....Birds and birding in Australia - by Koji Tagi. This site introduces you

to the urban and suburban birds, the moist and dense forest birds in Australia, bright Australian woodland birds, such as parrots, in Eucalyptus or acacia forest, mallee and desert birds from arid Australia, savannah birds, honeyeaters and waterbirds. The site also introduces major birding spots in New South Wales, Queensland, the Northern Territory, South Australia, and western Victoria. Go here! Many photos! 

birds of Australia, visit the Australian Bird Study Association website. ABSA supports the study of Australia's birds, publishes a
scientific journal "Corella" (all abstracts are searchable on-line),
runs training for researchers, sells research equipment (mist nets,
bands, pliers, bags, data analysis programs etc), and gives direct
financial support to both amateur and professional researchers. Their Annual general Meeting co-incides with a day of lectures on bird
issues.They also offer courses on banding and ringing.

information on sites in: 
• the Northern Territory (Darwin, Katherine, Mataranka, Kakadu, Fogg Dam, Victoria Crossing, Timber Creek)
• Victoria (Rushworth State Forest, Terrick Terrick National Park, Murray Sunset National Park, Carlisle State Park, Chiltern National Park)
• Queensland (Cairns & surrounds, Lamington National Park & Yarraman
• Tasmania (Bruny Island, Peter Murrell Reserve & Eaglehawk pelagic)
• New South Wales (Mootwingee National Park)
• South Australia (Danggali Conservation Park) 

• Barren Grounds Bird Observatory (New South Wales). Another site with more information about Barren Grounds. 
• Broome Bird Observatory (Western Australia)
• Eyre Bird Observatory (Western Australia)
• Rotomah Island Bird Observatory (Victoria)

maps, slide shows, satellite images, and recorded bird songs.

construction, future additions will include a full list of the birds in Queensland and information on new sightings. Some info on the size, location and habitats to be found in Queensland.

of special birding habitats, some only ten minutes away, some a little more, and some very special locations accessible in a day or a half-day round trip.

The climate of the area is very pleasant for most of the year, temperatures rarely outside 10-30ºC and the bird-life prolific. There are a wide variety of habitats from mangrove and coastal sand-dunes to rainforest and dry interior woodland. In March 1991 our 'house' team took part in a 24-hour bird-race, scored 216 species and were still runners-up!

Shire is located north Brisbane and south of Caboolture Shire. This is a new guide to the identification and sites of birds in the Pine Rivers Shire north of the city of Brisbane in Queensland, Australia. 

The change in flora and fauna from South-East Queensland is a gradual one, linked to the decline in rainfall towards the centre, however, the change in bird-life can surprise the first-time visitor.

Queensland region is internationally recognized as a major destination for birdwatchers from around the world. Over half of Australia's bird species are found here, including 12 species that are locally endemic to the rainforests of the Cairns and Tablelands region.

contains information on a number of excellent birding sites.

Australia - part way down this page is brief information on the best birding spot in this area.

area is richly endowed with bird species ranging from the birds of our sea shores through to the birds of the wet forests of the Otway Ranges or the dry forests of the Brisbane Ranges. 

Information is provided for 13 sites, including several National Parks.

nearby areas: Christmas Island and Cocos-Keeling Islands. Inormation is provided on a number of sites (some with bird lists) including:
• near Perth
• Rudall River National Park
• Two Peoples Bay
• Shark Bay and environs
• Stirling Range National Park
• Lake McLarty Nature Reserve

birdwatching to see some of the 300 species recorded in the Darwin area or venture farther afeild for even more birds (a driving loop in the Northern Territory is detailed).

answer the frequently asked questions about where to look for birds. To compile information on all sought-after species and all possible areas to visit will be a large job.

observers in the Blue Mountains National Park, Australia. These pages are all about the various bird species to be seen in the upper Blue Mountains, Australia. This territory lies 100km West of Sydney and includes the towns of Wentworth Falls, Leura, Katoomba, Medlow Bath, Blackheath and Mt. Victoria.

bushwalking in the Illawarra, Shoalhaven and Adjacent Tablelands, NSW, Australia, including a bird list indicating abundance, and an illustrated guide to the birds of the Illiwarra.

the world to see large numbers of pelagic seabirds is near Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. Wollongong is a fishing town located c 80 km south of Sydney. Situated near the feeding areas of many seabirds and marine mammals, Wollongong attracts birders from around the world. Tony Pallisers website provides many trip reports on what you might see. 

