Boolcoomatta Reserve
| Boolcoomatta Reserve South Australia | |
|---|---|
  Boolcoomatta Reserve | |
| Nearest town or city | Broken Hill |
| Coordinates | 31°55′59″S 140°35′42″E / 31.933°S 140.595°ECoordinates: 31°55′59″S 140°35′42″E / 31.933°S 140.595°E |
| Established | 2006 |
| Area | 630 km2 (243.2 sq mi) |
| Managing authorities | Bush Heritage Australia |
| Website | Boolcoomatta Reserve |
Boolcoomatta Reserve is a 630 km2 nature reserve in eastern South Australia, 463 km north-east of Adelaide and 100 km west of Broken Hill. It is owned and managed by Bush Heritage Australia (BHA).
History
Boolcoomatta was a sheep station that used to run a flock as large as 90,000 sheep [1] for 150 years before being purchased by BHA in 2006[2] with assistance from the Australian Government and Nature Foundation SA. There are relics of some small-scale copper mining on the property.[3]
Landscape and vegetation
Much of Boolcoomatta is flat, with undulating ranges and rocky outcrops in the western section of the property. The ranges support open Acacia woodland while the plains to the east support shrublands of chenopods, including saltbush, as well as tussock grassland. Usually dry creeks, with occasional waterholes, are lined with River Red Gums. The climate is arid, with an average annual rainfall of 190 mm.[3]
Fauna
The reserve forms part of the 1,402 km2 Boolcoomatta, Bindarrah & Kalkaroo Stations Important Bird Area, identified by BirdLife International as supporting a significant population of Plains-wanderers.[4] Other threatened animal species present on Boolcoomatta include the Slender-billed Thornbill and Thick-billed Grasswren. There is habitat suitable for the Yellow-footed Rock Wallaby, which is present on adjoining Bimborwie Conservation Park.[3]
A survey of the reserve's wildlife conducted by a team of 50 volunteers found healthy bird populations and increasing numbers of marsupials and reptiles.[2]
References
- ↑ "Outback sheep station becomes conservation reserve". The World Today. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 27 April 2007. Retrieved 25 August 2013.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Wildlife survey reveals thriving landscape". ABC Newscastle (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). 9 April 2012. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Boocoolmatta Reserve. Bush Heritage Australia. Retrieved on 9 April 2012.
- ↑ "IBA: Boolcoomatta, Bindarrah & Kalkaroo Stations". Birdata. Birds Australia. Retrieved 2011-06-05.