The senior-friendly birdwatching sites in Australia have seen a surge in popularity as of late. This might be unexpected for seasoned travelers who are not very familiar with Australian wildlife, aside from simply finding baby koalas cute.
But experts say the surge in birdwatching in Australia is likely part of a worldwide trend that began during the pandemic. After lockdowns kept people indoors for months in 2020, they took to the outdoors in droves. Seven million people participated in some kind of outdoor activity in the US alone that year.
A Guide to Australia’s Finest Birdwatching Sites
In May of that same year, researchers from the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology say that birdwatchers all over the world set a new record for birds documented in a single day – 2.1 million worldwide.
Now, that is not to say that “The Land Down Under” is for the birds. Australia is in no way an inferior tourist destination when compared to trendier tourist magnets like Thailand or France. If – for some reason – we needed to make up an excuse to visit the continent other than birdwatching, we certainly would have no problem finding one.
There are the beaches, of course. Foreign visitors to Terra Australis are amazed at the sheer number of them – crescent-shaped and immaculately white with names like Wineglass Bay and Whitehaven.
Prefer to listen rather than read?
There is the Great Barrier Reef, one of the world’s most iconic natural wonders, with its promise of snorkeling and diving among coral banks bursting with marine life. There are also the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbor Bridge, both of which are among the most recognizable monuments to human ingenuity in the modern world.
But then there are the spectacles and places in Australia that – up until recently – anyone would have thought less likely to draw huge crowds of vacationers. After all, it takes a keen eye and an enthusiast’s patience to appreciate the senior-friendly birdwatching sites of Australia.
The Amazing Birds of Australia
From the bright red-orange and green-plumed King Parrot to the six-foot-tall, orange-eyed cassowary, birding in Australia promises attractions you will find nowhere else on the planet.
Scientists explain the continent’s distinctive wildlife as a biological progression that began when the supercontinent Gondwana drifted apart 180 million years ago.
The breakaways from that split became the landmasses we now know as Australia and Antarctica. Since then, further shifts in land formation and climate, and the Australian continent’s ecological disconnection from the rest of the world, have led to the evolution of Australia’s wildlife.
The richness and diversity of this natural heritage make birding in Australia a thoroughly enjoyable experience. The continent is home to one in 10 of the planet’s unique bird species.
Scientists further speculate that parrots, pigeons, nad songbirds first evolved on the Australian land mass. This might explain why the former two are so diverse and abundant throughout the continent.
According to renowned Australian science writer, John Pickrell, parrots make a distinct impression on first-time visitors to Australia with their loud and noisy calls.
A Favourite Stop-Over
But Australian native bird species are not the only avian denizens you’ll find in the senior-friendly birdwatching sites of Australia.
Every year, tens of millions of migratory birds descend on the continent – among them millions of tiny greyish brown and white plovers from Russia, curlews from Northeast China, and lovely ash-coloured greenshanks from all over the northern hemisphere. Each one of these fascinating creatures is reason enough to spend a few days birding in Australia.
The migratory birds drop into the swamplands, meadows, and ponds near places like Roebuck Bay and Eighty Mile Beach in August or September. There, the birds rest, replenish their energy, hunt for food, and then move on. Following a pattern that has repeated itself for thousands of years, the birds will return to their northern breeding grounds in April.
These birds – along with the continent’s endemic avian wildlife – make the senior-friendly birdwatching sites of Australia special places.
If you live in Australia and have never tried birdwatching, you should. Otherwise, you are missing out on a fantastic opportunity. Chances are, you are just a gas tank away from some of the best birdwatching sites in the world!
Things You Should Know About the Senior-Friendly Birdwatching Sites of Australia
If you are an experienced birdwatcher who lives elsewhere in the world, then you probably know that Australia has some of the best and most unique senior-friendly birdwatching sites you can visit.