Portland trips are now world famous, although there are pelagics operating from other ports around Australia and New Zealand, for information on these take a look at the Pelagic Directory. All of these pelagics are operated on a non profit basis and provide much valuable information about our little known seabirds. Australia hosts more species of seabird than anywhere else in the world with over 120 species recorded.

Wilson. The many islands the dot the Bass Strait between Victoria and Tasmania, provide an important breeding area (some 25+ species) for seabirds as well as a migration corridor between Pacific and Indian oceans.Birders visiting New South Wales should note that at the moment, pelagics from Sydney are scheduled to depart on the 2nd Saturday of each month, Wollongong pelagics on the 4th Sunday of each month and Eden pelagics on the 3rd Sunday of each month.

Information is included on:
• Around Adelaide
• Kangaroo Island
• Lower South-east
• Riverland
• Murray Mallee
• Flinders Ranges and Outback
• Eure Peninsula, Nullabor and beyond

distance from the South Australian mainland, is Australia's third largest island, and one of its most fascinating. Its magnificent coastal scenery is matched by its wildlife, protected by thoughtful conservation methods.It's important that about one-third of the island's original vegetation remains intact 

for Abundant Marine Life. By Steve Robertson. Home to thousands of elephant seals and millions of penguins, Macquarie Island is overwhelming. There is nothing quite like the sight and sound, not to mention the smell, of two thousand king penguins milling about as you sit on the beach at Sandy Bay. 

We decided to spend a few days on Lady Elliot Island, at the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef. Hearing stories of nesting Red-tailed Tropicbirds, Roseate and Bridled Tern was enough to convince us that we should travel to the place at the earliest opportunity and catch these wonderful birds before the breeding season was over and they had disappeared back into the vastness of the Pacific Ocean. This report is lavishly illustrated with images of nesting species.

Phillip Island, Victoria, only 140 kilometres south-east of Melbourne. The area is a reserve designed to protect and promote awareness of Little Penguins (previously called Fairy Penguins).

island (393km2) off the Queensland coast. The terrain is mountainous, rising to 1,121m, and covered with dense rain forest.

National Parks, and click on "birds" part way down this frame. A valuable nesting location in a vast expanse of open ocean, Christmas Island is home to large numbers of seabirds: frigatebirds (two species), boobies (three species) and spectacular tropicbirds (two species). Visitors don’t even need to leave the settled areas to get good sightings at close range of endemic Christmas Island Frigatebirds wheeling overhead and the graceful undulating flight of the Golden Bosun, an especially elegant Christmas Island form of tropicbird . The island is large enough to have developed its own unique rainforest ecology, with seven of the 13 land birds being endemic to the island. 

Territories). Christmas Island is an oceanic island of about 137 square kilometres rising abruptly out of the Indian Ocean about 600 km south of Java. Before European colonisation, it was mostly covered by rainforest, but in the last century, grassy clearings and gardens have replaced part of the rainforest. The island supports four endemic bird species and six endemic subspecies.

major habitat types in Australia, and the birds to be found there, as well as providing information on specific birding localities, including:
• Hobart City
• Bruny Island
• South West Wilderness
• South West Islands
• Bass Strait Islands
• East Coast Islands
• Tasman Peninsula
• East Coast Mainland

on the Great Sandy Desert, northwestern Australia. The contrast between the vast expanse of water, with its fringing trees and shrubs, and the surrounding spinifex-covered sand dunes of the desert, provides the main visual attraction of the lake. High numbers of terrestrial plant and animal species, as well as aquatic organisms, occur because of the availability of water.

