Narran Lakes showed off its striking recovery since the drought, attracting twitchers from around the country to the internationally recognised wetland on their Open Day last weekend. 

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service Area Manager Marty Linehan said the day was the perfect opportunity to see the wetland at its peak, with recent inflows filling both Clear Lake and Black Lake to capacity. 

“Back-to-back wet years have meant that for the first time in many years there is plenty of water in the lake system…this has triggered the best bird breeding event in a decade,” Mr Lineham said. 

Aerial view of the reserve from the North end. (Supplied)

WIth visitation to the nature reserve only possible on open days, the day was the perfect opportunity for twitchers to set their eyes on what birdlife has returned.

“While access to nesting areas is limited, the diversity and abundance of birdlife is guaranteed to keep twitchers happy,” Mr Lineham said. 

Among the birds are straw-necked ibises, egrets, spoonbills, cormorants, and darters. Off the water birds like woodswallows, honeyeaters and pink cockatoos come and go. 

Nature-lovers from the area and beyond came to enjoy the internationally recognised wetland. (Supplied)

Despite some early rain on the day, Acting National Parks and Wildlife Service Area Manager Peter Berney said there were lots of happy visitors who were rewarded with a sunny afternoon. 

“The people who attended enjoyed a Welcome to Country hosted by Alan Tinghe and Jason Wilson, which was followed by a smoking ceremony,” Mr Berney said. 

“The welcome emphasised the role of the lakes as a meeting place for people to conduct ceremonies and enjoy the abundant resources of the area,” he said. 

“A highlight of the welcome came from former NPWS employee, Harry Creamer, who worked as an anthropologist in his early career during the 1970s and collected a range of stories from Aboriginal people in the area, some of who were relatives of existing Joint Management Committee members.”

An Eastern Great Egret at the Lakes. (Supplied)

Mr Creamer presented these interviews and associated photographs back to the Joint Management Committee. 

The day also saw visitors hosted on a walk along the lake edge, seeing first hand the items of cultural heritage and a view of birdlife both on the water and flying over.