ºÚÁÏÍø´óʼÇ

We then flew south to where the Bulloo Lake spreads out onto the extensive floodplain, merging with the massive Caryapundy Swamp which is where the Bulloo River spreads out and floods from Queensland into New South Wales. 

We flew transects across the Caryapundy Swamp, the only way to count waterbirds on such vast expanses of water. The plane was flown at 150 feet and 100 knots, with black tape on the wings, allowing us to count what identifies a 100m transect, on the ground on either side of the plane, making up a 200m transect. 

There were a range of different types of habitats in the shallow water areas of Caryapundy Swamp. Along with extensive open water areas for us to survey.

The shallow water of Caryapundy Swamp was a magnet for waterbirds. There was a really high diversity of waterbirds in the shallows. They were all spread out in small flocks, including the ducks, particularly many small flocks of Grey Teal and Pink-eared Ducks. We also counted large numbers of Glossy Ibis, Straw-necked Ibis and also Pacific Herons, spread across different parts of swamp.

The large areas of open water, often had relatively few waterbirds, probably because of it being too deep. However we encounted hundreds of Hardhead and coot, both divers, spread across the deep parts of the swamp. It looked as if many of the Hardheads were moulting, because they weren’t taking off. 

After taking off from Tibooburra, we headed to the most southern part of the Bulloo Overflow, south of Caryapundy Swamp in New South Wales. Once Caryapundy Swamp had filled with water, it overflowed into and equally vast body of water known as the Bulloo Overflow. There are now two relatively new National Parks in New South Wales incorporating parts of this magnificent wetland, Narrierra National Park and Thurloo Downs National Park. The former covers part of Caryapundy Swamp which is now a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. 

Our key objective during today’s survey was to collect much needed data on the ecological importance of this extensive wetland system for New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service, taking advantage of the massive flood on the Bulloo River from March this year. 

The Bulloo Overflow consisted of shallow open water areas and deep open water areas in the middle. We could see in places that the water was just below the top few centimetres of the fence lines, that were poking up out of the water. The open water areas were the only areas where we saw Hardhead, though they were also sometimes in their hundreds, around the edge. 

There were also hundreds of swamphens scattered throughout the Bulloo Overflow and Caryapundy Swamp, often breeding on small clumps of grass, sticking out of the water. Black Swans were also breeding in small numbers. We also saw a few broods of Pink-eared Ducks. 

We also covered vast areas of open water on the Bulloo Overflow, with relatively few waterbirds.

As with the first part of the day, we spent another stretch of time doing east to west and west to east transects across the great expanse of water of the Bulloo Overflow. It is hard to know how many thousands of waterbirds were on these systems until we eventually complete the calculations of the area surveyed and extrapolate. But, there will be thousands and perhaps even tens of thousands. It is a magnificent wetland system. Hopefully the establishment of a Ramsar site will also ensure that the future of the Bulloo River is protected, as a free-flowing river system and continue to flood Bulloo Lake, the Caryapundy Swamp and the Bulloo Overflow. 

There was an amazing diversity of different habitats across the Bulloo Overflow. These highly complex systems provide extensive breeding and feeding areas for waterbirds. 

We encounted a few rare species, including some migratory shorebirds and quite good numbers of the threatened Freckled Duck. We also saw high numbers of Pied Stilts and the odd Red-necked Avocet. There were also saw a few flocks of Plumed Whistling Ducks.

There were few invasive species that we could see. We saw one lot of horses and a small group of feral pigs.