Eric Singleton Bird Sanctuary facts for kids
The Eric Singleton Bird Sanctuary is a special wetland in Bayswater, Western Australia, a suburb near Perth. It's like a natural filter for water! The Bayswater Brook flows into this wetland, and then the cleaned water goes into the big Swan River. In 2015, the sanctuary got a big makeover to make the water even cleaner and attract more amazing wildlife.
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A Special Place for Nature
Before the 1950s, this area was just a wet spot that dried up sometimes. In the 1950s, it was drained. Later, from 1972 to 1981, the land nearby was used for a rubbish dump. After that, the area became a wetland again.
Over time, the water in the wetlands got dirty from things like pollution and nutrients from runoff. This caused lots of algae to grow, which isn't good for wildlife.
Making the Water Clean Again
In 2015, the wetlands had a big project to clean them up. It cost $3 million and was paid for by the City of Bayswater and the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. The main goal was to clean the water from the Bayswater Brook before it reached the Swan River.
Here's how the cleaning process works:
- First, the water flows through a special trap that catches rubbish, dirt, and other big pieces.
- Then, the water moves through areas that are sometimes shallow and sometimes deep. This helps remove harmful nutrients like nitrogen.
- The water flow is controlled by special gates called weirs.
- The whole cleaning process takes about 48 hours.
This project is expected to stop a lot of pollution from entering the Swan River every year. It helps keep the river healthy for everyone! The project also created a public area in the middle of the wetland for people to enjoy. After the cleanup, the sanctuary won several awards for its amazing work.
Saving the Sanctuary Land
In 2016, there was a plan to build houses right next to the wetlands. Many people were worried about this. But in 2017, the government bought the land for $3.5 million. This stopped the housing development and saved the land for the sanctuary. In 2018, the Eric Singleton Bird Sanctuary was officially marked as a "Parks and Recreation" area. This means it will always be protected and won't be built on.
Who Was Eric Singleton?
The wetlands are named after Eric Singleton. He was a local person who really cared about the wetlands. He loved birds and helped protect this special place from being developed back in the 1970s.
Amazing Plants and Animals
The Eric Singleton Bird Sanctuary is home to many different kinds of wildlife. It's a great place for nature lovers!
Bird Species
More than 100 different types of birds have been seen at the Eric Singleton Bird Sanctuary. Some of them include:
- Biziura lobata (Musk Duck)
- Malacorhynchus membranaceus (Pink-eared duck)
- Oxyura australis (Blue-billed duck)
- Anas gracilis (Grey teal)
- Poliocephalus poliocephalus (Hoary-headed grebe)
- Elseyornis melanops (Black-fronted Dotterel)
Plant Species
During the cleanup project, over 170,000 native plants were planted in the sanctuary. These plants help clean the water and provide homes for animals. Some of the plant species are:
- Schoenoplectus validus (River club rush)
- Baumea articulata (Jointed twig rush)
- Baumea juncea (Bare Twig Rush)
