WONGA WETLANDS - A SUCCESS STORY
About four years ago they were nothing, just heavily grazed floodplain
paddocks. Albury City Council is winning awards all over the place and so
they should. The 70 hectares of wetland that has been created/restored on
the Murray River floodplain just west of Albury, are part of a much bigger
water reclamation and re-use project involving Eucalypt and Pine
plantations. After only two years, Latham's Snipe, Red-necked Stint and many
others had already "found out". Now more than 150 bird species have been
recorded including the recent identification and photography of all three
crakes and two rails. It is the only record i am aware of for Lewin's Rail
around Albury/Wodonga and i understand they are very scare west (or north)
of the Great Divide. I have read of records at Fivebough and Tuckerbil near
Leeton though. Soon (about two years) the wetlands will have an
interpretation centre and a self-guided walk so people from around the world
can experience the true diversity that this mighty floodplain can support.
Other noteworthy species for the region already recorded include:
Great-crested Grebe
White-bellied Sea-eagle
Swamp Harrier
Red-kneed Dotteral
Black-winged Stilt
Caspian Tern
Intermediate Egret
Little Egret
Nankeen Night Heron
Blue-billed Duck
Grey Goshawk (white morph)
and others which i'm sure i've forgotten
I will let the list know when the walk and information centre construction
are complete and open for people to enjoy.
Cheers,
Matthew Herring
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