Boolcoomatta Reserve facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Boolcoomatta ReserveSouth Australia |
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IUCN Category II (National Park)
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 Boolcoomatta Reserve
Location in South Australia
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| Nearest town or city | Olary |
| Established | 2006 |
| Area | 644.57 km2 (248.9 sq mi) |
| Managing authorities | Bush Heritage Australia |
| Website | Boolcoomatta Reserve |
| Footnotes | Coordinates |
| See also | Protected areas of South Australia |
Boolcoomatta Reserve is a special place in eastern South Australia. It covers about 630 square kilometers (243 square miles). This area is about 463 kilometers (288 miles) northeast of Adelaide. It is also about 100 kilometers (62 miles) west of Broken Hill.
This important reserve is owned and looked after by an organization called Bush Heritage Australia (BHA). They work to protect nature.
Contents
History of Boolcoomatta Reserve
How the Reserve Was Created
Bush Heritage Australia bought the land for Boolcoomatta Reserve in 2006. They received help from the Australian Government. Nature Foundation SA also helped them buy the land.
Past Uses of the Land
Before it became a reserve, the land was used as a sheep station for 150 years. A sheep station is a very large farm where sheep are raised. At one time, as many as 90,000 sheep lived there!
You can also find old signs of small-scale copper mining on the property. This shows that people used to dig for copper here.
Landscape and Plants at Boolcoomatta
What the Land Looks Like
Most of Boolcoomatta Reserve is flat. However, in the western part, you can find rolling hills and rocky areas. These rocky areas are called outcrops.
Types of Plants You'll See
The hills have open Acacia woodland. This means there are many Acacia trees spread out. The flatter areas to the east have shrubland. These are areas with many bushes, including saltbush. You can also see areas of tall, clumpy grassland.
There are also creeks that are usually dry. But sometimes, after rain, they have waterholes. These creeks are lined with beautiful river red Gums.
The Climate of the Reserve
The weather here is very dry. This type of climate is called arid. On average, Boolcoomatta gets only about 190 millimeters (7.5 inches) of rain each year.
Animals of Boolcoomatta Reserve
Wildlife Surveys
In 2012, a team of 50 volunteers did a survey of the animals at Boolcoomatta. They found many healthy bird populations. They also saw more marsupials and reptiles. Marsupials are animals like kangaroos and wallabies.
Special and Rare Animals
Some rare animal species live on the reserve. These include the slender-billed thornbill and the thick-billed grasswren. These are special birds that need protection.
The reserve also has good places for the yellow-footed rock wallaby to live. These wallabies are found in the nearby Bimbowrie Conservation Park.
Important Bird Area
Boolcoomatta Reserve is part of a very important bird area. It's called the Boolcoomatta, Bindarrah and Kalkaroo Stations Important Bird Area. BirdLife International has said this area is important. It helps protect a large number of plains-wanderers. The plains-wanderer is a unique and rare bird.
Why Boolcoomatta is a Protected Area
Boolcoomatta Reserve is a special protected area in Australia. It is part of the Australian National Reserve System. This means it is protected forever.
Bush Heritage Australia has agreed to a "conservation covenant." This is a legal promise to keep the land protected. Because of this, the reserve is classified as an IUCN Category II protected area. This category means it's a national park-like area. It is mainly protected for its ecosystems and for people to enjoy.
