<< BACK TO CONTENTS High rainfall filled the Goulburn Broken wetlands naturally in winter and spring 2016–17, and summer rainfall prolonged the inundation. Black Swamp, Kinnairds Wetland and Moodie Swamp all filled naturally. Moodie Swamp was still holding water and supporting large numbers of waterbirds into autumn 2017. For the first time, researchers recorded both musk ducks and greater crested grebes at Moodie Swamp. At Black Swamp, bird surveys recorded rare freckled ducks for the first time as well as large numbers of wading birds (such as herons, egrets and spoonbills). Royal spoonbills and pied cormorants bred at Kinnairds Wetland, and endangered blue-billed ducks were observed. The wetlands are also being listened to, as well as observed visually. When environmental water was delivered, Goulburn Broken CMA Wetlands and Environmental Water Project Officer Jo Wood headed out into the wetlands with her acoustic recorders. Jo put the recorders out for 48 hours, recording for 30 seconds at 30-minute intervals. As a result, Jo recorded many different frog species including Sloane’s froglet, which was heard for the first time at Doctors Swamp. “The response after water is delivered is nearly instant. Frogs start calling and some waterbirds such as ducks and swans have been recorded calling within 24 hours of the delivery,” Jo said. “Earlier this year, we heard magpie geese at Kinnairds Wetland at Numurkah. The wetland was drawing down but when we recorded the geese we were able to deliver more water to help them feed and roost over the warmer months. If we hadn’t put the recorders out, we would never have realised they were there.” Waterway manager: Goulburn Broken CMA Storage manager: Goulburn-Murray Water The response after water is delivered is nearly instant. Frogs start calling and some waterbirds such as ducks and swans have been recorded calling within 24 hours of the delivery. A magpie goose and spoonbills at Black Swamp, by Goulburn Broken CMA Reflections – Environmental watering in Victoria 2016–17 | 64
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