Daintree Birdwatching Tours

The Daintree area in Far North Queensland’s Wet Tropics region is one of Australia’s best birdwatching locations. Many international and local birdwatchers come to spot some of the 430 species recorded in this area. That is more than fifty percent of Australia’s avian species! Although not all of those are to be found in the lowlands or present year round.

The Wet Tropics has 12 of Australia’s native species including the Macleay’s Honeyeater, Pied Monarch and Victoria’s Riflebird. Other Australian species that can be found include the Mangrove Robin, Lovely Fairy-wren, Red-necked Crake and Double-eyed Fig Parrot.

There are many birdwatching tours available in the Daintree, both river-based and land-based. River-based tours take place in specially built boats with swivel seats and retractable roofs for spotting and photographing birds. These are accompanied by nature guides and are available at different times (sunrise/ sunset). Land-based tours include walks around the Daintree Village, the Daintree Rainforest, Cape Tribulation, the Atherton Tablelands, Mt Carbine, the Daintree Valley and more. There are also 4WD tours that will take you to explore the rainforest and Wet Tropics with all its wildlife. Tour times are often flexible to suit individual itineraries.

Birdwatching

Birdwatching is the hobby of observing and studying birds, often involving photography, videography and audio recordings. The term ‘birdwatching’ was first used in 1901, with the term ‘birding’ appearing in 1918. Today ‘birding’ and ‘birdwatching’ are used interchangeably, although the former is the preferred form as it does not have some of the negative connotations of the latter.

The term ‘twitcher’ is also used for birders who travel long distances to find a rare bird to be then checked off their list. The term originated in the 1950s, and the main goal of ‘twitching’ is to accumulate species on a list. This is a popular competition in countries such as the UK, the Netherlands, Denmark, Ireland, Finland and Sweden.

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.

Where is the Daintree Rainforest?

The Daintree Rainforest is located in the north-eastern state of Australia, Queensland. The rainforest is in Far North Queensland, borht of Cairns, and spans an area of approximately 1200 square kilometres. The Daintree is part of the Gondwana Rainforests, a group of World Listed national parks found across Queensland and northern New South Wales.

There are a number of ways of getting to the Daintree Rainforest for your holiday, from a rental car to a bus tour, helicopter, plane and boat. There are, however, no taxis so you will have to plan to arrive with one of the above mentioned forms of transport. For helicopters and planes, there is an airstrip in Cow Bay Airstrip (to get a birds eye view of the rainforest. If you drive, it is about 2 hours from Cairs on the Cook Highway. The road offers spectacular views of the Coral Sea, and 4WDs are not necessary to drive through the rainforest.

What to do there?

There is an amazing range of things to do and see at the Daintree Rainforest, no matter you’re age, experience or abilities. From exploring the rainforest, including rare species of plants, to spotting birds threatened with extinction. Then there are the waterfalls and creeks, thousands of photo opportunities, pristine beaches, remote wilderness and hiking tracks.When you get tired of swimming, scuba diving, fishing, surfing, sailing, biking and learning about the most diverse ecosystem in the world, then there are the man made attractions and activities.

Experience modern Australian cuisine in the variety of Daintree restaurants and cafes, such as at the Bundaleer. This restaurant’s name comes from an Aboriginal word that means ‘amongst the trees’, and it is literally situated in among the trees. It also overlooks the rock pools of Cooper Creek. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, it is conveniently located for guests staying at Heritage Lodge. There is even a comfy bar provided for guests to relax and enjoy a drink before dinner.