The Response of Waterbirds to the 1997 Flood in the Narran Lake Nature Reserve, New South Wales

The occurrence and breeding of waterbirds in the Narran Lake Nature Reserve were documented during 1997. The wetlands in the nature reserve flooded in March, but only nine species of waterbirds bred there, and only in small numbers. This was in marked contrast with the major breeding event which followed the flood of early 1996, which involved 18 species, some of which bred in very large numbers. The Narran Wetlands are of international importance and further monitoring is required to expand our knowledge of their use by waterbirds.