Wamberal Lagoon, an intermittently closed intermediate saline coastal lagoon, is located on the Central Coast region of New South Wales, Australia. Wamberal Lagoon is located between the beachside settlements of Forresters Beach and Wamberal, and adjacent to the Pacific Ocean, about north of Sydney.
Features and location Fed by stormwater runoff that flows into Forresters Creek, the lagoon has a surface area of approximately and a catchment area of . When full, the Wamberal Lagoon covers an area of around . Its outflow is to the Tasman Sea of the South Pacific Ocean that is generally closed, and water levels inside the lagoon are not usually influenced by ocean tides.
The lagoon and the surrounding land comprising form part of the Wamberal Lagoon Nature Reserve, a nature reserve created in 1981, that is under management of the NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service.
Terrigal Lagoon and Avoca Lake are located to the south and are a short distance away.
Wamberal Lagoon Conservation Society
Formed in 1983 and still active, the Wamberal Lagoon Conservation Society (WLCS) was set up to promote conservation of the lagoon and its surrounds in the face of increasing urban development.
The initial charter of the WLCS cited the terms of Section 49(3) of the National Parks and Wildlife Act: lands within a nature reserve shall be deemed to be dedicated for the purposes of: (a) The care, propagation, preservation and conservation of wildlife; (b) The care, preservation and conservation of natural environments and natural phenomena. (c) The study of wildlife, natural environments and natural phenomena; and (d) The promotion of the appreciation and enjoyment of wildlife, natural environments and natural phenomena.
To this end the Society engages in education, co-operation with other bodies having a similar interest, and representations to authorities whose responsibilities affect the nature reserve. Members of the WLCS have been active members in bushcare activities over many years, involving removal of rubbish and invasive plants from environmentally sensitive areas, and replanting of native vegetation.
In 2018 and 2019 the WLCS initiated a habitat restoration project aimed at improving water quality in inflows to the lagoon, with the ultimate aim of reintroducing an endangered amphibian species (the green and golden bell frog, Litoria aurea) that once was common in this area but has been extirpated (as it has over most of its former rangeWhite, A.W. and Pyke, G.H. 1996. Distribution and conservation status of the Green and Golden Bell Frog Litoria aurea. Australian Zoologist 30, 177-189.Mahony, M.J., Hamer, A.J., Pickett, E.J., McKenzie, D.J., Stockwell, M.P., Garnham, J.I., Keely, C.C., Deboo, M.L., O'Meara, J., Pollard, C.J. and Clulow, S. 2013. Identifying conservation and research priorities in the face of uncertainty: a review of the threatened bell frog complex in eastern Australia. Herpetological Conservation and Biology 8, 519-538.).
The WLCS is working with management authorities (notably, the NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service and the Central Coast Council) to identify practicable methods to reduce pollutant input (e.g., via Gross Pollutant Traps on waterways flowing into the lagoon) and to replace invasive weeds with native vegetation to enhance biodiversity.
As part of the habitat restoration initiative, WLCS assembled a list of vertebrate species that have been recorded to occur within one kilometre of the lagoon, based on unpublished records by WLCS members as well as consultancy reports.BMT WBM. 2013. Gosford Coastal Lagoons Coastal Zone Management Study.BMT WBM. 2015. Coastal Zone Management Plan for Gosford Lagoons.Cardno. 2010. Gosford Coastal Lagoons Processes Study, prepared for Gosford City Council, July 2010 That list confirms the highly biodiverse nature of the site, and hence the importance of its conservation. Species lists below.
