in Marine Communities: an approach to
statistical analysis and interpretation.' (Natural Environment Research Council: UK.)
Halse, S.A., Pearson, G.B., Hassell, C., Collins, P., Scanlon, M.D., and Minton, C.D.T.
(2005). Mandora Marsh, north-western Australia, an arid-zone wetland maintaining
continental populations of waterbirds. Emu 105, 115-125.
Kingsford, R. T. (1995). Occurrence of high concentrations of waterbirds in arid Australia .
Journal of Arid Environments 29, 421-425.
Kingsford, R.T. (1999) Aerial survey of waterbirds on wetlands as a measure of river and
floodplain health. Freshwater Biology 41, 425-438.
Kingsford, R.T., Jenkins K.M., and Porter, J.L. (2004) Imposed hydrological stability on lakes
in arid australia and effects on waterbirds . Ecology 85, 2478-2492.
Kingsford, R.T. and Porter, J.L. (1994) Waterbirds on an Adjacent Freshwater Lake and Salt
Lake in Arid Australia. Biological Conservation 69, 219-228.
Kingsford, R.T. and Porter, J.L. (2008) Survey of waterbird communities of the Living Murray
icon sites-November 2007. School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences,
University of NSW, Sydney. Report to the Murray-Darling Basin Commission, 18pp.
R.T. Kingsford and J.L. Porter (2009a) Survey of waterbird communities of the Living Murray
icon sites - November 2008. School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences,
University of New South Wales. Report to Murray-Darling Basin Authority, 20pp.
R.T. Kingsford and J.L. Porter (2010) Survey of waterbird communities of the Living Murray
icon sites - November 2009. School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences,
University of New South Wales. Report to Murray-Darling Basin Authority, 20pp.
Kingsford R.T. and Porter J.L. (2009b) Monitoring waterbird populations with aerial surveys
– what have we learnt? Wildlife Research 36, 29-40.
43
Kingsford, R.T., Wong, P.S., Braithwaite, L.W., and Maher, M.T. (1999) Waterbird
abundance in eastern Australia, 1983-92. Wildlife Research 26, 351-366.
Legendre, P. and Legendre, L. Numerical Ecology (1998) Amsterdam, Elsevier Science B.V.
Developments in Environmental Modelling.
Porter, J.L. & Kingsford, R.T. (2009) Aerial Survey of Wetland Birds in Eastern Australia October 2009. Annual Summary Report- October 2009. University of New South Wales
Report. pp.29
Systat Inc. (2007). SYSTAT 12. San Jose, California USA.
44
Appendix 1. Waterbird species and functional groups identified during aerial surveys.
Functional groups were ducks and grebes (d); herbivores (h); shorebirds (sh); piscivores (p)
and large wading birds (lw). Three letter acronyms identify different species.
Waterbirds
Great Crested Grebe (d; GCG)
Specific name
Waterbirds
Brolga (lw; BRL)
Comb-crested Jacana (JAC)
Grus rubicundus
Irediparra gallinacea
Poliocephalus poliocephalus
Tachybaptus novaehollandiae
Pelecanus conspicillatus
Anhinga melanogaster
Phalacrocorax carbo
Phalacrocorax varius
Phalacrocorax sulcirostris
Phalacrocorax melanoleucos
Ardea pacifica
Ardea novaehollandiae
Ardea alba
Pied Oystercatcher (sh; POC)
Masked Lapwing (sh; MLW)
Banded Lapwing (sh; BDP)
Black-winged Stilt (sh; WHS)
Banded Stilt (sh; BST)
Red-necked Avocet (sh; AVO)
a
Large waders (sh; LGW)
Eastern Curlew
Whimbrel
Little Curlew
Bar-tailed Godwit
Black-tailed Godwit
Haematopus longirostris
Vanellus miles
Vanellus tricolor
Himantopus himantopus
Cladorhynchus leucocephalus
Recurvirostris novaehollandiae
Ardea intermedia
a
a
Small grebes (d; SMW)
Hoary-headed Grebe
Australasian Grebe
Australian Pelican (p; PEL)
Darter (p; DAR)
Great Cormorant (p; GRC)
Pied Cormorant (p; PCO)
Little Black Cormorant (p; LBC)
Little Pied Cormorant (p; LPC)
Pacific Heron (lw; WNH)
White-faced Heron (lw; WFH)
Great Egret (lw; LGE)
a
Small egrets (lw, EGR)
Intermediate Egret
Little Egret
Cattle Egret
Nankeen Night Heron (lw; NKE)
Black-necked Stork (lw; JAB)
Glossy Ibis (lw; GLI)
Australian White Ibis (lw; WHI)
Straw-necked Ibis (lw; SNI)
Royal Spoonbill (lw; RSB)
Yellow-billed Spoonbill (lw; YSB)
Magpie Goose (h; MPG)
Plumed Whistling-duck (d; GWD)
Wandering Whistling-duck (d;
WWD)
Black Swan (h; BSW)
Freckled Duck (d; FDU)
Cape Barren Goose (h; CPG)
Australian Shelduck (d; MNU)
Radjah Shelduck (d; BKU)
Pacific Black Duck (d; BDU)
Mallard (d; MAL)
Grey Teal (d; GTL)
Chestnut Teal (d; CTL)
Australasian Shoveler (d; BWS)
Pink-eared Duck (d; PED)
