Macquarie Marshes May 2025 Waterbird Survey

Macquarie Marshes May 2025 waterbird survey

A fifth Flow-MER waterbird survey was conducted at Macquarie Marshes in May 2025. View our photo gallery of the team in the field.

The team checked on and collected data from eight solar bar acoustic recorders deployed in select wetlands since August 2024. Solar bars are powered by solar panels to record sound continuously 24 hours/day. Cattle are naturally curious and are drawn to the posts where they sometimes use them to scratch on, so we occasionally have to reinforce with an extra post or create log and stick barriers – this seems to work. A number of the wetlands had dried down for the winter, but some were still holding relatively deep water and are placed in the best possible position to capture Australasian Bitterns. This endangered species are cryptic and prefer thick cover, so it can mean a bit of a trek in.

Macquarie Marshes wetland - The survey was conducted by the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) on behalf of the University of New South Wales (UNSW).

Macquarie Marshes wetland - The team serviced the acoustic recorder solar bars installed through out the Marshes.

Macquarie Marshes wetland - barricading recorders with logs to deter cattle from chewing on our microphones!

Monkeygar Swamp - our team carrying gear into the site.

Solarbar in water with vegetation on the banks

Monkeygar Swamp – Acoustic monitoring is used to identify the presence of species, including the endangered Australasian bittern (Botaurus poiciloptilus) and other cryptic waterbird species.

Monkeygar Swamp

Water with dead trees in it and vegetation behind

Monkeygar Swamp

Monkeygar Swamp

Macquarie Marshes Nature Reserve - Louden’s Lagoon - The acoustic recorders also provide important data about the arrival and departure times of species in relation to wetland conditions and flows..

Common reed (Phragmites australis) with water in background

Macquarie Marshes Nature Reserve - Louden’s Lagoon - Common reed (Phragmites australis)

Researcher with reed bed behind and acoustic recorder

Macquarie Marshes, Northern Reserve –Reedbeds - reinforcing recorders during the dry period to protect them from water inundation and damage from pests such as wild pigs.

Person in canoe from behind in water with trees on bank

Macquarie Marshes, Northern Reserve –Reedbeds - hard to access sites and high-water levels often require a good kayak

Macquarie Marshes, Southern Nature Reserve - Debs Lagoon

Dry wetland with acoustic recorder and water gauge

Macquarie Marshes, Southern Nature Reserve- Debs lagoon - when the water dries up and the Cumbungi (Typha sp.) dies back then terrestrial vegetation takes over.

Monkeygar on Gibsons way - Incidental sightings of two Brolga’s (Grus rubicunda), which are Australia’s largest flying bird. This bird is often seen feeding in the Marshes and are an amazing sight!

Our thanks to landholders in the Macquarie Marshes and NSW NPWS for supporting our surveys.

All photos supplied courtesy of NSW DCCEEW.

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Macquarie Marshes May 2025 waterbird survey