Amphibians Family Common name Species Hylidae Bleating tree frog Litoria dentata Hylidae Eastern dwarf tree frog Litoria fallax Hylidae Peron's tree frog Litoria peronii Myobatrachidae Tusked frog Adelotus brevis Myobatrachidae Common eastern froglet Crinia signifera Myobatrachidae Striped marsh frog Limnodynastes peronii
Birds Family Common name Species Acanthizidae Brown thornbill Acanthiza pusilla Acanthizidae Striated thornbill Acanthiza lineata Acanthizidae Yellow thornbill Acanthiza nana Acanthizidae Brown gerygone Gerygone mouki Acanthizidae White-browed scrubwren Sericornis frontalis Accipitridae Grey Goshawk Accipiter (Leucospiza) novaehollandiae Accipitridae Pacific Baza Aviceda (Aviceda) subcristata Accipitridae White-bellied sea eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster Accipitridae Whistling Kite Haliastur sphenurus Accipitridae Black Kite Milvus migrans Accipitridae Osprey Pandion haliaetus ACROCEPHALIDAE Australian Reed Warbler Acrocephalus (Acrocephalus) australis ALCEDINIDAE Kookaburra Dacelo (Dacelo) novaeguineae ALCEDINIDAE Sacred Kingfisher Todiramphus (Todiramphus) sanctus ANATIDAE Mallard Duck Anas (Anas) platyrhynchos ANATIDAE Pacific Black Duck Anas (Anas) superciliosa ANATIDAE Chestnut Teal Anas (Nettion) castanea ANATIDAE Grey Teal Anas (Nettion) gracilis ANATIDAE Hardhead Aythya (Nyroca) australis ANATIDAE Musk Duck Biziura lobata ANATIDAE Australian Wood Duck Chenonetta jubata ANATIDAE Black Swan Cygnus (Chenopis) atratus ANHINGIDAE Australasian Darter Anhinga novaehollandiae APODIDAE Spine-Tailed Swift Hirundapus caudacutus ARDEIDAE Eastern Great Egret Ardea (Casmerodius) modesta ARDEIDAE Eastern Great Egret Ardea (Casmerodius) modesta ARDEIDAE Intermediate Egret Ardea (Mesophoyx) intermedia ARDEIDAE Great Egret Ardea alba ARDEIDAE Striated Heron Butorides striatus ARDEIDAE Little Egret Egretta garzetta ARDEIDAE White-Faced Heron Egretta novaehollandiae ARDEIDAE Eastern Reef Egret Egretta sacra ARDEIDAE Black Bittern Ixobrychus flavicollis ARDEIDAE Nankeen Night-Heron Nycticorax caledonicus ARTAMIDAE White-Breasted Woodswallow Artamus (Artamus) leucorynchus ARTAMIDAE Pied Butcherbird Cracticus nigrogularis ARTAMIDAE Australian Magpie Cracticus tibicen ARTAMIDAE Grey Butcherbird Cracticus torquatus ARTAMIDAE Pied Currawong Strepera (Strepera) graculina CACATUIDAE Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo Cacatua (Cacatua) galerita CACATUIDAE Little Corella Cacatua (Licmetis) sanguinea CACATUIDAE Long-Billed Corella Cacatua (Licmetis) tenuirostris CACATUIDAE Gang-Gang Cockatoo Callocephalon fimbriatum CACATUIDAE Yellow-Tailed Black-Cockatoo Calyptorhynchus (Zanda) funereus CACATUIDAE Galah Eolophus roseicapillus CAMPEPHAGIDAE Black-Faced Cuckoo-Shrike Coracina (Coracina) novaehollandiae CENTROPODIDAE Pheasant Coucal Centropus (Polophilus) phasianinus CHARADRIIDAE Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva CHARADRIIDAE Masked Lapwing Vanellus miles CICONIIDAE Black-Necked Stork Ephippiorhynchus (Ephippiorhynchus) asiaticus COLUMBIDAE Rock Pigeon Columba (Columba) livia COLUMBIDAE White-Headed Pigeon Columba (Janthoenas) leucomela COLUMBIDAE Bar-Shouldered Dove Geopelia humeralis COLUMBIDAE Crested Pigeon Ocyphaps lophotes COLUMBIDAE Common Bronzewing Phaps (Phaps) chalcoptera COLUMBIDAE Spotted Dove Streptopelia (Spilopelia) chinensis CORACIIDAE Dollarbird Eurystomus orientalis CORCORACIDAE White-Winged Chough Corcorax melanorhamphos CORVIDAE Australian Raven Corvus coronoides CUCULIDAE Fan-Tailed Cuckoo Cacomantis (Vidgenia) flabelliformis CUCULIDAE Pacific Koel Eudynamys orientalis CUCULIDAE Channel-Billed Cuckoo Scythrops novaehollandiae DICRURIDAE Spangled Drongo Dicrurus bracteatus ESTRILDIDAE Red-Browed Finch Neochmia (Aegintha) temporalis FALCONIDAE Nankeen Kestrel Falco (Tinnunculus) cenchroides HIRUNDINIDAE Welcome Swallow Hirundo neoxena LARIDAE Whiskered Tern Chlidonias (Pelodes) hybrida LARIDAE Silver Gull Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae LARIDAE Sooty Tern Sterna fuscata