Hardhead (d; HHD)
Australian Wood Duck (d; WDU)
Cotton Pygmy-goose (d; WPG)
Ardea garzetta
Ardea ibis
Nycticorax caledonicus
Xenorhynchus asiaticus
Plegadis falcinellus
Threskiornis aethiopica
Threskiornis spinicollis
Platalea regia
Platalea flavipes
Anseranas semipalmata
Dendrocygna eytoni
Dendrocygna arcuata
Green Pygmy-goose (d; GPG)
Blue-billed Duck (d; BBD)
Musk Duck (d; MDU)
Black-tailed Native-hen (h; BTN)
Dusky Moorhen (d; MHE)
Purple Swamphen (h; SHE)
Eurasian Coot (h; COT)
Nettapus pulchellus
Oxyura australis
Biziura lobata
Gallinula ventralis
Gallinula tenebrosa
Porphyrio porphyrio
Fulica atra
a
Specific name
Podiceps cristatus
Cygnus atratus
Stictonetta naevosa
Cereopsis novaehollandiae
Tadorna tadornoides
Tadorna radjah
Anas superciliosa
Anas platyrhynchos
Anas gracilis
Anas castanea
Anas rhynchotis
Malacorhynchus membranaceus
Aythya australis
Chenonetta jubata
Nettapus coromandelianus
Small waders (sh; SMW)
Grey Plover
Lesser Golden Plover
Mongolian Plover
Double-banded Plover
Black-fronted Plover
Red-capped Plover
Ruddy Turnstone
Grey-tailed Tattler
Common Sandpiper
Marsh Sandpiper
Terek Sandpiper
Greenshank
Pluvialis squatorola
Pluvialis dominica
Charadrius mongolus
Charadrius bicinctus
Charadrius melanops
Charadrius ruficapillus
Arenaria interpres
Tringa brevipes
Tringa hypoleucos
Tringa stagnatilis
Tringa terek
Tringa nebularia
Red Knot
Great Knot
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper
Red-necked Stint
Curlew Sandpiper
Broad-billed Sandpiper
Red-kneed Dotterel
Latham's snipe
Silver Gull (p; SGU)
Pacific Gull (p; PGU)
Whiskered Tern (p; MST)
Gull-billed Tern (p; GBT)
Caspian Tern (p; CST)
Calidris canutis
Calidris tenuirostris
Calidris acuminata
Calidris ruficollis
Calidris ferruginea
Limicola falcinellus
Erthrogonys cintus
Gallinago hardwickii
Larus novaehollandiae
Larus pacificus
Sterna hybrida
Sterna nilotica
Hydroprogne caspia
a
Terns (undifferentiated) (p;
TERN)
Crested Tern
Lesser crested Tern
White-winged black Tern
Species that could not be separated during aerial surveys.
45
Numenius madagascariensis
Numenius phaeopus
Numenius minutus
Limosa lapponica
Limosa nebularia
Sterna bergii
Sterna bengalensis
Chlidonias leucopterus
Appendix 2. List of gauging stations used for stream flow data.
Site #
Wetland
Gauge name
Murray River at Tocumwal
Gauge
code
409202
data
provider
VIC
3
Barmah Millewa
1
Booligal/Lachlan wetland
Lachlan River at Booligal
412005
NSW
26
Chowilla Lindsay Wallpolla
River Murray at lock 9 Downstream
A4260505
SA
23
Currawinya Lakes
Paroo River at Caiwarro
424201A
QLD
2
Edward River
Edward River at Moulamein
409014
NSW
4
Fivebough Swamp
Rain fed system
N/A
N/A
5
Goulburn River
Goulburn River at Shepparton
405204
VIC
6
Great Cumbung Swamp
Lachlan River at Corrong
412045
NSW
7
Gunbower-Koondrook-Pericoota Forests
Murray River at Torrumbarry
409207B
MDBA
8
Gwydir Wetlands
Gwydir River at Pallamallawa
418001
NSW
9
Hattah Lakes
Murray River at Euston
414203C
MDBA
10
Kerang
Loddon River at Kerang
407202
VIC
11
Lake Brewster
Lachlan River at Hillston Weir
412039
NSW
12
Lake Buloke
Richardson River at Donald
415257
VIC
13
Lake Cargelligo
Lachlan River at Lake Cargelligo Weir
412011
NSW
14
Lake Cowal
Lachlan River at Forbes (Cottons Weir)
412004
NSW
15
Lake Hindmarsh
Wimmera River at Horsham
415200
VIC
16
Lake Tyrell
Avoca River at Quambatook
408203
VIC
17
Lowbidgee
Murrumbidgee River D/S Hay Weir
410136
NSW
18
Lower Balonne River Floodplain
Ballone River at Weribone
422213A
QLD
19
Lower Darling (Menindee Lakes)
Darling River at Menindee Upstream Weir 32
425012
NSW
27
Lower Lakes-Coorong
River Murray at Lock 1 Downstream
A4260903
SA
20
Macquarie Marshes
Macquarie River D/S Marebone Weir
421090
NSW
21
Murrumbidgee River
Murrumbidgee River at Narrandera
410005
NSW
22
Narran Lakes
Narran River at Narran Park
422029
NSW
19
Paroo Overflow Lakes
Paroo River at Caiwarro
424201A
QLD
24
Yantabulla Swamp
Warrego River at Wallen
423206A
QLD
Data providers:
VIC - Department of Sustainability and Environment (Victoria) - http://www.vicwaterdata.net
NSW - NSW Office of Water (New South Wales) - http://waterinfo.nsw.gov.au
SA - Department of Water (South Australia) - http://e-nrims.dwlbc.sa.gov.au
QLD - Department of Environment and Resource Management (Queensland) - http://watermonitoring.derm.qld.gov.au
MDBA - Murray-Darling Basin Authority - http://riverdata.mdba.gov.au
46