As much as 20 percent of the tourists who travel to Australia each year go birdwatching, according to a report issued by Future Tourism CRC. Many of the tourists travel to the country specifically to observe Australia’s birdlife.
Wildlife experts, government tourism agencies, and economic research organizations say birdwatching tourism began flourishing in Australia in the early 2000s.
Today, only two decades later, fairly large birdwatching associations have sprung throughout the country, including the Australian Bird Study Association, Birds SA, and the Canberra Ornithologists Group, among others.
There are many more small local associations across the continent that would be happy to provide tourists who want to go birding in Australia with information and guides.
In fact, researchers who are tracking the growth of the Australian birdwatching industry say it closely follows the growth trajectory of the thriving US $96 billion birdwatching industry of the United States. Many of those who are contributing to the growth are retirees on vacation.
Below are 4 amazing things you need to know before visiting Australia’s birdwatching parks.
Birdwatching is Good for Senior Health
Birding in any of the Australian continent’s birdwatching spots involves walking or light hiking, allowing seniors some healthy low-impact exercise. These relaxing walks lower your blood pressure and encourage movement and physical activity without excessive strain.
Birdwatching in general is good for the mind, as well. Studies suggest that the human mind innately associates the mere sound of birdsongs with restoration from mental exhaustion and stress.
Identifying and observing the vast variety of different bird species in Australia’s birdwatching parks is enough to stimulate cognitive functions like memory, attention to detail, and problem-solving.
Being outdoors in the often-magnificent settings of Australia’s birding sites also improves overall well-being. Visiting any of these birdwatching sites Down Under will certainly improve your mood and emotional health.
Ultimately, observing birds in any of Australia’s senior-friendly birdwatching sites promotes continuous learning and good health as seniors explore and gain knowledge about various bird species, habitats, and behaviours of the fauna.
The Birdwatching Sites of Australia are Uniquely Enjoyable and Accessible
Whether you are a visitor to Australia or a native, the country is a birdwatcher’s paradise. The best senior-friendly birdwatching sites Down Under offer breathtaking natural landscapes. These include lush rainforests coastal areas and expansive deserts.
Seniors can enjoy themselves in stunning scenery while observing the birds in their natural habitats.
Apart from carefully well-maintained trails, many birdwatching sites in Australia also offer viewing platforms, and guided tours.
These extra services make the parks more accessible and enjoyable for senior birdwatchers of varying skill levels and physical abilities.
Information centres or interpretive displays offer additional resources, maps, and knowledgeable staff to assist seniors in planning their birdwatching activities, as well.
Here are some of the best senior-friendly birdwatching sites in Australia:
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney
- This senior-friendly bird-watching site provides easy walking paths and benches, offering opportunities to spot various bird species, including waterbirds, around the garden’s ponds.
- Centennial Parklands, Sydney
- Like all other birdwatching sites in Australia, this park offers a comfortable birdwatching experience.
- The park features flat paths around ponds and open spaces where seniors can enjoy birdwatching without strenuous hiking.
- The Royal National Park, New South Wales
- What makes this park one of the best senior-friendly birdwatching sites in Australia is that it has designed trails that are suited to seniors with limited mobility.
- This includes Lady Carrington Drive, which provides opportunities to spot diverse bird species in a more natural setting.
- Sherbrooke Forest, Dandenong Ranges, Victoria
- This senior-friendly birdwatching site offers accessible trails with a chance to see iconic Australian birds like the lyrebird.
- Adelaide Botanic Garden, South Australia
- With easy paths and various habitats, this park is an excellent spot for birdwatching without extensive walking.
- Jerrabomberra Wetlands, Australian Capital Territory
- This park’s accessible paths and bird hides offer wonderful opportunities to see waterfowl, shorebirds, and other species.
- This thoughtful consideration of safety and accessibility makes it among the best senior-friendly birdwatching sites on the continent.
