Conservation group BirdLife Australia said while they were not ... "When we are seeing declines in water birds throughout the system during a dry period, that's not a good thing," she said.

The researchers spotted 287,231 birds in this year's survey ... the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) and other Australian state government agencies, covers a third of the continent and provides ...

A scientist who has worked on the survey says it is normal for waterbird numbers to go through "booms and busts" in line with flood periods but this year has seen populations dip below their long-term ...