Increased rainfall is believed to have contributed to the increased number of rare bird and wildlife sightings and an abundance of flora.

Co- founder of the Wagga group Melanie Baulch said locals do not need to trek for hundreds of kilometres to witness the spectacle of nature.

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Ms Baulch said the group was on the verge of undertaking an important project.

"We plan to start recording platypus sightings and the state of the water they are in," she said.

"You can see them in the Murrumbidgee River and they've been recorded in Wollundry Lagoon too.

"You can't appreciate what nature there is unless you get out and see it, preferably with a pair of binoculars and listen and train your ears and eyes.

"Our group helps like-minded people share knowledge and learn through others and appreciate and know what is in our local area - nature is all for free."

Another group member Dick Green, encouraged nature lovers to visit Livingstone National Park, located about 30 kilometres south of Wagga.

"It's the closest, accessible national park where people can appreciate the bush and the vegetation," Mr Green said.

Ms Baulch agreed the national park was a great starting point for both newcomers, as well as seasoned wildlife enthusiasts.

She has experienced some rare sightings on recent birdwatching sorties.

"I saw one of the most threatened and endangered species in Australia, the Regent Honeyeater, in an Ironbark tree at Livingstone," Ms Baulch said.

"I saw some Gang Gang Cockatoos there too, so they're coming back now and a few weeks ago, I saw three magpie geese at Springvale Dam, we don't usually see them here.

"We collect data which goes through to Birds Australia through a survey on an app you send through and they monitor the data to help the scientists know which species are in certain locations.

"The data doesn't just give information on which bird it is, it's about the habitat too."

Details: www.mfn.org.au

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