Current view: Text account
Site description (2008 baseline):
Site location and context
The IBA comprises the floodplain of three open water areas, Clear Lake, Back Lake (and Long Arm) in the north and Narran Lake in the south, which are connected by expanses of vegetation subject to inundation. The Narran floodplain wetland complex is a terminal system of the Narran River in the Condamine-Balonne Catchment River, in the central north of NSW between Walgett and Brewarrina, in the Murray-Darling Basin. The wetland supports extensive dense stands of Meuhlenbeckia florulenta with, in places, an overstorey of Eucalyptus camaldulensis and/or Acacia stenophylla, which together comprise the main substrate on which the waterbird breeding colonies form and which require regular inundation for their survival. They are all at risk because of the reduced incidence of inundation because of extraction of water upstream of the wetland for agriculture. A small natural flood in 2008 was extended to allow successful nesting of ibis, by the purchase of 11,000 ML of water from upstream irrigation storages. This was the first breeding event since 1999/2000. The surrounding district is part of the semi-arid pastoral zone and is used mainly for sheep and cattle grazing. The average annual rainfall is 495 mm.
Fifty-seven species of waterbirds have been recorded from the wetlands of which 36 have been recorded breeding. Large numbers of Pied Cormorant (up to 1500), Little Black Cormorant (up to 5000), Freckled Duck (up to 200), Black Swan (up to 3200), Pink-eared Duck (up to 6000), Great Cormorant (up to 800), Glossy Ibis (up to 1323), Whiskered Tern (up to 1200) and Royal Spoonbill (up to 7000) have been recorded (Ley 1988; (Atlas of Australian Birds database). 50-150 pairs of Royal Spoonbills, 50-100 pairs darter and smaller numbers of other waterbirds nested in 2007/8 (Terrill 2008). Other species of national or state conservation concern include Magpie Goose, Blue-billed Duck, Brolga, Latham's Snipe, Grey Falcon, Major Mitchell's Cockatoo, Barking Owl and White-throated Treecreeper. 400,000 Straw-necked Ibis were reported in 1983 (Lindsey 1985).
Non-bird biodiversity: The site supports world-class stands of Phragmites and Lignum.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The upstream water abstraction must be regulated (vastly reduced) to ensure that the lignum and other swamp vegetation does not die off, and to ensure periodic inundations which are necessary for waterbird nesting events. Until this is achieved, water must be purchased at intervals to adequately flood the wetlands.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
Freshwater CRC is researching the site and its hydrology. UNSW PhD student investigating birds and hydrology. The Murray-Darling Basin Commission (MDBC) purchased 11,000 ML of water held in private irrigation storages on the Narran River in Queensland to slow down the rate of water level decline and enhance the breeding success of at least 30,000 pairs of Straw-necked Ibis.
Narran Lake Nature Reserve.
Leasehold properties (Narran Lake and Rosscommon Stations) and the NPWS.
NPWS have supported the waterbird counts, including use of a plane for aerial counts. Nomination prepared Andrew Ley, BANNG, with contributions from Roger Jaensch (of Wetlands International), Richard Kingsford, Narrabri NPWS, Rosscommon and Narran Lake (Kia-ora) Stations and Freshwater CRC.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Narran Wetlands (Australia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/narran-wetlands-iba-australia on 24/12/2024.
