Friends of Bool and Hacks Lagoons

The Friends of Bool and Hacks Lagoons is an independent body dedicated to conserving and monitoring the Bool and Hacks Lagoons wetland complex. Our work focuses on biodiversity monitoring, vegetation regeneration (esp., rare plants), weed management (esp., Boneseed), pest animal control, and engaging the broader community through local outreach and promotion of The Bool.

We are currently recruiting new members and welcome anyone with an interest in wetlands, birds, or conservation. Members receive occasional updates and opportunities to get involved, and the first 50 sign-ups will receive a Friends of Bool and Hacks Lagoons enamel pin. If you’re interested in joining, please complete our membership form and be part of conserving one of South Australia’s most important wetland complex: see form here <- click here.

Over the past year, our group has significantly expanded its monitoring efforts, particularly through the use of passive acoustic technology. Across 40 sites, we submitted more than 28,000 validated detections to the Biological Database of South Australia, an achievement recognised by the Department for Environment and Water as “a significant dataset.” These recordings captured a diverse array of species, including Australian Owlet-nightjar, Barn Owl, Bassian Thrush, Buff-banded Rail, Crested Shrike-tit, Gang-gang Cockatoo, Painted Button-quail, Peregrine Falcon, and the Powerful Owl. This work demonstrates how community-led monitoring can generate high-value data to support conservation planning.

A major focus has been improving understanding of the Powerful Owl in Limestone Coast. Through large-scale acoustic deployments, 173 sites across conservation parks and native forest reserves, we have helped confirm the species’ presence at several key locations, while also identifying areas where it may have been lost. With more than 1.5 million minutes of audio collected to date, this project is not only informing owl conservation but also building a broader regional dataset on woodland bird communities. These insights will contribute to fire management planning and national monitoring programs.

Beyond acoustic monitoring, the group has continued to deliver hands-on conservation outcomes. Our regular bird surveys at Bool Lagoon documented 75 species during a period of limited inundation, highlighting the wetland’s resilience and ongoing importance as habitat. Weed control, particularly targeting Boneseed, has been another significant focus, with multiple working bees engaging volunteers to reduce its spread and relieve pressure on native vegetation. In parallel, pest animal control efforts are helping to protect vulnerable fauna and improve habitat condition. We have also contributed over 2,000 biodiversity records through photography expeditions shared via iNaturalist, strengthening the visual and ecological record of the region.

Bool and Hacks Lagoons are freshwater wetlands located on the traditional lands of the Bungandidj, Meintangk, and Bindjali people, approximately 393 km southeast of Adelaide and 24 km south of Naracoorte. Covering around 3,200 hectares, the site includes Bool Lagoon Game Reserve and Hacks Lagoon Conservation Park. As a Ramsar-listed wetland of international importance, it provides critical breeding habitat and drought refuge for waterbirds, including species such as the Australasian Bittern and Freckled Duck, and supports the largest ibis rookery in South Australia.