Bitterns in Rice Project

27/05/2026

We can highly recommend this book, hot off the press, by Justine Hausheer. It features our Bitterns in Rice Project and a bunch of other inspiring conservation stories, from Mountain Pygmy Possums in the high country to Night Parrots in the desert: https://unsw.press/books/the-vanishing-wild/

13/05/2026

Inspiration Flows at Wirra-Lo!

As part of our new Building Bittern Refuges project, funded by the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder, committee members recently completed an awe-inspiring tour of the Wirralo-Lo wetlands. These carefully managed wetland jewels are found at Murrabit West in Victoria and cared for by Wetland Revival Trust in conjunction with Barapa Barapa and Wamba Wemba Indigenous Rangers.

We were especially interested in the bespoke bittern wetlands that were constructed seven years ago and are now thriving. They can support bitterns with both breeding and non-breeding habitat at different times of year. These and other Wirra-Lo wetlands showed us how different water depths and vegetation structure support bitterns and other key species by providing foraging, roosting and breeding habitat. At one site, artificial gilgais, which are small ephemeral depressions and mounds, had recently been built and were being planted out by the Barapa Barapa rangers. These undulating areas were particularly inspiring when considering how to attract the endangered Australian Painted-snipe.

We had committee representatives from the Ricegrowers' Association of Australia, Murray Landcare Collective, Yarkuwa Indigenous Knowledge Centre, Murrumbidgee Field Naturalists Inc., Murrumbidgee Irrigation and Murray Irrigation Limited, and it’s safe to safe to say we were all sufficiently inspired! The Building Bittern Refuges project is possible thanks to the CEWH’s Environmental Activities Program: https://www.dcceew.gov.au/cewh/community-partners/environmental-activities-partnerships

04/05/2026

We’re delighted to see this long awaited project get underway, thanks to the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder. Stay tuned as we share the story of “Building Bittern Refuges” over the coming months and years …

Ricegrowers' Association of Australia Murrumbidgee Field Naturalists Inc. Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water Murray Local Land Services Riverina Local Land Services Western Murray Land Improvement Group Threatened Species Commissioner Murray Landcare Collective BirdLife Australia SunRice Nice Rice by Honestly Riverina Murray Darling Wetlands Working Group Murrumbidgee Landcare Inc Coleambally Landcare Waterbirds Australia

We are delighted to announce a new but long awaited project, thanks to funding from the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder under their Environmental Activities Program. Building Bittern Refuges is being led by Murray Wildlife, together with a range of key bitterns in rice partners. It’s all a...

11/03/2026

We are thrilled to see this project given the green light. It’s all about building on the habitat value of rice fields and benefiting bitterns. We look forward to sharing the story with you all over the coming months and years 😊

13/02/2026

For all the bittern lovers out there ❤️

10/02/2026

Check out this lovely shot just in from Mick and Kim Sillis from near Griffith 😊

02/02/2026

Nature Glenelg Trust’s track record speaks for itself. We already know how valuable SW Vic and SE SA are for our bitterns in rice during winter, so please consider supporting this new wetland restoration project.

02/02/2026

“One of the unique traits of the Bittern Recovery Team is the insights it receives from the rice-growing industry. Rice farms have been documented as contributing significant habitat for the species in recent decades. Neil Bull, an intergenerational farmer and valued member of the Team is excited about the opportunity for agricultural practices to play a role in conservation.”

Ricegrowers' Association of Australia
BirdLife Australia
Threatened Species Commissioner
SunRice
Nice Rice by Honestly Riverina
Riverina Local Land Services
Murray Local Land Services
Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
Murrumbidgee Landcare Inc
Western Murray Land Improvement Group

BirdLife Australia is celebrating new hope for the Australasian Bittern as a newly established National Australasian Bittern Recovery Team takes shape.

22/01/2026

Our Bitterns in Rice Project features in the ABC news today, where a new water policy paper that better integrates farming and conservations is discussed.

Can breeding birds and growing rice combine to help both conservation and agriculture in the basin?

07/12/2025

👀 Look at this sneak! The bitterns are arriving as the rice grows rapidly. Here’s a shot from Michael and Kim Sillis from near Griffith this morning. ♥️