Birdwatching

Birdwatching is the activity of observing and studying birds, whether through binoculars or direct sight.  Although ‘birdwatching’ implies mainly watching birds, a significant component is actually listening for bird calls. This is because many bird species are more readily found and identified by ear rather than by sight. Birdwatching is a recreational past-time for many, however it is also undertaken for the purposes of scientific study by ornithologists.

Birdwatching usually involves taking trips to observe birds in their natural habitats. The most common periods for birdwatching in temperate zones are during the spring or autumn migrations, which is when a great variety of birds may be spotted. The best time of day is usually early in the morning when the birds are most active, therefore easier to spot.

Although birdwatching is mainly a hobby, there are also competitive events organised around the world. These competitions usually consist of individuals or teams trying to accumulate a list of bird species spotted within a specified time limit.

Common equipment for birdwatching may include binoculars, a spotting scope and tripod, a notepad and a field guide. For the auditory aspect of birdwatching, special recording devices have been developed that allow birdwatchers to record bird calls for later retrieval and comparison.

If you want to learn more about the wildlife that abounds in the Daintree Rainforest of Far North Queensland, birdwatching is an excellent activity.

Daintree Rainforest

There are both land based and water based tour operators that can take you to the best places to find amazing Australian birdlife in the Daintree Area. Some of the Australian birds you might be able to spot or hear include:

• the Sacred Kingfisher
• the Buff-breasted Paradise Kingfisher
• the Yellow Oriole
• the Great-billed Heron
• the Papuan Frogmouth
• the Royal Spoonbill
• the Wompoo Fruit-dove
• the Black Bittern
• the Brahminy Kite
• the Azure Kingfisher
• and the Cassowaries.

Snorkeling

The Daintree area offers so much to do, including many activities where you can learn about the surrounding environment and the life that inhabits it. Snorkeling is one way to explore the marine life in the Great Barrier Reef, a World Heritage Listed site and the world’s largest coral reef. It stretches along the Queensland coast for approximately 35 million hectares

Snorkeling is where one swims with a diving mask, a snorkel and flippers, and sometimes a wetsuit. The swimmer uses this equipment in order to observe life under water for extended periods of time without having to come up for air or expend a lot of effort. The benefit of snorkeling is that it allows swimmers to observe marine life without the training or equipment needed in scuba diving. Usually snorkelers will travel to a particular underwater attraction, such as a reef or a wreck, or to locations where different varieties of fish, plants and formations can be found. Generally locations that are between 1 – 5 meters below the surface are favoured by snorkelers.

Scuba Diving

Scuba diving is where a diver uses a scuba set to breathe under water, whether for leisure or for other reasons (commercial, search and rescue, etc). Rather than relying on air from the surface, scuba divers carry compressed air with them, giving them greater freedom of movement. Originally the term ’scuba’ was an acronym for Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus, first used during WWII. Scuba diving is a great activity for the Great Barrier Reef, whether trained or diving with a trained instructor.

Due to the risks of diving to deep depths, scuba divers must undergo training to dive by themselves. Changes in air pressure can cause painful injuries to the diver if he/she does not know how to equalise the pressure in their air spaces. Scuba diving equipment can include a wet suit to keep the diver warm, an open-circuit diving regulator coupled to a single pressurised gas cylinder, a face mask, flippers, and so on. The advantage of scuba diving is that the diver can dive much deeper without having to come up for air, compared to snorkeling. As a result, all sorts of different marine life can be observed.

Saltwater Crocodiles

Saltwater crocodiles (crocodylus porosus), also known as estuarine crocodiles, are the largest reptiles in existence today. They are found throughout Southeast Asia, Northern Australia and the Eastern coast of India. Generally, Saltwater crocodiles spend the tropical wet season in freshwater swamps and rivers, moving downstream to estuaries and even out to sea during the dry season.

Australia has both Saltwater and Freshwater crocodiles, but only Saltwater crocodiles are found in the Daintree area. The Saltwater crocodiles are very competitive over territories and will fight each other for the best stretches of creeks and streams. Attacks on humans are very rare, however when they do occur, they are usually fatal due to the crocodile’s size and strength. They can also travel quite quickly, but usually cruise around 3km/hr. Male crocs can reach 23 feet in length, while females only reach about 10 feet. Saltwater crocs are carnivores and will eat snakes, cattle or anything it can get. Yet they are also quite shy, so can be hard to spot.

Crocodile Cruises

When you stay at Heritage Lodge, located between the Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef, there are plenty of adventure activities to participate in. From snorkeling to 4WD tours, kayaking and fishing, there is something for everyone to do and learn about the Daintree at the same time. If you want to discover more about the Saltwater crocodiles you can take a crocodile cruise on the Daintree River and try to spot some.

Saltwater crocodiles are found in all the tidal creeks of the Daintree coast, and sometimes further inland. The crocodiles are attracted to the Daintree River because it is big and shallow, so it warms up in the months between November and May.

Crocodiles have no way of creating body heat internally so they are attracted to warm water, but will also enjoy cool water when they get too hot. So low tide, cool water and warm sun creates excellent spotting conditions.