Wiesners Swamp Nature Reserve

35°40′04″S 146°47′52.5″E / 35.66778°S 146.797917°E / -35.66778; 146.797917Established4 April 1996 (1996-04-04)^[2]Area1.03 km² (0.4 sq mi)^[2]Managing authoritiesNSW National Parks & Wildlife ServiceWebsiteWiesners Swamp Nature ReserveSee alsoProtected areas of
New South Wales

Wiesners Swamp Nature Reserve is a protected nature reserve, located in the South Western Slopes region of New South Wales, in eastern Australia.^[2] The 103 ha (250-acre) reserve is located approximately 8 km (5.0 mi) northeast of Walbundrie, and 50 km (31 mi) northwest of Albury.^[2]

History

The reserve lies within Wiradjuri country, however little is known about its historic significance to Aboriginal people.^[2] The swamp is likely to have been an important reliable source of water and game.^[2]

The area around the reserve was settled during the 1830s by European squatters, with Wiesners Swamp selected as part of Walla Walla Station.^[2] In 1883, the area of the nature reserve was excised from Walla Walla Station to become two Crown forest reserves.^[2] From the early 1900s, the wetland within the reserve became known as Wiesner Swamps, due to the Wiesner (pronounced ′weezner′) family purchasing the property adjacent to the reserve.^[2][3] From 1975 there were proposals to gazette the swamp as a state game reserve or as a nature reserve for its value as a wetland and remnant woodland, with the area proclaimed a nature reserve in April 1996.^[2][4]

Environment

The nature reserve comprises a large low-lying area of ephemeral wetland (Wiesners Swamp) and small areas of gently sloping land above regular flood level on the north-western, south-western and north-eastern corners.^[2] Wiesners Swamp lies in a depression on the Billabong Creek floodplain, and is located in the headwaters of Simmons Creek, which flows into Billabong Creek.^[2]

Most of the swamp is contained within the nature reserve but small areas extend outside on the western, northern and southern boundaries.^[2] The swamp fills from drainage lines on the south-eastern and northern boundaries and drains to the west.^[2]

The water table beneath the reserve lies about 4 metres (13 ft) below the surface, and is highly saline.^[5]

Flora

116 plant species have been recorded within the reserve, of which 48 are introduced.^[2] Most of the forest within the reserve is River Red Gum woodland.^[2] Other large tree species present within the reserve include white box, grey box, yellow box and Bulloak.^[2]

The reserve has limited native vegetation structure in the midstorey and understorey due to historic clearing and livestock grazing.^[2][5]

Native aquatic plant species recorded within the reserve include spiny flatsedge, common spikerush, rushes, red water-milfoil, water ribbons, swamp lily and blunt pondweed.^[2]

Fauna

Fifty species of birds, have been recorded within the reserve, including Australian reed warbler, Australian white ibis, brown treecreeper, dollarbird, mistletoebird, sacred kingfisher, swamp harrier, tawny frogmouth, white-necked heron, white-plumed honeyeater, yellow-billed spoonbill, zebra finch.^[2] Mammal species recorded within the nature reserve include eastern grey kangaroo, common brushtail possum and common ringtail possum.^[2] Reptiles and amphibians recorded in the reserve include eastern brown snake, lace monitor, spotted marsh frog and Peron's tree frog.^[2]

Introduced pest species found within the reserve include European rabbit, brown hare, European fox, feral cat, common starling, European carp and eastern mosquitofish.^[2]

See also

• Protected areas of New South Wales

References