Ulandra Nature Reserve

The Ulandra Nature Reserve is a protected nature reserve that is located in the west hills of the Southern Tablelands and eastern Riverina regions of New South Wales in eastern Australia. The 3930ha reserve is situated approximately 25km south-west of and 4km south-east of the village of.The reserve's main feature is Mount Ulandra. Immediately west of the reserve lies an undulating plain that varies between 200to above sea level which rises abruptly at Mount Ulandra to its summit at 761m above sea level. The reserve was dedicated in 1981 to protect stands of Cootamundra wattle. The reserve is used for foraging and reproduction by the threatened superb parrot. It was then progressively added to until 1983.The reserve is listed on the Register of the National Estate. Its Statement of Significance there reads as follows: 'This nature reserve constitutes a highly important remnant of regionally representative open forest in the agricultural district of the south-west slopes, dominated by Callitris endlicheri and a variety of eucalypts. These vegetation types do not survive within the region to any great extent beyond this reserve. The reserve contains the invasive ornamental Acacia baileyana growing in a portion of its relatively restricted natural distribution. The reserve also appears to furnish critical reproductive and foraging resources for the threatened superb parrot (Polytelis swainsonii) as well as significant habitat for another vulnerable bird species, the turquoise parrot (Neophema pulchella). Moreover, it represents almost a sole habitat isolate for many species which can be regarded as regionally uncommon due to the extent of clearing, and for irruptive/migratory nectarivorous and insectivorous passerines. Included within Ulandra Nature Reserve is a relatively undisturbed catchment (feeding Merrybundinah Creek); such a phenomenon is a rarity within an agriculturally transformed landscape of this type.'