Birds thrive in the Murray-Darling Waterbirds thrive off donated water and traditional water management. Straw-necked ibises in flight. Credit: Kate Brandis It’s a Murray-Darling bird-breeding party in the Gayini (Nimmie-Caira) wetlands in south west New South Wales, as birds trhive. Thousands of breeding waterbirds are flourishing thanks to water that’s been specifically allocated to help boost the environment, and the wisdom of the traditional custodians of Nari Nari Country. Gayini is a wetland complex of nearly 88,000 hectares situated between Maude and Balranald, and part of the Murray-Darling Basin. It is home to many bird colonies and holds cultural significance to First Nations peoples, so the breeding event is a big win for the birds who live there.