LARIDAE Common Tern Sterna hirundo LARIDAE White-fronted Tern Sterna striata LARIDAE Crested Tern Thalasseus bergii MALURIDAE Variegated Fairy-Wren Malurus (Leggeornis) lamberti MALURIDAE Superb Fairy-Wren Malurus (Malurus) cyaneus MEGAPODIIDAE Australian Brush-Turkey Alectura lathami MELIPHAGIDAE Eastern Spinebill Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris MELIPHAGIDAE Little Wattlebird Anthochaera (Anellobia) chrysoptera MELIPHAGIDAE Red Wattlebird Anthochaera carunculata MELIPHAGIDAE Yellow-Faced Honeyeater Caligavis chrysops MELIPHAGIDAE Bell Miner Manorina (Manorina) melanophrys MELIPHAGIDAE Noisy Miner Manorina (Myzantha) melanocephala MELIPHAGIDAE Lewin's Honeyeater Meliphaga (Meliphaga) lewinii MELIPHAGIDAE White-Naped Honeyeater Melithreptus (Melithreptus) lunatus MELIPHAGIDAE White-Cheeked Honeyeater Phylidonyris (Meliornis) niger MELIPHAGIDAE New Holland Honeyeater Phylidonyris (Meliornis) novaehollandiae MONARCHIDAE Magpie-Lark Grallina cyanoleuca NECTARINIIDAE Mistletoebird Dicaeum (Dicaeum) hirundinaceum OCEANITIDAE White-Faced Storm-Petrel Pelagodroma marina ORIOLIDAE Olive-Backed Oriole Oriolus (Mimeta) sagittatus ORIOLIDAE Australasian Figbird Sphecotheres vieilloti PACHYCEPHALIDAE Grey Shrike-Thrush Colluricincla (Colluricincla) harmonica PACHYCEPHALIDAE Golden Whistler Pachycephala (Pachycephala) pectoralis PARDALOTIDAE Spotted Pardalote Pardalotus (Pardalotus) punctatus PELECANIDAE Australian pelican Pelecanus conspicillatus PETROICIDAE Eastern Yellow Robin Eopsaltria (Eopsaltria) australis PHAETHONTIDAE Red-Tailed Tropicbird Phaethon rubricauda PHALACROCORACIDAE Little Black Cormorant Phalacrocorax sulcirostris PHALACROCORACIDAE Pied Cormorant Phalacrocorax varius PHALACROCORACIDAE Great Cormorant Phalacrocrorax carbo PODARGIDAE Tawny Frogmouth Podargus strigoides PODICIPEDIDAE Australasian Grebe Tachybaptus novaehollandiae PROCELLARIIDAE Sooty Shearwater Ardenna grisea PROCELLARIIDAE Wedge-tailed Shearwater Ardenna pacificus PROCELLARIIDAE Short-tailed Shearwater Ardenna tenuirostris PROCELLARIIDAE Fairy Prion Pachyptila turtur PROCELLARIIDAE Great-Winged Petrel Pterodroma (Pterodroma) macroptera PROCELLARIIDAE Little Shearwater Puffinus (Puffinus) assimilis PSITTACIDAE Australian King-Parrot Alisterus scapularis PSITTACIDAE Musk Lorikeet Glossopsitta concinna PSITTACIDAE Little Lorikeet Parvipsitta pusilla PSITTACIDAE Eastern Rosella Platycercus (Violania) eximius PSITTACIDAE Crimson Rosella Platycercus elegans PSITTACIDAE Scaly-Breasted Lorikeet Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus PSITTACIDAE Rainbow Lorikeet Trichoglossus haematodus PSOPHODIDAE Eastern Whipbird Psophodes (Psophodes) olivaceus PTILONORHYNCHIDAE Satin Bowerbird Ptilonorhynchus violaceus PYCNONOTIDAE Red-Whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus (Pycnonotus) jocosus RALLIDAE Eurasian Coot Fulica atra RALLIDAE Dusky Moorhen Gallinula (Gallinula) tenebrosa RALLIDAE Banded Rail Gallirallus philippensis RALLIDAE Purple Swamphen Porphyrio (Porphyrio) porphyrio RHIPIDURIDAE Rufous Fantail Rhipidura (Howeavis) rufifrons RHIPIDURIDAE Grey Fantail Rhipidura (Rhipidura) albiscapa RHIPIDURIDAE Willie Wagtail Rhipidura (Sauloprocta) leucophrys SCOLOPACIDAE Red-necked Stint Calidris ruficollis SCOLOPACIDAE Curew Sandpiper Callidris ferruginea SCOLOPACIDAE Latham's Snipe Gallinago hardwickii SCOLOPACIDAE Bar-Tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica SPHENISCIDAE Little Penguin Eudyptula minor STERCORARIIDAE Arctic Jaeger Stercorarius parasiticus STRIGIDAE Southern Boobook Ninox (Ninox) novaeseelandiae STRIGIDAE Powerful Owl Ninox (Rhabdoglaux) strenua STURNIDAE Common Myna Acridotheres tristis STURNIDAE Common Starling Sturnus (Sturnus) vulgaris SULIDAE Australasian Gannet Morus serrator THRESKIORNITHIDAE Royal Spoonbill Oplatalea regia THRESKIORNITHIDAE Australian White Ibis Threskiornis molucca TIMALIIDAE Silvereye Zosterops lateralis TYTONIDAE Eastern Barn Owl Tyto (Tyto) javanica
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