- Esperance Bird and Animal Park, Western Australia
- Unlike most of the senior-friendly birdwatching sites in Australia, this park provides a more contained environment, making it easier for seniors to observe and enjoy birdlife without extensive walking.
- Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, Australian Capital Territory
- Situated near Canberra, Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve is a haven for birdwatchers.
- It offers easy walking paths and accessible facilities, catering to seniors’ needs.
- The wetlands, woodlands, and grassy areas within the reserve support an abundance of birdlife.
- Seniors can spot waterbirds like herons, parrots, and ducks around the wetland areas.
- Atherton Tablelands, Queensland
- The Atherton Tablelands offers a different birdwatching experience amid lush rainforests, crater lakes, and rolling hills.
- While exploring this region, seniors can visit sites like Lake Barrine and Lake Eacham, which are known for their birdlife.
The easily accessible walking tracks around these lakes provide opportunities to spot kingfishers, honeyeaters, and various waterbirds. Interpretive signage and facilities make it perfect for seniors interested in birdwatching in lush tropical landscapes.
Australia Offers Opportunities to Enjoy some of the Most Diverse and Spectacular Birdlife and Landscapes in the World!
The birdwatching sites of Australia are home to an incredibly diverse and enormous birdlife ecosystem. Many of them are places that provide abundant opportunities to go birding for both native and migratory birds amid spectacular backdrops.
The Endemic Birds You’ll Find in Australia’s Senior-Friendly Birdwatching Sites
Nearly half of the 850 species of birds in Australia are endemic. Australia is second only to Indonesia in terms of the number and diversity of its birdlife. Of course, these endemic birds include the emu and the wedge-tailed eagle, both of which are species of impressive size. Both have also become emblematic of Australian culture and heritage.
The emu is the largest native bird in Australia and the second-largest living bird in the world. Standing up to 1.9 meters tall, it is surpassed only by the ostrich in height. With a wingspan that can exceed 2.5 meters, the Australian Wedge-Tailed Eagle is a skilled hunter, preying on a variety of animals including small mammals, birds, and carrion.
The Superb Lyrebird is known for its impressive ability to mimic natural and artificial sounds. You are likely to spot – and hear – this bird in senior-friendly birdwatching sites in the forests along the southeastern regions of the continent.
The magnificent male Black Cockatoo is also endemic to Australia. The males of these species exhibit striking glossy black plumage all over their body. Their most distinctive features are the presence of bright red panels or patches on their tail feathers, which contrast sharply against their glossy black.
You will find these cockatoos at the senior-friendly birdwatching sites in the woodlands, forests, and coastal heathlands of Australia, where they can find their favourite food sources: the seeds of casuarina and Banksia trees.
The Migratory Birds You’ll Spot in Australia’s Senior-Friendly Birdwatching Sites
Many other species of birds you will observe in Australia’s senior-friendly birdwatching sites are migratory. The bird migrations in teh continent are among the most breathtaking spectacles in nature.
As many as 250 species of migratory birds come to Australia each year. This spectacular movement involves vast multitudes of migratory birds.
The transient birds you’ll spot in the senior-friendly birdwatching sites of Australia visit the same staging points or havens on the continent to which their species have flocked for hundreds of thousands of years.
These include species such as the Arctic Tern, and various species of seabirds, falcons, ospreys, warblers, cuckoos, and shorebirds. These birds provide a remarkable burst of colour and sound to the astonishing landscape and endemic birdlife on the continent.
Some of the birds travel globally. Others travel shorter distances. The Arctic Tern travels from the Arctic to the Antarctic and back, covering around 71,000 kilometers each year.
If you have been to any of Australia’s birding sites along the routes of all these migratory birds, then you will have witnessed an awe-inspiring natural spectacle.
What You’ll Need When You Visit
When going on an adventure to Australia’s many senior-friendly birdwatching sites, you should consider essential equipment to enhance the experience.
Of course, you will need a quality pair of lightweight binoculars with comfortable grips and easy-to-use focus adjustments. These will help you spot and observe birds at a distance.
