About The Bitterns in Rice Project

A.Bittern nest with chicks and eggs MHERRINGThe Bitterns in Rice Project is about farming and wildlife conservation working together.

Since 2012, we have been uncovering the well guarded secrets of Australia’s Bunyip Bird – the globally endangered Australasian Bittern – and raising awareness of its plight. We now know there is a large breeding population that descends on the rice crops of the NSW Riverina each year. In most years, it numbers between 500 and 1000 mature individuals. This is remarkable, as there are only 1500-4000 remaining in the world; Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia.

Our vision is to see bitterns and other significant wildlife prosper alongside rice-growing in the Riverina. We want to demonstrate that food production and wildlife conservation can work together, building on the existing habitat values of rice crops. As global demand for food continues to grow, the need to better incorporate biodiversity into agriculture also grows. Dedicated conservation areas, such as fenced-off wetlands or national parks, are central yet inadequate in conserving biodiversity, and the potential role of agricultural wetlands to complement traditional conservation reserves is increasingly recognised in Australia. Much of the land and water in the Murray-Darling Basin is managed for either food production or the environment, yet here is a clear opportunity for co-management.

Crucially, we have the support of hundreds of rice farmers, many of whom feel the habitat values of rice-growing have been overlooked and are delighted to be able to produce a high quality food, supporting threatened species at the same time.

Coleambally rice grower, Ian Payne (right), with Threatened Species Commissioner, Gregory Andrews.

The core interrelated research components of the Bitterns in Rice Project are:

1) Population estimates and long-term monitoring of abundance;

2) Breeding ecology, including the factors affecting breeding success;

3) The relationships between bitterns and agronomic management of rice crops;

4) Testing and refining our Bittern Friendly Rice Growing Tips;

5) Trialling independently managed habitat bays as part of the rice field;

6) The movements of the population during and outside the breeding/rice season;

7) The diet and foraging ecology of bitterns in rice fields;

8) The use of rice fields by other significant species, such as Painted Snipe, Grass Owls and Southern Bell Frogs.

 

The Bitterns in Rice Project is a collaboration between the Rice Growers’ Association of Australia and Birdlife Australia, with key support from Riverina Local Land Services, Norman Wettenhall Foundation, Coleambally Irrigation, Murrumbidgee Field Naturalists Club, Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, Murray Local Land Services, Murray Irrigation, Murrumbidgee Irrigation, Murrumbidgee and Coleambally Landcare, and New South Wales Office of Environment & Heritage.

The Bitterns in Rice Project Working Group consists of:

Matt Herring, Murray Wildlife

Neil Bull, Ricegrowers’ Association of Australia

Andrew Silcocks, Birdlife Australia

Mark Robb, Coleambally Irrigation

Anna Wilson, Riverina Local Land Services

Max O’Sullivan, Murrumbidgee Field Naturalists Club

Keith Hutton, Wildlife Enthusiast

Inka Veltheim, Federation University

Elisa Tack, Murray Local Land Services

Wayne Robinson, Charles Sturt University

David Parker, NSW Office of Environment & Heritage

Please feel free to get in contact with us if you’d like more information:

Email : info@bitternsinrice.com.au

Bitterns in Rice Project
C/O Ricegrowers’ Association of Australia
Po Box 706
Leeton 2705

Matt Herring – 0428 236 563
mherring@murraywildlife.com.au

Neil Bull – 0428 603 557
nbull@rga.org.au

Andrew Silcocks – 03 9347 0757
andrew.silcocks@birdlifeaustralia.org.au

 

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 Bitterns are easier to see early in summer when the rice is still short.