kilometres long, is Australia's biggest river. With its even longer tributary, the Darling, and other tributaries, it is the water-supply lifeline for the city of Adelaide and many other towns and industries in three States...and a wonderful haven for much birdlife

and Rosellas as well as  Australian water birds. Or, you can choose to wander  through the exotic game bird aviaries. Outside the animal sanctuary, Gumbuya Park offers  glimpses of wildlife throughout its 430 acres of West Gippsland bushland.

clickable map lets you choose a state for information on the National Parks of that state.

incredible range of birdlife, from the tiny superb fairy wren to the majestic wedge tailed eagle, all of which can be seen in the wild.

advice (with checklists) regarding where to find birds in the North Queensland area.

Wetlands Sites (with map) Australia has a total of 49 Ramsar sites. They are listed by State.

This trip report is hyperlinked to a Tasmanian Bird Gallery. 

November 2001- by  Michael Hunter. We thought that all our Christmases had come at once after reviewing the Musgrave/Iron Range birdlist after a week with  four others on the road to Iron Range via Musgrave in early November with Santa Klaus, whose early Chrissie present was a full swag of all the endemics and rarities except Red-bellied Pitta for which we were a tad early, (and not on our hit list).

Although I live on the opposite side of the earth, I have always been fascinated by Australia, its nature and its birds. So this time, as I arrive at Melbourne airport all too early (4 am) on a foggy and drizzly winter morning, I am looking forward not so much to new adventures and discoveries, but mostly to meeting old bird friends.

2003 - by Phil Gregory, Trevor Bourgaize and Rich Austin. 

Richard Bonser. During July 2003, I spent just short of one month traveling up the east coast of Australia, commencing from Sydney and ending up in Cairns. The trip was not meant to be a birding one, but as time progressed so did the intensity and the regularity of my birding. 

by J. P. Paris. This report also contain numerous bird photos.

by Phil Gregory, Cassowary House, Australia. This is a great time of year in the NT, cool and sunny with no rain, perfect birding conditions, and it was lovely to be back once again.Overall. a great short break and a wonderful anniversary gift for Marlene.

Gregory, Cassowary House, Australia. Five days guiding for Sherry Nelson and Deborah Galloway, from Arizona. A birding tour in the late wet season, with excellent birding and beautiful sites all within 2 hours drive of Cassowary House. Weather generally good at the start, but a few heavy showers to dodge later in the week.

- by Stefan Tewinkel and Brigitte Andrew. The climate in Far North Queensland is very tropical, especially in the lowlands. Although coming from cold autumny Germany, we quickly accustomed ourselves to the hot and humid climate easily. we managed to see more than 330 bird species. So even in bad weather birding in Australia is a real pleasure. We met lots of nice birders, locals and travellers, who gave advice, showed us around, helped us identifying the birds and were nice companions. This is a richly illustrated triip report, with many photos attached to the species list.

by Kazumi Terada. The weather was not so good as Oct. 20 was hot, Oct. 21 and 22 were shower, but totally 174 species were observed, in which I saw 139 species (102 is new for myself).

2001 - by  Julie McLaren. In spite of the very dry conditions out here we are still seeing lots of birds, perhaps not in the numbers we see in a good year, but certainly all the "usual" residents. Because of the floods further West earlier in the year our water birds haven't reached the numbers that they do in many other years, when they congregate around our creek, bore drains and tanks.

September 2001 - by Laurie Knight. 

I'm in Western Australia. I moved here some months ago. Since you're so "crazy" over parrots, I shall write a little bit about the parrots here!

Just a brief highlight report and note of appreciation following a recent one month trip through FNQ ( Far North Queensland ) and up to IR ( Iron Range).