You could also get a smartphone telephoto lens. These devices permit you to take spectacular photos of birds with just your phone. You will also need a field guide or bird identification book specific to the Australian landscape. This will be immensely helpful. Some seniors might prefer guides with larger print or digital versions for easy reference.
Comfort and preparedness are key, so wearing sturdy and comfortable footwear suitable for walking or light hiking is advisable. Sunhats, polarized sunglasses, and sunscreen are essential for protection against the Australian sun, especially in open or coastal areas.
Carry a small backpack or waist pack to hold essentials like water and your camera for capturing memorable moments. Bring any necessary medications to ensure readiness for a pleasant birdwatching outing.
You will also need a lightweight folding chair or seat cushion that can provide comfortable seating during extended observation periods at senior-friendly birdwatching sites.
This is particularly true for seniors who appreciate the convenience of a comfortable resting spot while enjoying the birdlife and landscape.
Birding in Australia: A Legacy in the Wilderness
Every year we tell ourselves that we’ll arrange a trip to one of the many senior-friendly birdwatching sites across the continent, and every year we forget. But what is truly concerning is that every year, it seems fewer and fewer of the birds can return, as well.
So much so that researchers have raised alarm bells over the decreasing number of birds that traverse the East Asian-Australian flyway – the migratory path for the millions of northern shore birds that make pitstops at Australia before heading further south.
Birds are as sensitive to toxicity as they are to changes in the ecosystem. Often, they are more sensitive to both these environmental factors than humans. You don’t need to visit a senior-friendly birdwatching site to understand what is at stake in the declining number of birds along the ancient migratory flyway above Australia.
“Canary in the coal mine” is a popular phrase for a reason. The ubiquitous parakeet – a favourite companion of many retirees – will die when exposed to fumes from hot nonstick pans. Lovebirds will almost certainly suffer from lethal lung disease when they are exposed to cigarette smoke.
Birds are the sentinels of our natural environment. Indeed, the mass death of birds is an indicator of the future, not only of human health and welfare but also of the state of the planet.
This is why birdwatchers, researchers, and scientists from all over Australia are now mobilizing to influence government policy and publicly funded conservation efforts throughout the continent.
Seniors have an important role in this movement. As a senior birdwatching enthusiast, you can advocate for stronger environmental protection policies and regulations at local, state, and national levels.
By voicing your concerns to policymakers and participating in advocacy campaigns, you can help ensure that these birdwatching sites of Australia are adequately protected and that conservation efforts throughout the continent receive the support they need.
“COVID-19 has shown what we can do when we get together and perhaps we’ll use that to tackle climate change,” says Nan Nicholson, a retiree who actively supports wildlife conservation efforts throughout the continent.
Statistics from a recent Australian Seniors Leaving a Legacy survey says 92 percent of Australian seniors hope to leave behind a positive environmental legacy by helping to make the planet a better place for younger generations.
Don’t Miss Out on an Opportunity to See Australia’s Birds and Wildlife Today!
Whether you live in Australia or are planning to visit, the senior-friendly birdwatching sites Down Under offer an engaging range of gentle, nature-based activities for seniors. These include guided walks, photography workshops, or leisurely boat trips to observe wildlife along waterways.
These activities provide seniors with a chance to enjoy themselves in nature and better appreciate some of the world’s most spectacular biodiversity and landscapes.
Australia boasts a wealth of diverse ecosystems, from lush rainforests to arid deserts, providing seniors with a unique chance to immerse themselves in the continent’s extraordinary biodiversity. This exceptional variety allows older adults to explore and deeply value the myriad of life forms and natural environments Australia has to offer.
Australia’s birdwatching sites, ranked among the world’s finest, not only offer a gateway to the diverse avian life but also foster a profound appreciation and regard for nature’s intricacies, echoing a global sentiment that connects bird enthusiasts to the planet’s ecological wonders.
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