NATIONAL WILDERNESS RED INDEX

Published by the Colong Foundation for Wilderness Ltd. 30/09/94
Level 2, 332 Pitt Street, Sydney, NSW, 2000.
Ph (02) 9261 2400; Fax (02) 9261 2144.

Name:

PEERY LAKE

Nominated by:

Not recorded

Location:

North-west New South Wales.

Size
For size and tenure information contact the Colong Foundation.

DESCRIPTION

The Peery Lake wilderness is centred on the Paroo Overflw, associated ephemeral
lakes and areas of low rocky ranges of sedimentary origin.
Located on the western edge of Peery Lake itself is an area containing both
active and extinct mound springs. These appear to flow from an aquifer
associated with an outcropping junction of Devonian and Cretaceous sedimentary
rocks and adhoning loose Quaternary sediments.
[1]

The wetlands that occur in the Peery Lake wilderness are part of a larger system
that includes the Paroo Overflow, Paroo River, Cuttaburra Creek channels and
Yarammarie Swamp. This system is one of only three large ephemeral wetlands in
the north-west of the State. [2]

About 100 species of native plants have been recorded from the Peery Lake
wilderness. Two species recorded from the wilderness are threatened nationally.
The Salt Pipewort (Eriocaulon carsonii) is a specialised species growing only in
natural springs, and is considered endangered. Downy Mother-of -Misery
(Cuphonotus andreanus) has restricted distribution throughout its range. A
number of plants in the area are at or near the limit of their range, or are
outliers of their main populations elsewhere. Philotheca salsolifolia and
Utricularia dichotoma reach thier inland limits here' Schoenoplectus pungens,
Climbing Bindweed (Porana commixta) and U. dichotoma are outliers of their main
populations elsewhere. A total of nine species from the Peery Lake wilderness
have some conservation significance.
The flora of the area occurs in eight vegetaion commuities, none of which are
adequately protected in conservation reserves in New South Wales. Amongst these
are two communities that are considered to be vulnerable: Belah (Casuarina
cristata)- Rosewood (Alectryon oleifolium) low woodland and Canegrass
(Eragrostis australica)-Lignum(Muehlenbeckia florulenta) herbland. [3]

The wetlands of the area are likely to be of international significance, as in
some years they support populations of ducks that meet the population size
criteria of the Ramsar Convention. Up to 54,000 ducks have been recorded on the
system. Total waterbird populations are also high, with up to 73,000 individuals
recorded, making the wetlands important for maintaining regional populations of
seventeen species.
Amongst the 143 species of birds recorded from Peery Lake are four species
considered to be rare or vulnerable. These are the Pink Cockatoo (Cacatua
leadbeateri), Freckled Duck (Stictonetta naevosa), Brolga (Grus rubicundus) and
Pied Honeyeater (Certhionyx variegatus). There are also three species at or near
the limit of their geographic range. The yellow Thornbill (Acanthiza nana) and
Little Friarbird (Philemon citreogularis) lie along the inland limit of their
range, the Wedgebill (Psophodes cristatus) is at or near the south-eastern edge
of its inland distribution. Of the total of thirty-five species with
conservation significance are eighteen that are of concern in western New Soutn
Wales but generally secure. [4]

ENDANGERED SPECIES

No endangered species information is recorded for this area.

LAND USE HISTORY

No land use history is recorded for this area.

CONSERVATION HISTORY

No conservation history is recorded for this area.

THREATS

No threats are recorded for this area.

CONTACTS

No contacts are recorded from that area.

ENDNOTES

1
Knight,1994.

2
Knight, 1994.

3
Harden (1990-93), Pressey et al. (1990) - cited in Knight, 1994.

4
Knight, 1994.

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