Boondall Wetlands facts for kids
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The Boondall Wetlands are a special natural area located near Moreton Bay in Brisbane, Australia. They are found between Nudgee Beach and Shorncliffe. This important area is protected as the Boondall Wetlands Reserve. It was set aside in 1990 and covers a huge area of over 1100 hectares (that's about 2700 acres!) of wetlands that are important to the whole world.
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What are the Boondall Wetlands?
The Boondall Wetlands are the biggest wetlands in Brisbane. They became a protected site on October 22, 1993, under an international agreement called the Ramsar Convention. This agreement helps protect important wetland areas around the globe.
Where are the Wetlands Located?
The northern edge of the wetlands is marked by Cabbage Tree Creek. The Kedron Brook floodway forms the southern border. You'll also find Nudgee Creek and the Gateway Motorway passing through the wetlands. The motorway helps you get to the Boondall Wetlands Environment Centre.
What Can You Do There?
The reserve has lots of cool features for visitors. You can explore elevated walkways, ride bikes on special paths, and use platforms designed for bird watching. It's a great place to connect with nature!
Plants and Animals of the Wetlands
The Boondall Wetlands are home to many different types of plants. You can find areas with tidal flats, mangrove trees, freshwater lakes, and salt marshes. There are also forests of casuarina trees, melaleuca swamps, grasslands, and open woodlands. Some parts even have small areas of original rainforest.
Amazing Wildlife
These wetlands are full of life! They support many different animals, including tiny invertebrates, fish, reptiles, amphibians, and mammals. But the wetlands are most famous for their birds, with over 190 different species living there.
Many of these birds are international migratory shorebirds. They fly all the way from Arctic regions where they breed during the northern summer. This makes Boondall Wetlands super important for these long-distance travelers. The wetlands are part of a larger area called the Moreton Bay and Pumicestone Passage Important Bird Area, which is recognized for its bird populations.
Which Birds Can You See?
Some of the amazing migratory birds you might spot include the Mongolian plover, eastern curlew, grey-tailed tattler, and bar-tailed godwit.
Other birds that live in the reserve include:
- Pied oystercatchers
- Beach thick-knees
- Darters
- Little black cormorants
- White-faced herons
- Australian white ibis
- Great egrets
- Grass owls
- Whistling kites
- Brahminy kites
Visitor Information
You can't camp overnight in the Boondall Wetlands Reserve. However, there is a visitor information centre where you can learn more. There are also many walking tracks, including a boardwalk that takes you right through the mangroves. If you love birds, there's a special bird hide on Nundah Creek. Plus, there's a boat ramp on Nudgee Beach Road if you want to explore by water.
