NSW is experiencing ideal birdwatching conditions, with hundreds of thousands of migratory birds and local waterbirds flocking to the state’s lakes and wetlands.
In Outback NSW, Menindee Lakes is brimming with water following heavy winter rains and thousands of waterbirds have migrated to its shores.
On Lord Howe Island, summer marks the height of activity, with 14 species of seabirds breeding there in their hundreds of thousands.
According to Destination NSW chief executive Sandra Chipchase, the state has some of Australia’s rarest and most endangered birdlife. In fact, CaperteeValley near Lithgow has one of the highest concen-trations of bird species in the southern hemisphere.
The state offers novice and experienced twitchers a variety of environments to see local and migratory birdlife.
The coastal and inland wetlands, tropical rainforest, outback lakes, wooded bushland, coastline and islands are home to some of Australia’s rarest and largest concentrations of bird species.
Here are some of the most exciting birdwatching hotspots:
- Menindee Lakes. This inland oasis near Broken Hill, which has more than 220 species of bird life, attracts hundreds of thousands of birds including large flocks of black swans, budgerigars, pelicans, Major Mitchell cockatoos and emus.
- Seabird breeding on Lord Howe Island is frantic over summer, although the island is a birdwatchers’ paradise year round. Lord Howe is the only known breeding ground of the providence petrel and the island’s breeding program has brought the woodhen back from the brink of extinction.
- Well known in twitcher circles, Hyams Beach Trail at Jervis Bay offers the perfect opportunity to spot New Holland honey-eaters, eastern spinebills, and eastern and crimson rosellas.
- CaperteeValley near Lithgow is one of the most important breeding grounds for the beautiful and endangered regent honeyeater. More than 235 bird species have been recorded in the valley, including 25 threatened species.
- The recent rain has brought abundant birdlife to the Macquarie River Smart Trail, a birdwatching route along the MacquarieRiver. The trail starts at LakeBurrendong near Wellington and ends at the ecologically rich Macquarie Marshes near Dubbo. The marshes wetlands is a major waterbird breeding area and attracts some very special birds, including brolgas, magpie geese and Australasian and little bitterns, as well as massive colonies of ibis and egrets.
- The Hunter Wetlands attracts large numbers of migratory birds during summer. A total of 217 bird species have been recorded in the wetlands, including 18 species of raptors and 72 wetland species, including the endangered black-necked stork.
- Not only can you spot koalas around Narrandera in the Riverina, there are 13 informal sites set up to seek out the 200-plus species found in the region. The Yanga Lake Red Gum Bird Hide near Balranald, nestled among river red gums and old man saltbush, is a great spot to spy black swans, white-bellied sea eagles, great crested grebes and pelicans.
- In Murray Valley National Park at Mathoura, egrets and musk ducks can be spotted along the Reeds Bird Hide Boardwalk. The Wonga Wetlands near Albury, an 80-hectare ecosystem of lagoons and billabongs, is a haven for more than 150 species, which can be spotted from six hides set among century-old river red gums.
- For an introduction to birdwatching or to join other avid twitchers, book into one of Centennial Parklands’ regular birdwatching tours. More than 140 species have been spotted there.
- With hundreds of recorded species, Dorrigo is bird lovers’ heaven. A downloadable guide provides insider tips on where to go and what species may be sighted, including satin bower birds, superb lyrebirds and bassian thrush.
- On the Far South Coast, Kiah Wilderness Tours run birdwatching kayak tours along the KiahRiver near Eden. Creep quietly along the river and spot magnificent azure kingfishers, wedge-tailed eagles and white-bellied sea eagles. For a much closer encounter, the new On the Perch Aviaries Cafe has 75 species on display at five exhibits including three large walk-in aviaries.
