North Victorian Wetlands facts for kids

The North Victorian Wetlands, also called the Kerang Wetlands, are a huge group of over 100 lakes and swamps. You can find them in northern Victoria, Australia, near the town of Kerang. These wetlands are on the floodplain where the Loddon River meets the Murray valley. They are super important for many different kinds of waterbirds, sometimes hosting huge numbers of them!

What Are the Kerang Wetlands?

These wetlands are about 300 kilometers (186 miles) north-west of Melbourne. Many of the lakes are connected to a system that helps with irrigation for farms. This means water levels can be controlled.

Some wetlands here have a problem called salinity. This happens when too much salt builds up in the soil and water. It's often caused by farming and irrigation practices.

People use these lakes for fun activities like sightseeing, fishing, boating, and swimming. Some lakes also store water for irrigation or are used to manage salty water.

Why Are These Wetlands Important for Birds?

A special part of the Kerang Wetlands, made up of 12 lakes, is known as an Important Bird Area (IBA). This area covers about 60 square kilometers (23 square miles). BirdLife International has identified it because many important birds live there.

The wetlands are home to endangered Australasian bitterns and near threatened blue-billed ducks. Sometimes, over 1% of all the world's freckled ducks, straw-necked ibises, black-fronted dotterels, banded stilts, and red-necked avocets can be found here!

Many other birds also visit these wetlands in large numbers. These include black swans, Pacific black ducks, grey teals, Australian shelducks, Australasian shovellers, pink-eared ducks, and hardheads. You might also spot black-backed bitterns, Australian white ibises, hoary-headed grebes, and Eurasian coots.

Shorebirds like sharp-tailed sandpipers, red-necked stints, marsh sandpipers, white-headed stilts, double-banded plovers, red-kneed dotterels, red-capped plovers, and whiskered terns are also seen. The rare Australian painted snipe has been recorded in Hird Swamp, which is part of the IBA.

What Is a Ramsar Site?

A larger area of 22 wetlands, covering 94 square kilometers (36 square miles), was recognized as super important on December 15, 1982. It was listed under the Ramsar Convention as Ramsar Site 265.

The Ramsar Convention is an international agreement that helps protect wetlands around the world. These wetlands were chosen because they are incredibly important for waterbirds. They provide a safe place for many birds that live only in Australia (endemic) and birds that travel long distances (migratory). They also act as a safe haven during dry times (drought refuge). Plus, some rare or special plants grow here.

Images for kids

• 

  A drawing of two Australasian bitterns. These wetlands are very important for them.