The Australasian Bittern (Botaurus poiciloptilus) is an endangered waterbird known to use rice crops in the Riverina region of New South Wales. The relative importance and conservation value of these habitats for this species was previously unknown. Potentially, rice farmers can make a significant contribution to the conservation of Australia’s ‘Bunyip Bird’.
This report is targeted at the rice industry and organisations involved in the environmental management and ecological sustainability of rice farms, such as government departments and Landcare groups.