Wetland Bird Monitoring
Wetland Bird Monitoring
At a time of increasing interest in the environment and deep concern with diminishing wetlands and their bird populations; NRM Education is pleased to offer the Wetland Bird Monitoring Program. Through the program, primary and high school students in the Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges will be introduced to the bird life of local wetlands and participate in an ongoing survey of their presence and any breeding activities.
Schools are encouraged to make cumulative, seasonal observations of species present and to undertake a formal bird count of the numbers of each species on one day of each season. If you are a Waterwatching school, this could be an extension of your normal Waterwatch Water Quality Testing activities or a separate activity conducted once per term.
Bird monitoring could potentially be of great interest to students as well as providing an important database of species observed. Monitoring could also be the start to a life-time of bird watching for students and teachers, which could lead onto a greater understanding of the links within nature and the issues that affect the environment.
If your school is interested in taking part in the program and your school is in the Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges and located near a wetland, please contact NRM Education Central Adelaide, or enter your details in our Biological Monitoring Expression of Interest Form
Wetland birds of SA ID Chart
This ID chart (4.1Mb PDF) will help you identify some of the most common birds in and around our local wetlands.
Once you have been out and undertaken a wetland bird monitoring event please use the following form below to submit your monitoring data: Wetland Bird Monitoring
Results
Have a look at our maps and posters by CLICKING HERE for monitoring results.
Why Monitor Wetlands?
Wetlands are among the most important and productive ecosystems on Earth, providing habitat, water and an abundant food source for a diverse range of animals including birds, frogs, invertebrates and fish. Wetlands become refuge areas for plants and animals in times of drought and are nurseries for fish and migratory bird populations.
Wetlands have been chosen because they are often located near schools and have good numbers of readily identifiable species of birds that do not need to be observed through binoculars. If you are not near a wetland, you could also check out your local creeks, rivers, artificial dams and coastal and estuarine areas.