Wiesners Swamp Nature Reserve
History
The reserve lies within Wiradjuri country, however little is known about its historic significance to Aboriginal people. The swamp is likely to have been an important reliable source of water and game.
The area around the reserve was settled during the 1830s by European squatters, with Wiesners Swamp selected as part of Walla Walla Station. In 1883, the area of the nature reserve was excised from Walla Walla Station to become two Crown forest reserves. From the early 1900s, the wetland within the reserve became known as Wiesner Swamps, due to the Wiesner (pronounced ′weezner′) family purchasing the property adjacent to the reserve. From 1975 there were proposals to gazette the swamp as a state game reserve or as a nature reserve for its value as a wetland and remnant woodland, with the area proclaimed a nature reserve in April 1996.
Environment
The nature reserve comprises a large low-lying area of ephemeral wetland (Wiesners Swamp) and small areas of gently sloping land above regular flood level on the north-western, south-western and north-eastern corners. Wiesners Swamp lies in a depression on the Billabong Creek floodplain, and is located in the headwaters of Simmons Creek, which flows into Billabong Creek.
Most of the swamp is contained within the nature reserve but small areas extend outside on the western, northern and southern boundaries. The swamp fills from drainage lines on the south-eastern and northern boundaries and drains to the west.
The water table beneath the reserve lies about 4 metres (13 ft) below the surface, and is highly saline.
Flora
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/52/Red_Gum_Swamp%2C_Doctors_Swamp%2C_December_2016.jpg/300px-Red_Gum_Swamp%2C_Doctors_Swamp%2C_December_2016.jpg)
116 plant species have been recorded within the reserve, of which 48 are introduced. Most of the forest within the reserve is River Red Gum woodland. Other large tree species present within the reserve include white box, grey box, yellow box and Bulloak.
The reserve has limited native vegetation structure in the midstorey and understorey due to historic clearing and livestock grazing.
Native aquatic plant species recorded within the reserve include spiny flatsedge, common spikerush, rushes, red water-milfoil, water ribbons, swamp lily and blunt pondweed.
Fauna
Fifty species of birds, have been recorded within the reserve, including Australian reed warbler, Australian white ibis, brown treecreeper, dollarbird, mistletoebird, sacred kingfisher, swamp harrier, tawny frogmouth, white-necked heron, white-plumed honeyeater, yellow-billed spoonbill, zebra finch. Mammal species recorded within the nature reserve include eastern grey kangaroo, common brushtail possum and common ringtail possum. Reptiles and amphibians recorded in the reserve include eastern brown snake, lace monitor, spotted marsh frog and Peron's tree frog.
Introduced pest species found within the reserve include European rabbit, brown hare, European fox, feral cat, common starling, European carp and eastern mosquitofish.
See also
References
- ^ Protected Area Profile for Wiesners Swamp Nature Reserve from the World Database on Protected Areas. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
- ^ Wiesners Swamp Nature Reserve: Plan of management (PDF) (PDF). Government of New South Wales. February 2003. ISBN 0-7313-6948-3. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
- ^ "Wiesners Swamp Nature Reserve". Geographical Names Board of New South Wales. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
- ^ "Wiesners Swamp Nature Reserve". NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
- ^ English, Pauline; Richardson, Peter; Stauffacher, Mirko (December 2002). Groundwater & Salinity Processes in Simmons Creek sub-catchment, Billabong Creek, NSW (PDF). Canberra: CSIRO. ISSN 1446-6163.