Bitterns in Rice Project – Bunyip Bird Conservation

Farming and wildlife conservation working together.

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+ days ponding time facilitates successful breeding.

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+ Bitterns supported by Riverina rice fields in most years.

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hectares in Riverina LLS Bittern-friendly incentives.

The Australasian Bittern is a rarely seen, poorly known and endangered waterbird.

Since 2012, we have been uncovering the well guarded secrets of Australia’s Bunyip Bird – the endangered Australasian Bittern – and raising awareness of its plight.

We now know that the rice fields of the New South Wales Riverina support the largest known breeding population of the species, with 500-1000 mature individuals in most years. Remarkably, this represents about 60% of the national population and 40% of the global total.