Murray-Darling Basin Aerial Waterbird Survey

Overview

The aerial waterbird survey (AWS) analysis that underpinned the Basin Plan Evaluation 2020 drew predominately on annual aerial survey data across 38 key wetlands across the Murray-Darling Basin, since 2014.

The annual aerial waterbird survey collects data at a national, regional and local level. This information supports monitoring of Ramsar Conventions in Australia, as well as statutory obligations under both the Water Act (2007) and Basin Plan (2012).

This program has investigated the effectiveness of waterbirds as a good indicator of basin health as well as improving our understanding of the wetlands under observation.

This information supports the evaluation of the effectiveness of the Basin Plan, under Schedule 7, for waterbird related targets identified.

The sourcing of this data was done predominately through a third-party external provider through contract agreements.

Survey Evolution

In 2007, the MDBA first funded an external third-party to survey selected wetlands, specifically The Living Murray (TLM) programs wetlands, and formed part of the Eastern Australian Wetland Survey (EAWS).

In 2010, these surveys were extended to include Hydrological Indicator Sites (HIS), with the intention to support Basin Plan monitoring and evaluation.

In 2013-2014, the program expanded to include 39 significant wetlands, which included all Ramsar Sites within the Murray-Darling Basin, all The Living Murray (TLM) sites, as well as wetlands identified through the Basin-wide Environmental Watering Strategy (BWS).