July 25, 2000. By Sandra Eadie. I had planned on a guided trip to Queensland's Iron Range National Park on the Cape York Peninsula, but the trip got cancelled on me at the last moment because not enough people signed up. Oh well, there are worse fates than finding stuff to do in Queensland for a birder. I managed to get on a non-birding 4-wheel-drive trip to the tip of Cape York Peninsula with the Adventure Company, Australia, something I had wanted to do for a long time. My birding trip would not have gone that far north. But as expected, there was not much chance to bird. Here are some highlights.

Evelien Goldbach. This was our first visit to Australia, and therefore we decided to assemble an itinerary which would bring us into various types of habitats, varying from tropical woodland (Kakadu NP) and tropical rainforest (Cairns area) in the north, the dry outback around Alice Springs, the temperate rainforest areas around Brisbane and Sydney, to the cooler areas southeast of Melbourne. Our visit took place in August, i.e. in wintertime, when day lengths are rather short. Birding must therefore been done from dawn (06.15-06.30) to dusk (18.00-19.00, depending on latitude) or beyond (spotlighting) to get optimal results. 

Australia was not at the top of my list of priority world birding locations. But when I had the opportunity to accompany a client for work there I couldn't and no longer even try to resist the urge to see the birdlife of this or any island continent. A week of work obligations in Melbourne and Sydney turned into a month in Australia when I added on birding destinations. Life is short, and there are many birds.

Evelien Goldbach. This was our first visit to Australia, and therefore we decided to assemble an itinerary which would bring us into various types of habitats, varying from tropical woodland (Kakadu NP) and tropical rainforest (Cairns area) in the north, the dry outback around Alice Springs, the temperate rainforest areas around Brisbane and Sydney, to the cooler areas southeast of Melbourne. 

This trip was organised to find 29 species which my travelling companion, Phoebe Snetsinger, had not seen on her previous visits to this country....In the end, after 39 days birding, some 396 species were seen. 

1998 by Richard Fairbank. 

See also Mike's March 13 - April 7, 1998 Trip Report.

Edwin Vella. Myself and David Koffel have just returned from an enjoyable and pleasant inland trip. As a result of covering new birding habitats - the Mallee, Mulga, the Bluebush plains etc, several species were new to me, and I saw a total of 37 lifers out of a total trip list of 225 species. 

travel saga concerning our ten weeks in a small car and a small tent chasing wildlife around Australia in May and June of 1996. The report is not entirely serious and is in a diary format. The trip goes from Adelaide to Darwin to North Queensland and then back down the east coast. For connoisseurs of these things, many bird lists and mammal sightings are included. 

South Wales) 26 September - 24 November 1993, by Michiel de Boer. A Two Months Low Budget Birding Trip Through Eastern and Central Australia. This is a report of a birding holiday of two months in Australia. I didn't book anything in advance (except for the flight) didn't rent a car and still visited all the good spots I wanted to visit. It was a great pleasure and a terrific experience, I would recommend to any birdwatcher or nature-lover. During a two months travel in Australia a visited a lot of different places and quite a few of them are already well known birding spots. Because it's no use repeating other reports I will mainly give the information which is not stated in previous reports, as far as I know. 

for Australia on Urs Geiser Trip Report Archive.

Girdley's BirdTours website by following the Australisia/Australia link from the main page.

cheap accomodation, transport and a wide knowledge of the wildlife of the area, from the border with New South Wales west to South-west Queensland and north to Gympie including the Greater Brisbane area and Moreton Bay Islands.

wildlife-photographers for over 30 years. Hans has also been a bird and wildlife guide for many years, and will act as a guide for individuals or small groups coming to Australia, at very reasonable rates. Hans and Judy will accompany folks anywhere within Australia or locally within Southern Queensland, near to the famous O'Reilly's Guest House.

