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Author: Starrynight
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Introduction - Why Perth?
- Relatively near ~ approx 5 hours flight
- Safe and family friendly.
- Sites are easily accessible if self drive.
- Other places to visit include casino (if your luck is good, you may be able to bring back a 600mm – although this method of purchasing is strongly discourage), wine valleys, chocolate factory etc
- Weather is fabulous except during peak of summer which is very hot.
Where?
Go to the Birds Australia WA web site at http://www.birdswa.iinet.net.au/ Check out the places you want to go as well as the birds to see and season to go. It is free and has printable site map and information as well.
There is a book “Birding sites around Perth” by Ron Van Delft. This book is about Aus $20. It gives a good account of types of birds, the sites around Perth. This can be purchase online or at Birds Australia – Western Australian (approx 15mins drive from Perth City). Birds Australia – Western Australian Group 167 Perry Lakes Drive, Floreat WA 6014. Tel: (08) 93837749. Take note that their opening hours is 0930hr to 1230hr on weekdays only. At this centre, there are also numerous pamphlets (free!) on many bird sites. (Well, it is strongly encouraged that after u have loaded yourself with the pamphlets, do give some donations to the club!)
Rottnest Island
Quokka
This Island is 18km from the mainland and easily accessible by Ferry. It has some birds that are not easily seen on the mainland. It also boasted a healthy population of Quokka ( a type of marsupial ) and Osprey nesting (July to September).
Official website is http://www.rottnestisland.com/en/default.htm
Penguin island
Little Penguin
This island is 45km south of Perth. It has the largest colony of little penguin in Western Australia. It also has lots of friendly Terns ( Brindle Terns, Crested Terns etc). Birds can be abundant in the correct season and in breeding. there are also Sea Lions in the surrounding islands
website is http://www.penguinisland.com.au/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penguin_Island_(Western_Australia)
Around Perth
There are many lakes and reserve around Perth City. The birds in the lakes and Parks are less skittish. But check out the direction of light first before going down. Lake Monger has a big population of ducks as well as black swans, pelicans etc. There are friendly purple swamhen, not so friendly grebes etc Perry Lakes is quite dry when I was there in late June. Not happening but the forest around it and Bold Park has lots of Gala, parakeets and a few Kukabara. Booragoon Lake and Blue Gum Lake's water level are very low and not many birds in late June.
How?
Air ticket to Perth is actually not expensive. But the tax is 100%! So it will add up to S $500 plus to 600. Getting from Zuji is not a bad idea but look out for special offer! Bear in mind that the ticket price is usually without tax!
For self driving in Perth and if u have a Garmin GPS system, check out http://www.malsingmaps.com/forum/index.php for free download of map around Perth. But it must be used with a road directory because routing is not complete.
When?
Swamphen and young
Avoid Australia school holidays as well as Singapore school holiday because they will be a lot of people and prices will go up.
Good season is in october to December when the resident is breeding and migratory has arrived. So you can have shots of breding birds with youngs. Rottnest Island will have breeding Opsrey in July to September.
What?
If u look at the books or website carefully, they are actually quite a number of birds that are uncommon to us. A good book is "Field Guide to Australian Birds" by Michael Morcombe. Although it is not quite a pocket size book but it is fairly complete and includes nest information!! Parks and lakes are often full of ducks, different types. People come in the evening to feed them so great opportunities to shoot flight and landing pictures … but make sure to check the direction of lights!
DON't FORGET TO ENJOY THE AUSTRALIAN WINE!
Photographs and article are copyright of starrynight
