Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Macquarie Marshes in Arid Australia and their waterbirds: A 50-year history of decline

  • Profile
  • Published:
Environmental Management Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We investigated the relationship between total annual flow of water in the Macquarie River and the extent of flooding in the northern part of the Macquarie Marshes and trends in waterbird populations from 1983 to 1993. The amount of water in the Macquarie River measured each year within the Macquarie Marshes explained about 86% of the variation in area flooded in the northern part of this wetland. This allowed use of long-term data on flow at Oxley, a gauge within the Macquarie Marshes, as an index to flooding. Annual flows at Oxley have decreased significantly for high and medium rainfall events in the catchment, despite no trend in rainfall between 1944 and 1993. The area flooded by large floods has contracted by at least 40–50% during the last 50 years (1944–1993). Water use has progressively increased upstream in the period, depriving the Macquarie Marshes of water: 51% of all water passing Dubbo each year, a gauge 100 km upstream, reached the Macquarie Marshes in the period 1944–1953, but by 1984–1993 this had declined to 21%. Numbers of species and density of waterbirds on the northern part of the Macquarie Marshes declined between 1983 and 1993. Three other wetlands, not affected by water abstractions, showed no declines. We believe the decline was due to wetland degradation as a result of decreased flooding. We estimated more than 88,000 waterbirds in the Macquarie Marshes in October 1984, establishing the site as an important wetland site in Australia. The extent and viability of this wetland will depend on maintaining or increasing the water supply.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature cited

  • Allan, J. D., and A. S. Flecker. 1993. Biodiversity conservation in running waters.BioScience 43:32–43.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bayliss, P., and K. M. Yeomans. 1990. Use of low-level aerial photography to correct bias in aerial survey estimates of magpie goose and whistling duck density in the Northern Territory.Australian Wildlife Research 17:1–10.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bell, F. C., S. J. Coates, and G. Smith. 1983. Resolution of a conflict between water needs for irrigation and conservation? The Macquarie Marshes. Pages 60–74in P. Crabb, D. C. Rich and S. J. Riley (eds.), Proceedings of the water resources conference, 16 July 1983. Macquarie University, Sydney, 86 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bildstein, K. L., G. T. Bancroft, P. J. Dugan, D. H. Gordon, R. M. Erwin, E. Nol, L. X. Payne, and S. E. Senner. 1991. Approaches to the conservation of coastal wetlands in the Western Hemisphere.Wilson Bulletin 103:218–254.

    Google Scholar 

  • Braithwaite, L. W., M. Maher, S. V. Briggs, and B. S. Parker. 1986. An aerial survey of three game species of waterfowl (Family Anatidae) in eastern Australia.Australian Wildlife Research 13:213–232.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brander, D. 1987. Environmental changes in the southern Macquarie Marshes: 1934 to 1987. Unpublished B Sc Honours Thesis. University of New South Wales, Sydney, 109 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bren, L. J. 1988. Effects of river regulation of flooding of a riparian red gum forest on the River Murray, Australia.Regulated Rivers: Research and Management 2:65–77.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brooker, M. G. 1992. Waterbirds of the Macquarie Marshes. Unpublished report, 416 pp.

  • Carrick, R. 1962. Breeding, movement and conservation of ibises (Threskiornithidae) in Australia.CSIRO Wildlife Research 7:71–90.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cooper, R. P. 1954. Birds of the Macquarie Marshes, New South Wales.Memoirs of the National Museum of Victoria 19:137–163.

    Google Scholar 

  • CYB. 1992. Cotton year book. Australian Cotton Grower, Toowoomba, Queensland, 176 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dormer, M., and Starr. 1979. Settlers on the Marthaguy in western New South Wales. Macquarie Publications, Dubbo, 120pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • DWR (Department of Water Resources). 1991. Water resources of the Macquarie Valley. Department of Water Resources NSW, Sydney, 39 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • DWR (Department of Water Resources) and NPWS (National Parks and Wildlife Service). 1986. Water management plan for the Macquarie Marshes. Published by Department of Water Resources and National Parks and Wildlife Service, Syndney, 24 pp.

  • Finlayson, C. M. 1991. Australasia and Oceania. Pages 179–208in M. Finlayson and M. Moser (eds.), Wetlands. International Waterfowl and Wetlands Research Bureau, Slimbridge, Facts on File Limited, Oxford, England.

