The Murrumbidgee Field Naturalists Inc. (MFN) formed in 1994 in Leeton by an enthusiastic group who set a pattern of an informal meeting, field trip and newsletter each month from the outset, which still endures today. The group included members from nearby Narrandera and in 1996 a branch was added from Griffith, and more recently in 2021 from Wagga Wagga. Meetings are on location in Leeton as well as via Zoom and we have two field trips per month covering the region.
Enjoying the Riverina Field Days, June 2021
Actions for threats to habitats and species identified in the early days of the club have changed to management, citizen science projects and support to researchers.
In 1995 Leeton Shire proposed to redevelop Fivebough Swamp to a recreational lake. The MFN wrote to the Minister of Land and Water Conservation reporting the inappropriateness of plans for a lake, supported by the Murray-Darling Basin Waterbird project finding that Fivebough and Tuckerbil swamps are excellent waterbird habitats. NCC and NPWS supported MFN’s submission to maintain the swamp and develop a management plan. Nomination for both swamps as RAMSAR sites was initiated and achieved in 2002. MFN has a member in the Fivebough & Tuckerbil Wetlands Advisory Committee which now provides guidance and support in the management of the reserve, see here for more details.
Group at Fivebough, Oct 2019
In Griffith, similar actions were taken for Nericon and Campbell's Swamps. A series of actions were undertaken to restore and preserve the wetlands, including: cessation of continual grazing by cattle, re-vegetation through planting to enhance remaining plants as well as re-introduction of previous native species that were no longer present, public access - car parking, signage, pathways, boardwalks, bird hide, a school education package and weed management. MFN member, Ema Munro Griffith 2024 Environmental Citizen of the Year has a planting day with school students in July.
Grevillea planting, Aug 2015
1998 saw Narrandera Hills Remnant Vegetation and Conservation Project, which has morphed into the Annual Glossy Black Cockatoo Count. This is one of my favourite events where you gather a few friends, a chair and supper to share, sit by a remote dam and as the sun sets, wait; wait until the Glossies come in for their daily drink. Setting this event up occurred over several years, working with landholders to reduce grazing of stock in areas of remnant vegetation on the hills and plains on their property. In particular, areas with Casurina verticulata (Drooping She-oak), the exclusive food source of the Glossies, Eucalyptus microcarpa (Grey Box), E. Melliodora, E. Camaldulensis, E. dwyerii, the trees with hollows used for nesting. The annual count stretches beyond the MFN’s region to the Lachlan Fold further to the north.
Malleefowl training, Feb 2019
There are many actions that go unseen. Habitat protection stretches to roadsides. Survey work of remnant vegetation commenced in 1998 and is to be reviewed this year at target sites north of Leeton. Monitoring occur through the BIGnet guardianship of habitat at Cocoparra NP, Fivebough-Tuckerbil wetlands, Binya NP and Berry Jerry NP. Small groups of members participate in the annual Twitchathon since 2006. Sites for community engagement activities such as World Wetlands Day, Clean Up Australia Day are selected for on location awareness and education, the Wagga branch have been able to offer the use of club binoculars for a series of summer weekly bird walks. Narrandera Koala Count is another big community engagement occurring on an annual basis.
Dick Green helps identify species from roadsides, Feb 2022
As MFN comes to its 30th anniversary, taking time to reflect on these examples and more, it is timely to consider the next 10 years of the group’s direction and how NCC can work collaboratively for preservation of our natural environment and reach out to all those who live in our region and pass through it.
Sarah Danckert, President MFN 2024