Rare sightings of the region's birdlife await those who are brave enough to wake with the rising sun, according to Wagga's finest bird-watchers.
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In order to prove the statement, bird watcher Melanie Baulch is inviting the community to have "breakfast with the birds" on February 2, to celebrate the 50th annual World Wetlands Day.
From 6.30am on the day, would-be bird spotters and early morning wildlife enthusiasts will descend on Wagga's wetlands on Narung Street.
"In Wagga, in the wetlands, the birds that are here have been identified since the 1970s, we've got historic bird populations," Ms Baulch said.
"It's important to monitor what's here."
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This will be the second time the bird watchers have hosted the event in Wagga. Last year saw up to 40 binocular-clutching bird spotters attend.
With 75 members in the newly gazetted Wagga chapter of the Murrumbidgee Field Naturalists, the hope is that this year will see an increase in numbers.
In the lead-up, Ms Baulch has been attending the wetlands regularly and has seen a lot of rare sights before the sun's heat forces the birdlife into hiding.
"This morning [Monday], we saw a darter [which] is quite striking," Ms Baulch said.
The early morning walk also uncovered four dollar birds which will presumably be on their way back to northern Australia in the next few weeks.
There were also a couple of cumbungi (bullrush) birds about, along with a white-faced heron and numerous species of water birds including ducks and pelicans.
"We found a nest of a reed warbler. I could hear it, I was listening and I thought, 'I'm sure there's a nest there' and sure enough there was, so that was exciting," Ms Baulch said.
"It's good to compare what's here to what's at Lake Albert and other sites to see whether they ever come over here or go over there."