Wetland loss and degradation through river regulation, water diversion, land clearing and salinity are the greatest immediate threats to wetland and riparian dependant birds throughout Australia. However coastal, near coastal and actively managed wetlands of the south east continue to provide much needed refuge for birds as water security becomes increasingly variable.
As a custodian of a significant proportion of high value conservation areas throughout Greater Melbourne, Melbourne Water has long sought effective and informed management techniques to promote native biodiversity on their properties. Development and management of sites are influenced by up to date biodiversity data including that collected by BirdLife’s Atlas of Australian Birds. To date this has included standardised surveys of Ramsar sites and constructed wetlands throughout the Dandenong catchment.
