Specialist Birding Course

The Top End of Australia is one the most diverse bio-regions on the planet and also home to 100's of migratory and resident bird species found no where else. The Mary River floodplain, where our camp is situated, is one of the most important regions in the Top End, home to millions of nesting Magpie Geese, the mighty White-bellied Sea Eagle, Brolga's, and Comb-crested Jacana's.

EcoTraining Australia has developed an educational birding week that delivers a basic understanding of ornithology and develops a deeper knowledge on the specific bird species found in the Kakadu region where our permanent bush camp is located.

Working with our head guides we invite expert birders from Australia and Africa to share their knowledge and intimate experiences with the feathered world.

Itinerary / Highlights

Location:-
The course will be run from our Northern Australia camp located on, Swim Creek, a 75,000 acre working buffalo station, amongst the coastal floodplains of the Mary River. This property contains an incredible diversity of habitats including floodplains, savannah woodland, mangrove, paperbark and monsoon rainforest, which attract an amazing array of nomadic, sedentary and migratory birdlife, including Great-billed Heron and White Goshawk.

The property itself is only a stone's throw away from the world heritage listed Kakadu National Park. At last count this park contains 289 bird species, a number of which are endemic and/or rare including the Banded Fruit-Dove, White-Lined Honeyeater, Gouldian Finch and Hooded Parrot. We will be targeting these and many more species in the three day mobile component of this course.

Activities Include:-
Anatomy and Physiology
Habitats and environments
Bird behaviour
Eggs, chick development and caring for young
Food and feeding strategies
Migration
Ethics and conservation
Bird identification
Access to the Northern Territory's diverse birding habitats will be provided by a combination of:
Airboat rides
Bushwalks
4wd safaris
Riverboat cruises
4wd camping
By the end of the 7 days you should have identified well over 100 species, be able to identify a few dozen calls, and have a greater appreciation of the need to protect vast tracks of bush in order to preserve Australia's 883 bird species.

Other Details

Accommodation Details

EcoTraining Australia has a purpose built bush training camp.

The camp has 10 twin share large African style canvas tents with single beds, a fully insect screened training room with attached kitchen and shared ablution facilities with hot and cold showers and flushing toilets.