Every drop matters
Toast Banrock Station’s Ramsar wetland, a safehaven for 191 bird species, with some of the country’s finest wines.
As dawn breaks on Banrock Station, in South Australia’s riverland, feathered flashes of gold zip in and out of hollows in stately river red gums, while ’roos graze on native grass nearby.
These agile aviators are what the station’s wetland manager, Tim Field, has been waiting patiently for.
“September/October is eastern regent parrot survey time,” Tim says, “so we’re up well before dawn to make sure we can track the breeding population. So far, this year, it’s doing really well.”
Listed as vulnerable, the bird relies on two habitat types for its survival – nesting in mature river red gums within 20m of water and feeding in nearby mallee ountry.
Banrock Station’s Ramsar-listed wetland is dotted with river red gums, so is the ideal breeding ground.
As well as providing vital habitat to the parrot, the wetland, which is located on the floodplain of the River Murray about 2.5 hours north-east of Adelaide, also hosts 190 other bird species, including the black swan, grey teal, whistling kite, red-backed kingfisher and blue-faced honeyeater. There’s an 8km walkway around the wetland, and five bird hides.
“Since 1994, we have been restoring the wetlands through a number of activities, including reintroducing natural wetting and drying cycles in the wetland, planting thousands of native trees and shrubs, and creating a haven for native wildlife,” Tim says.
In 2002, the wetland was listed under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, recognising its international significance as habitat for threatened species and migratory birds. The natural habitat zones on the property exist side-by-side with Banrock Station vineyards, which comply with the highest environmental standards.
For more information head to Banrock Station, where every drop matters.