South-east Queensland is one of the richest regions of Australia in terms of bird species. Every raptor of Australia and around half of all Australian bird species has at some time been seen here. Many southern species reach their northern limits here and many northern species reach their southern limits here or just below the border, and there are a few species that are found only in the border regions. Summer and winter migrants and nomadic species add to the diversity.

Rainforests with easily accessible walking trails are just a 90 minute drive from Brisbane and harbour many species, including regent and satin bowerbirds, green catbird, paradise riflebird, Albert's lyrebird, noisy pitta, eastern whipbird, Lewin's honeyeater, monarch flycatchers, scrubwens, crimson rosella, wompoo and rose-crowned fruit pigeons, brush turkey and many, many more. Also nearby are wetlands (which can include great and intermediate egrets, glossy ibis, white-necked heron, royal and yellow-billed spoonbills, black-winged stilts, whistling ducks, black swans, Australasian grebes, cormorants, darters, pelicans, purple swamp hen, comb-crested jacana, magpie geese, black-necked stork, many others) and eucalypt forests (several honeyeaters, fairy-wrens, Australian magpie, butcherbirds, olive-backed oriole, magpie lark, laughing kookaburra and other kingfishers, eastern and pale-headed rosellas, rainbow and scaly-breasted lorikeets, fan-tailed cuckoo and many more). Not all species will be seen on any particular day, and some will only be seen in certain seasons (e.g. channel-billed cuckoo, common koel and dollar bird are summer visitors only).

Your main guide will be Dr Ronda Green, who has conducted extensive research over the years in bird behaviour and ecology in Australian forests, especially those of south-east Queensland.

You may like to assist our research on dispersers of rainforest seeds by helping us find out what the fruit-eating birds are feeding on and where they spend their time when not feeding. We also contribute other sightings, especially of less common species, to databases, and send information to researchers studying particular species.

black swans at Eagleby WetlandsWe take a variety of guests on this tour, from complete novices to experienced birders. So that we can plan the best experience for you (and since our group size is small enough to do this) let us know at your time of booking whether your primary interests are:
learning about Australian or south-east Queensland birds and their ecology and behaviour
photographing birds
seeing as many bird species as possible (NOTE: we don't specialise in this as much as some operators do, our emphasis being more on ecology and behaviour of birds)
seeing particular species (no guarantees that we can find them all but we can try where possible - warning: a few are almost impossible with a one-day tour)
learning about birdwatching
interacting with birds (we don't normally feed birds on ecotours but there is one long-standing and well-regulated experience you can participate in),
simply spending time in beautiful forests, with birds as just part of a memorable experience.
seeing some other wildlife in addition to birds
spending a day birding and then being left at either Binna Burra or O'Reilly's to spend a night or more next to the rainforests and extensive walking trails of Lamington National Park (both have wonderful guest lodges and camp grounds)
(also tell us if you would prefer no children on the tour on the day you are booking for, or whether you have children who would like to join in

NOTE:
Tour departs from: Brisbane Transit Centre (Roma Street), or your city or south-side accommodation (other by arrangement with plenty of advance notice: may be extra cost)

Whoever is first to book for a particular day gets to choose the starting time (anywhere between 5.00am and 9.00am) and destination.