Territory, the NT Bird Specialists operate, half day, fullday and package deals for birdwatchers from Mary River Park, only 110 k from Darwin on the Arnhem Highway.  Over 150 species have been identified in the immediate area and the nearby National Parks (Kakadu, Litchfield and Mary River) and are covered in these private guided tours. 

long-term protection and that the most direct way to achieve this is through education. By experiencing the wonders of the wet tropics, we hope to inform, delight and inspire you to ensure that it remains just as it is. Flexible in nature, our excursions provide one of the very best opportunities to observe some of Australia's most elusive, unusual and unique wildlife by visiting up to nine different habitats, from reef to rainforest. Excursions are tailored to the specific interests of individuals and groups: from half or single day to several days or longer in duration, either intensive or conducted at a more leisurely pace.

accommodation with exceptional birding. 373 species on our visitors and immediate area list, including 21 parrot spp and all 24 Australian raptors. 183 spp have been observed from the house verandahs, mostly during long and leisurely breakfasts! Abberton’s remarkable bird list stems from its situation at a unique crossroads formed by the conjunction of the Great Dividing Range running North/South, with the bird highway of Lockyer Creek which runs from East to West. Fully inclusive packages with personal guiding, or just do-it-yourself birding based on 11 riverside acres in the heart of Queensland’s bird-rich Lockyer Valley. Transfers from Brisbane. Read the visitors’ comments on this website….

environmental tours are designed for those who want to experience the sights and sounds of life in and around the rainforests of the Wet Tropics, at a relaxed pace and as part of a small group. We include the best of both worlds, with several hours of daylight for rainforest walks and birdwatching, followed by the after dark experience of finding and observing the nocturnal wildlife. Our relaxed afternoon-evening environmental tours (departing 2pm daily) combine rainforest walks with birdwatching, platypus viewing, and nocturnal wildlife spotlighting. We also cater for special interest and charter groups on request. 

(VENT)- Join Australian resident David Bishop for some of the very best birding and natural wonders this incredible continent has to offer. Australia is a vast, ancient, and timeless land of special beauty and infinite wonder. And yet Australia is one of the easiest, most comfortable, and intriguing places on earth. Serviced by fine roads and superb accommodations, the birder in Australia can truly enjoy a birding holiday.Australia's isolation has resulted in the evolution of a remarkable array of endemic birds and other wildlife. Of the 76 indigenous Australian bird families, eight are endemic to Australia and a further seven are shared only with nearby New Guinea. Approximately 300 of the recorded 760 species are found nowhere else on our planet. 
• Australia 2000: Highlights October 05 - October 27, 2000 (23.0 days - Limit 11) with leader David Bishop. 

The state of Western Australia is unimaginably vast, occupying nearly a third of the continent. Although most of it is either desert or semiarid bush, there are notable exceptions such as in the southwest and the vast Kimberley. Here, among the towering Kaori forests and at freshwater pools hidden in the mysterious depths of deep, otherworldly gorges, we will seek out some of Australia's most special birds and mammals. 
• Western Australia October 01 - October 21, 2002 (21.0 days - Limit 12) with leader David Bishop. 

mountains only 50 minutes from Brisbane’s city centre with recently achieved Ecotourism Accreditation. Fifty-five years ago the busy Brown family bought a farm ‘to get away from it all’. Now the next generation, Sam and Margaret, have built four cottages and welcome you to share this little piece of paradise. Immediately you turn down Browns Road, the busy world of traffic, tight schedules and ringing telephones is left far behind as you wind your way through the dense rainforest of Maiala National park. Wildlife is a feature and you are sure to see pademelons (wallabies) as well as other mammals and reptiles. Over 80 species of birds have been sighted by guests.
...

of Far North Queensland, Australia, Lotus Bird provides the ideal habitat for over 200 varieties of wading, migratory and resident wood and grassland birds. This makes Lotus Bird Lodge an excellent place for birdwatching enthusiasts to explore the magnificent birds and wildlife of this remote region. 

2000

Trips

The Cumberland Bird Observers' Club conducts at least 24 birdwatching trips every year all over the greater Sydney region.  That's two outings every month - rain, hail or  shine - and you are very welcome to come  along. No bookings required.

inter-State 07)