World Wetlands Day this week celebrates the special place that wetlands hold globally in terms of biodiversity, food production and cultural practices.

In this episode of Hawkesbury Eco Hour, Nick chats with Eric about the unique biodiversity of the Hawkesbury wetlands and their remarkable bird life.

The swamps, lagoons, rivers and creeks of the Hawkesbury provide feeding and breeding grounds for a host of coastal waterbirds. They are also a vital refuge for inland species during periods of drought, and a wintering destination for a host of migrant waterfowl and waders which breed as far away as Siberia.

As Sydney expands, these unique wetlands are under increased threat, despite their enormous value to biodiversity, flood prevention, food production and ecotourism. Eric has been birding in the Hawkesbury wetlands for over 40 years and talks about some of the remarkable 300-plus species of birds that make this area home, as well as the challenges they face in a changing environment, which we must do more to protect.

Episode Links:

• Episode 6: Save Riverstone Wetlands from development, with Mark Fuller

• World Wetland Day https://www.worldwetlandsday.org/

• Land For Wildlife https://hen.org.au/about/land-for-wildlife/

• Cumberland Bird Observers Club https://www.cboc.org.au/

• Hawkesbury Environment Network https://hen.org.au

• Contact the Hawkesbury Eco Hour Podcast podcast@hen.org.au