Bedarbidgal hosts first Plains-Wanderer release in NSW
The population of one of Australia’s most critically endangered bird species has been boosted with the first ever release of captive bred Plains-Wanderers.
Local landowners Bert and Liz Matthews hosted NSW Environment Minister James Griffin on Friday, alongside species expert David Parker, NSW National Parks representatives and staff of the Taronga Zoo, when the group gathered on the Hay Plains to release the birds.
The successful release heralds a full circle of involvement for the Matthews family.
“We have been interested in protecting these birds since day one,” Mr Matthews explained.
“When David Baker-Gabb, Rick Webster and Phil Maher first visited the area in the late 1990s we tagged along, and have been involved ever since.”
As his interest in the tiny quail-like bird grew, Mr Matthews became involved in the Management Board of the Oolambeyan National Park and worked closed with NSW Government in that capacity for several years.
Oolambeyan was established in 2002 because of its ideal Plains-Wanderer grassland habitat and shares a boundary with the Matthews’ ‘Bedarbidgal’ property, south-east of Hay.
In 2018 a breeding pair of Plains-Wanderers were captured on Bedarbidgal, and transported to the breeding program in Dubbo, and the return of six birds to the property was a proud moment for the many people involved.
Pictured: LIz and Bert Matthews with Minister Griffin and David Parker at Bedarbigal.
