Tag: Queensland

Posted on in Birding Trips, Hotspots

Birding Down Under: The Daintree

daintreeriver-boat-qld-australia_lah_6076

A visit to tropical Australia has been at the top of my bucket list since I was 13. As we headed north on the Cook Highway, I was sure I was about to encounter a once-in-a-lifetime experience. There’s a reason UNESCO has designated this area as a World Heritage site. (Actually, there are four reasons, including geology, “exceptional natural beauty,” “superlative natural phenomena,” and the presence of endangered species.)

That’s a pretty impressive reputation. Would the Daintree live up to my expectations?

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Posted on in Birding Trips

Birding Down Under: Queensland Excursions

wongabelnp-qld-australia_lah_3794Tropical rainforests. That was why we had come to northeastern Queensland. I had romantic visions of colorful birds, stunning flowers, perhaps a python or two. Now that we were finally there, it was time to see if my fantasies had any basis in fact.

Our first excursion was to Eubanangee Swamp National Park, south of Cairns. The terrain was rolling grasslands and scrub interspersed with tracts of forest, mostly in the valleys. Cloud-shrouded mountains loomed in the distance. I figured that the edge habitat would be an excellent place to find birds, but the trails were so dark and the foliage was so dense, I was quickly frustrated. Clearly, I need to work on my “birding by ear” skills!

eubenangeeswampnp-qld-australia_lah_2694 (more…)