birding...

Western Australia covers an area larger than Western Europe. More than 500 bird species have been recorded including 18 endemics and 3 sub species that may be recognised as full species. There are many other near endemics, migratory species and other highly sought after species.

Birds Australia Western Australia is the local branch of the national Birds Australia organisation. The BAWA office is located at Peregrine House near Perry Lakes and it is open from 9.30 am to 12.30 pm on Monday to Friday. Birders visiting Perth should find the time to visit the office. There is an extensive range of WA country brochures complete with bird lists that are available for the cost of a small donation to cover the costs of reprinting. Alternatively, most of the bird guides can be printed from the BAWA web site at http://birdswa.iinet.net.au. BAWA has monthly meetings at the WA Ecology Centre, next to the office, at 7:30 pm usually on the 4th Monday of each month, and they organise many bird walks and campouts which are listed on the web site up to 3 months in advance.

There are two major web sites dedicated to the birds of Western Australia. The BAWA web site has been mentioned above. Frank O'Connor's Birding Western Australia has information on every species that has been recorded in WA, and the best birding sites in the state. There are some bird lists, and details of the pelagic trips that Frank organises from Perth between May and September. Allan Burbidge's Birds of Western Australia has information on a few birding sites, plus information about BAWA, the Broome Bird Observatory and the Eyre Bird Observatory.

Most birders enter Western Australia by flying to Perth. Perth has a surprising number of good birding sites within the metropolitan area or within a two-hour drive. The BAWA office sells a $1 booklet and a $5 book that cover most of the sites in the vicinity of Perth. There are a large number of wetlands on the Swan Coastal Plain including Lake Monger, Herdsman Lake, Bayswater Bird Sanctuary, Bibra Lake and Alfred Cove. Most of the southwest endemics can be found at Wungong Gorge and Bungendore State Forest in the Darling Range. Rottnest Island is worth a day trip, and Penguin Island is also worth a visit if you are in the Rockingham area.

The best birding areas in Western Australia are in the Kimberley in the far north of the state. Broome is outstanding for the waders, summer migrants and mangrove species and Kununurra is outstanding for the finches, parrots, honeyeaters and water birds. Derby is well worth a day visit from Broome, and Wyndham from Kununurra. The Kimberley coast is spectacular with up to an 11 metre tidal range and some isolated rainforest patches. The Kimberley Coastal Camp is an unforgettable place to visit.

Most of the Western Australian endemics occur in the southwest. A common itinerary is Perth to Dryandra State Forest, to Stirling Range National Park, to Fitzgerald River National Park, to Cheyne Beach and Waychinicup Nature Reserve near Albany, to Cape Leeuwin at Augusta via Mt Barker, Rocky Gully and Manjimup, to Cape Naturaliste and back to Perth. The Stirling Ranges National Park is another excellent area. The Mandurah and Pinjarra areas are very good especially in summer. Further to the south east there are excellent birding opportunities from Hyden to Norseman, Esperance and the Eyre Bird Observatory.

Another common itinerary north of Perth is Perth to Kalbarri National Park, to Monkey Mia at Shark Bay, to Carnarvon, back to Geraldton and across to Cue via Yalgoo and Mt Magnet, and back to Perth via Payne's Find and Wubin. There are very good birding areas in the Pilbara such as Port Hedland, Millstream Chichester National Park, Karajini National Park and Cape Range near Exmouth.