|
When sea levels
fell, some (e.g. Birds of Paradise and bowerbirds)
invaded from New Guinea and islands to the north as
the continent drifted towards the Asiatic tectonic
plate.
Australian
Logrunner, Fernwren and others evolved as endemics
in the eastern rainforests.
Many species (e.g.
Gibberbird and Inland Dotterel) have adapted to the
arid inland deserts, becoming specialists and
nomads taking advantage of rare, bountiful seasons
wherever they occur.
Australia offers
the birder ~
- about 750
species, of which almost half are endemic ~
several families are endemic
- 55 species of
cockatoos and parrots ~ Australia is known as
The Land of Parrots
- many
spectacular species, including a number of
passerines
- eight
bowerbirds (Tooth-billed, Golden, Regent,
Satin, Spotted, Western, Great and
Fawn-breasted), and four Birds of Paradise
(Trumpet Manucode, and the riflebirds ~
Paradise, Victoria's and
Magnificent)
- the ratites ~
Emu and Southern Cassowary which stand two
metres tall ~ among the largest birds on
Earth
- the megapodes ~
Australian Brush-turkey, Malleefowl and
Orange-footed Scrubfowl which hatch their eggs
in mounds of sand or earth and decaying
vegetation
- relicts from
ancient Gondwana ~ Albert's Lyrebird, Superb
Lyrebird, Noisy Scrub-bird, Rufous
Scrub-bird
- a wealth of
seabirds ~ in winter, species which breed in the
Subantarctic and Antarctic move north into
Australian waters
- important
"wintering" grounds for about 30 species of
Asiatic shorebirds (waders) which breed in, or
close to, the Arctic region and migrate
thousands of kilometres southward to escape the
harsh northern winter
- migrants from
New Guinea ~ many (e.g. Buff-breasted
Paradise-Kingfisher) "winter" in New Guinea and
islands to the north of Australia and return to
the Australian mainland to breed
- specialist
rainforest species ~ some (e.g.
Magnificent Riflebird and Grey-headed Robin)
are shared with New Guinea
Australia is a
prime destination for birders ~
- a politically
stable, multicultural, modern western
nation
- superb
facilities throughout much of the country, with
an efficient network of roads, rail and air
transport
- bird in safety
without fear of attack from large wild
animals
Good
birding!
AUSTRALIAN
CHECKLIST
AUSTRALIA
- A SPECIAL PLACE WITH VERY SPECIAL
BIRDS!
Watching waders Wallagoot Lake (southern NSW) © Phil Straw
|
