Flooding hit River Murray communities hard, but there's a silver lining for the environment

Yellow-billed spoonbills nesting in a river red gum tree. (ABC News: Che Chorley)

The ancient flood plains of South Australia's River Murray have sprung to life in the wake of its biggest inundation in 66 years.

Two months after the flood plains re-emerged from the water, ground that was bare for decades is now covered in greenery, while bird species from around the world continue to flock to the region.