    Google Scholar 

  • Geering, D., A. Brady, and H. Cross. 1988. Adaptive environmental assessment and management: a case study of wetland management in the Macquarie Marshes, NSW. Unpublished paper presented at 7th international association for impact assessment, July 1988, 19 pp.ney, and D. P. Sivertsen (eds.), Conserving biodiversity: threats and solutions. Surrey Beatty & Sons, Sydney, Australia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goodrick, G., D. Brander, R. Carter, D. Geering, G. McKenzie, and P. Wettin. 1991. Management of the Macquarie Marshes. Pages 218–219in T. Denoy, and M. Combe (eds.), Conservation in management of the River Murray system—making conservation count. Proceedings of the third Fenner conference on the environment, Canberra, September 1989, South Australian Department of Environment and Planning with Australian Academy of Science.

  • Hollis, G. E. 1990. Environmental impacts of development on wetlands in arid and semi-arid lands.Hydrological Sciences Journal 35:441–428.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hollis, G. E., and T. A. Jones. 1991. Europe and the Mediterranean Basin. Pages 27–56in M. Finlayson and M. Moser (eds.), Wetlands. International Waterfowl and Wetlands Research Bureau, Slimbridge, Facts on File Limited, Oxford, England.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hyem, E. L. 1957. Notes on a trip to the Macquarie Marshes.Emu 57:6–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, B. 1992. The Macquarie Marshes: Overdue for environmental restoration.National Parks Journal (NSW) 36:9–12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, F. A., K. H. Pollock, and F. Montalbano, III. 1989. Visibility bias in aerial surveys of mottled ducks.Wildlife Society Bulletin 17:222–227.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnston, R. M., and M. M. Barson, 1993. Remote sensing of Australian wetlands—an evaluation of landsat TM data for inventory and classification.Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 44:235–252.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jones, M. 1983. The Macquarie Marshes: A proposal for their protection. Unpublished report, National Parks Association, Sydney, 49 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kingsford, R. T. 1994. Occurrence of high concentrations of waterbirds in arid Australia.Journal of Arid Environments 29:421–425.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kingford, R. T. 1995. Ecological effects of river management in New South Wales. Pages 144–161in R. A. Bradstock, T. D. Auld, D. A. Keith, R. T. Kingsford, D. Lunney, and D. P. Sivertsen (eds.), Conserving biodiversity: threats and solutions. Surrey Beatty & Sons, Sydney, Australia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kingsford, R. T., and J. L. Porter. 1994. Waterbirds on an adjacent freshwater and salt lake in arid Australia.Biological Conservation 69:219–228.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lake, P. S., and R. Marchant. 1990. Australian upland streams: Ecological degradation and possible restoration.Proceedings of the Ecological Society of Australia 16:79–91.

    Google Scholar 

  • Magrath, M. J. L. 1991. Waterbird breeding in the Macquarie Marshes 1989. Unpublished report, Technical Services Division, NSW Department of Water Resources, 13 pp.

  • Maher, M. T., and L. W. Braithwaite. 1992. Patterns of waterbird use in wetlands of the Paroo: A river system of inland Australia.Rangelands Journal 14:128–142.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maltby, E. 1991. Wetlands and their values. Pages 8–26in M. Finlayson and M. Moser (eds.), Wetlands. Infernational Waterfowl and Wetlands Research Bureau, Slimbridge, Facts on File Limited, Oxford, England.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marchant, S., and P. J. Higgins. 1990. Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic birds. Vol. 1, Ratites to ducks. Oxford University Press, Melbourne, 1400 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • McKenzie, G. 1987a. Report on flood events in the Lower Macquarie Valley from May 1983 to March 1984. Technical Services Division. NSW Department of Water Resources, 15 pp.

  • McKenzie, G. 1987b. Report on operation of the water management plan for the Macquarie Marshes water year 1985–1986. Technical Services Division. Department of Water Resources, 9 pp.

  • MDBMC (Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council). 1987. Murray-Darling Basin Environmental Resources Study. State Pollution Control Commission, Sydney, 426 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Michaelis, F. B., and M. O'Brien. 1988. Presentation of Australia's wetlands: A Commonwealth approach. Pages 167–177in A. J. McComb and P. S. Lake (eds.), Conservation of Australian wetlands. Surrey Beatty and Sons, New South Wales, Australia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morton, S. R., K. G. Brennan, and M. D. Armstrong. 1990a. Distribution and abundance of magpie geese,Anseranas semipalmata, in the Alligator Rivers Region, Northern Territory.Australian Journal of Ecology 15:307–320.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morton, S. R., K. G. Brennan, and M. D. Armstrong. 1990b. Distribution and abundance of ducks in the Alligator Rivers Region, Northern Territory.Australian Wildlife Research 17:573–590.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • NPWS (New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service). 1989. ERMS—Environmental Resource Mapping System, 440 pp.

