Wildlife beyond the riverbank: an evening with dinner & discussion

Corowa District Landcare’s recent event, Wildlife Beyond the River, brought the community together for an evening celebrating the rich biodiversity of the Murray River region. Held in Corowa, the event drew a full house of attendees who enjoyed a delicious meal, great company, and a series of engaging presentations by local experts.  

Colleen O’Malley from the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust commenced proceedings, delivering an insightful presentation on the value and complexity of wetlands. Colleen highlighted the important role of conservation covenants in protecting these vital environments, which offer a myriad of habitat and ecosystem services.    

Dr James Van Dyke from La Trobe University and the 1 Million Turtles conservation program followed with a fascinating talk on the region’s turtle species. He discussed the threats facing turtles and shared positive conservation developments, including the installation of floating turtle islands in dams to support hatchling success rates. Van encouraged attendees to get involved in TurtleSat, a citizen science project supporting turtle conservation. 

Philippa Noble, a volunteer with BirdLife Australia and Swamps, Rivers & Ranges bird survey programs, delved into her experiences observing local birdlife. Her talk illustrated a great picture of the region’s bird diversity and habitats. 

The event concluded with an after-dark walk along the river (for those willing to brave the cool night air). Participants were thrilled to spot nocturnal wildlife, including Brushtail Possums, a Tawny Frogmouth, and a Barn Owl. 

Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to the success of the evening: 

* Dr James Van Dyke - La Trobe University and 1 Million Turtles Community Conservation Program  

* Colleen O’Malley - NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust  

* Philippa Noble - Birds on Farms Southern NSW and Swamps, Rivers & Ranges 

* Corowa District Landcare volunteers  

* Bluegum Cafe & Catering