Skip to main content Skip to main navigation Skip to search

Queensland and NSW floods 2022

Visit recovery.gov.au to see what help is available.

Close
Home

Top navigation main

  • News & media
  • Jobs
  • Ministers
  • Contact us
Main menu

AWE Main

  • Climate change
    Climate change Driving climate action, science and innovation so we are ready for the future.
    • Climate science and adaptation
    • Australia's climate change strategies
    • Emissions reduction
    • Emissions reporting
    • International commitments
    • Climate Active
    • Climate change publications and data
    • Australia’s National Greenhouse Accounts (Emissions Data)
    Stronger action on climate change

    Stronger action on climate change

    See how the Australian Government is committed to taking more ambitious action on climate change.

    Find out more

  • Energy
    Energy Building a secure and sustainable energy system for all Australians.
    • Energy policy in Australia
    • Energy and Climate Change Ministerial Council
    • Renewable energy
    • Energy publications
    • energy.gov.au
    • Energy Rating
    • Commercial Building Disclosure Program
    • Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS)
    • Your Home
    Decorative image

    Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme

    Guiding energy-efficient design and construction for a net-zero future

    Find out more about NatHERS

  • Environment
    Environment Improving stewardship and sustainable management of Australia’s environment.
    • Bushfire recovery
    • Climate change and the environment
    • Biodiversity
    • EPBC Act
    • Environmental information and data
    • International activities
    • Invasive species
    • Land
    • Marine
    • Partnerships
    • Protection
    • Report a breach of environment law
    • Threatened species & ecological communities
    • Waste and recycling
    • Wildlife trade
    Decorative image

    Read our Nature Positive Plan

    Our plan sets out the Australian Government’s commitment to environmental law reform

    Find out more

  • Water
    Water Improving the sustainable management of Australia’s water supply for industry, the environment and communities.
    • Coal, Coal seam gas (CSG) and water
    • Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder
    • Water policy and resources
    • Wetlands
    Water matters

    Water Matters

    Keep up with the latest news on the department's work in managing Australia's water resources.

    Read the latest edition here

  • Parks and heritage
    Parks and heritage Managing Australia’s iconic national parks, historic places and living landscapes.
    • Australian Marine Parks
    • Australian National Botanic Gardens
    • Booderee National Park
    • Kakadu National Park
    • Christmas Island National Park
    • National parks
    • Norfolk Island National Park
    • Heritage
    • Pulu Keeling National Park
    • The Great Barrier Reef
    • Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park
    The reef

    Great Barrier Reef

    Australia is protecting and conserving this World Heritage Area.

    Find out more

  • Science and research
    Science and research Undertaking research and collecting data to support informed decisions and policies.
    • Climate change
    • Australia's biological resources
    • National Environmental Science Program (NESP)
    • Office of the Science Convenor
    • Australian Biological Resource Study (ABRS)
    • State of the Environment (SoE) reporting
    • Bird and bat banding
    • Supervising Scientist
    Our climate is changing

    Our climate is changing

    Find out more about how climate science helps Australians with the impacts of climate change.

    Find out more

  • About us
    About us We lead Australia’s response to climate change and sustainable energy use, and protect our environment, heritage and water.
    • Accountability and reporting
    • Assistance, grants and tenders
    • Fees and charges
    • News and media
    • Our commitment to you
    • People and jobs
    • What we do
    • Who we are
    Decorative image

    Juukan Gorge response

    Read the Australian Government's response to the destruction at Juukan Gorge and the recommendations

    Read the response

  • Online services
    Online services We do business with you using online platforms. This makes it easier for you to meet your legal requirements.
Department of Climate Change, Energy, Enviroment and Water

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. About us
  3. News and media
  4. Collective effort helps bird breeding at Narran Lakes

Back to news - AWE

  • Back to news

Collective effort helps bird breeding at Narran Lakes

  • Media release
  • CEWO
8 February 2023

To help maintain bird breeding conditions at the Dharriwaa (also known as Narran Lakes), the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder has entered into an arrangement to release water from private on farm storages into the wetland via the Narran River.

Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder Dr Simon Banks said waterbird breeding is underway for the second year in a row at the internationally significant Narran Lakes Ramsar site.

“This is a really important breeding event at Dharriwaa given the decline in waterbirds population across the Basin since the 1980s.  It is rare to have the chance to support waterbird breeding events two years in a row,” Dr Banks said.

Recent monitoring at Dharriwaa estimates more than 20,000 nests of various waterbird species including straw-necked ibis, royal spoonbills, glossy ibis, egrets, cormorants, Australian Darters, Yellow-billed spoonbills and pelicans.

This is also the first time pelicans have bred at the Lakes since the late 1990s, one of only four inland sites in the Murray-Darling Basin where pelicans are known to breed.

“Waterbird breeding events at Dharriwaa rely on nature’s triggers of high and sustained river flows. Now the flows are drying up and water levels are receding, the additional water being delivered under this arrangement will reduce the risk of nest and chick abandonment and enhance breeding success,” Dr Banks said.

“We expect between 3 GL and up to 7.5 gigalitres of water will be released from Eastern Australia Agriculture’s storages.  The final volume will depend on weather and catchment conditions.  This water will help maintain preferable conditions around the nests until late March to allow the birds to raise their chicks.

“This arrangement is an innovative way of getting water to where and when it is needed most and builds on the collective efforts of the community, industry and government to build resilience in the ecosystem after lengthy years of drought.”

Dr Kate Brandis, Freshwater Ecologist from the UNSW Centre for Ecosystem Science, said this water will maintain critically important conditions at Narran Lakes.

“These additional flows will assist in providing good quality wetland habitat for longer, allowing birds currently nesting there to raise their young with adequate food resources. Maintaining habitat at Narran Lakes now will help support Australia's waterbirds into the future,” Dr Brandis said.

Jacqui Frail, Narran Lakes Nature Reserve Joint Management Committee member said it was great to see lots of bird life.

“We would love to see the birds complete their breeding, it’s only the second opportunity they have had over the last 10 years,” Ms Frail said.

South Arm egret colony. Photo credit: Jo Ocock
South Arm egret colony. Photo credit Jo Ocock
Pelican colony. Photo credit: Pat Johnston
Pelican colony. Photo credit: Pat Johnston
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Email
  • Copy link

Contact us

Climate change and energy:

dcceewmedia@industry.gov.au

Environment and water:

media@environment.gov.au

(61 2) 6275 9880

Related

Great Cumbung Swamp - Mal Carnegie

Plan to protect the Great Cumbung Swamp

  • Media release
  • CEWO
02 March 2023
The Gwydir Wetlands in northern NSW. Image: Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder

Water for the environment crucial for rivers and wetlands as floodwaters recede

  • Media release
  • CEWO
02 February 2023
Pelicans flying into roost in the Lachlan catchment in 2022. Photo credit: Warren Chad

Waterbird breeding brings hope for a population boost

  • Media release
  • CEWO
25 January 2023
Thanks for your feedback.
Thanks! Your feedback has been submitted.

We aren't able to respond to your individual comments or questions.
To contact us directly phone us or submit an online inquiry

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Please verify that you are not a robot.

Skip

Footer

  • Contact us
  • Accessibility
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • FOI
Last updated: 08 February 2023

© Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.