  • Oxley, J. 1820 Journals of two expeditions into the interior of New South Wales. Vol II. John Murray, London, 408 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Paijmans, K. 1981. The Macquarie Marshes of inland northern NSW. CSIRO Division of Land Use Research Technical Paper No. 40.

  • Paijmans, K., R. W. Galloway, D. P. Faith, P. M. Fleming, H. A. Haantjens, P. C. Heyligers, J. D. Kalma, and E. Loffler. 1985. Aspects of Australian wetlands. CSIRO Division of Water and Land Resources, Technical Paper No. 44, 71 pp.

  • Richason, B. F. Jr. 1978. Landsat platforms, systems, images and image interpretation. Pages 169–195in B. F. Richason, Jr. (ed.), Introduction to remote sensing of the environment. Kendell/Hunt Publishing Company, Iowa.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scott, D. A. 1991. Latin America and the Carribean. Pages 85–114in M. Finlayson and M. Moser (eds.) Wetlands. International Waterfowl and Wetlands Research Bureau, Slimbridge, Facts on File Limited, Oxford, England.

    Google Scholar 

  • SKPPL (Sinclair Knight and Partners Pty. Ltd.). 1984. Macquarie Valley. New South Wales Inland Rivers Flood Plain Management Studies, 148 pp.

  • Stafford Smith, D. M., and S. R. Morton. 1990. A framework for the ecology of arid Australia.Journal of Arid Environments 18:255–278.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stott, R. S., and D. P. Olson. 1972. An evaluation of waterfowl surveys on the New Hampshire coastline.Journal of Wildlife Management 36:468–477.

    Google Scholar 

  • TEC (Total Environment Centre). 1980. Macquarie Marshes. Wetlands and management requirements. Total Environment Centre, Sydney, 87 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turner, K. 1991. Economics and wetland management.Ambio 20:59–63.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turner, R. 1981. The ecological significance of the water regime of the Macquarie Marshes. Unpublished BSc honours thesis. University of New South Wales, 68 pp.

  • Walker, K. F. 1985. A review of the ecological effects of river regulation in Australia.Hydrobiologia 125: 111–129.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walker, J., F. Bullen, and B. G. Williams. 1993. Ecohydrological changes in the Murray-Darling Basin. 1. The number of trees cleared over 2 centuries.Journal of Applied Ecology 30:265–273.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • WCIC (Water Conservation and Irrigation Commission). 1975. Report on the effect of the special release of 140,000 ac feet of water from Burrendong Dam on the lower Macquarie River and effluents—Sep/Nov 1970, 41 pp.

  • Wettin, P., T. Jacobs, N. Ryan, and P. Johnston. 1994. Water sharing and floodplain wetlands in the Murray-Darling Basin. Pages 24–41in A. J. Sharley and C. A. Huggan (eds.), Murray-Darling Basin floodplain wetlands management: Proceedings of the floodplains wetlands management workshop. Albury NSW, 20–22 October. Murray-Darling Basin Commission, Canberra.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilkinson, L., M. Hill, J. P. Welna, and G. K. Birkenbeuel. 1992. Systat for Windows: Statistics, version 5. ed. Systat Incorporated, Evanston, II, 750 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • WRC (Water Resources Commission). 1979. Southern Macquarie Marshes Water Management Works: Environmental impact statement. Rankine and Hill Pty. Ltd., Water Resources Commission, New South Wales, 175 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • WRC (Water Resources Commission). 1985. Macquarie Valley allocation of water for irrigation. Water Resources Commission, New South Wales, 33 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zar, J. H. 1984. Biostatistical analysis, 2nd ed. Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, 718 pp.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Parks and Wildlife Service (NSW), P.O. Box 1967, 2220, Hurtsville, NSW, Australia

    Richard T. Kingsford & Rachael F. Thomas

Authors
  1. Richard T. Kingsford
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Rachael F. Thomas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kingsford, R.T., Thomas, R.F. The Macquarie Marshes in Arid Australia and their waterbirds: A 50-year history of decline. Environmental Management 19, 867–878 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02471938

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02471938

Key Words

Search

Navigation