BIRDING & WILDLIFE WORLD HERITAGE STATUS The outstanding natural values of Australia’s Tropical Rainforests were recognised in 1988 when the Wet Tropics of Queensland was inscribed on the World Heritage List. You can learn more about World Heritage-listed places from regional visitor centres, or look for the green tree frog logo as you WATCH VIDEO WATCH VIDEO explore the area. Playful platypus, dancing Brolgas and cute tree kangaroos are just some of the unique Australian wildlife you can encounter in the region. Viewing and studying wildlife is made possible by a network of National Parks, bushwalks, wildlife spotting tours and the knowledgeable interest of so many local people. BIRDING Birdwatching on the Atherton BIRD SPOTTER’S GUIDE At this time, Brolgas and Sarus Cranes Tablelands attracts global attention can also be found on the Atherton due to the diverse avifauna and Tablelands feeding on the harvested variety of local habitats, including agricultural fields. riverine, wetland, woodland, rainforest, UNIQUE WILDLIFE ENCOUNTERS The Bat grassland, agricultural and parkland. Hospital in Atherton is internationally Top birdwatching spots include the known and has a visitor centre where dryer regions of Mt Molloy and Kaban, you can see and learn more about Nyleta Bird Hide (Hasties Swamp microbats and flying foxes. You can National Park), Nardello’s Lagoon, also take in the wildlife at excellent attractions such as Skyrail Rainforest Bromfield Swamp, Abattoir Swamp, Pale Yellow Robin Papuan Frogmouth Cableway and Hartley’s Crocodile the National Parks of Mt Hypipamee, Adventures. If you look very hard, you Crater Lakes, Davies Creek, Barron may spot a Lumholtz’s or Bennett’s Falls, Mt Lewis, Mareeba Wetlands and Tree Kangaroo up high in the branches the Wongabel State Forest. or platypus in freshwater lagoo ns. October to April may be the region’s Buff-breasted Eyes on Wildlife will help you uncover hotter and wetter months, but it is also Paradise Kingfisher Rainbow Bee-eater the hidden wonders of the region’s the time when the migrant species most stunning rainforests. With arrive from Papua New Guinea, personalised itineraries, your host including the beautiful Buff-breasted Patrick will make sure you see the Paradise Kingfisher, Channel-billed birds and other wildlife you travelled Cuckoo and Common Koel. here for, while also allowing time for Black-necked Stork Superb Fruit Dove photography. Many birds such as the White-eared Snapping Tours offers unique and Monarch and Noisy Pitta are also picturesque boat cruises along breeding at this time of year and are Innisfail’s Johnstone River. Their love of easier to observe as they search for wildlife and interest in the history and food. During the cooler, drier, winter knowledge of the local area has set the months from May to September, Noisy Pitta Victoria’s Riflebirds foundation for creating exciting and Victoria’s Riflebirds are also displaying. interesting cruises. DID YOU KNOW? There are more than 430 bird species in the Wet Tropics and the Great Barrier Reef and 327 of these can be seen on the Atherton Tablelands. 6www.athertontablelands.com.au