Birdwatching Australia - A directory of Victorian birding information.

Little Desert Nature Lodge
Whimpey's Tours - Ray (Whimpey) & Maureen Reichelt

Little Desert Nature Lodge is a premium destination for people who have interests in desertscapes, in environment education, in ornithology, or in seeing native Australian fauna in its natural habitat. It is study centre with a 20 year background of research into the lowan bird or Malleefowl, an endangered genus of mound building megapode indigenous to the area. Accommodation and tours are available.

The Little Desert Lodge offers a range of stop over facilities as well as accommodation for the traveller. It has a camping ground, powered caravan and motorhome sites, and sheltered outdoor BBQ facilities. There are 24 ensuite units, and 16 bunk rooms, each sleeping 4 people.
Desert tours in especially constructed Land Rovers with large viewing windows and plenty of headroom are available for half day or full day outings with meals included.

The Little Desert Nature Lodge is located 16km from Nhill, a town which is half way along the interstate highway between Melbourne and Adelaide.
Web page: http://www.littledesertlodge.com.au

Phone: 03 53 915232 (International +61 3 915232)
Fax: 03 53 915217 (International +61 3 915217)
Email: info@littledesertlodge.com.au

At Frog Gully Cottages in Longford, Victoria, there are two self-contained cottages specially designed to take advantage of superb wetland views. The contemporary colourbond cottages each have 2 bedrooms with their own bathrooms, a fully equipped kitchen with microwave and cooktop, and a spacious lounge/dining area.

The wetlands are home to an abundance of birdlife � water birds include pelicans, black swans, egrets, herons, coots, moorhens, ibis and spoonbills. Birds of prey include Wedge-tailed Eagles, White-bellied Sea-Eagles, Swamp Harriers, kites, hawks and kestrels. There is a local bird list in the cottages, and bird books and binoculars are supplied.

There is a very healthy frog population which springs into life when the wetland floods in winter. In a natural cycle the area dries out in summer, enabling visitors to walk through to the river where yet another environment can be enjoyed.

Longford is in the heart of Gippsland, being only 24 kms from the famous Ninety Mile Beach, and around 40 kms from the mountains. The Holey Plain Park is over the road from the cottages, and features coastal vegetation including banksias and heathland scrub. The Tarra Bulga Park is about an hour away, with a totally different environment, of tree fern gullies and tall eucalypts. Gippsland is a truly magnificent part of Australia and has a wide variety of natural and cultural features for the visitor to enjoy.

VORG has approximately 60 members with a wide range of backgrounds including professional ornithologists, students, computer programmers, botanists, statisticians, etc. The objectives of the group are: To promote and encourage the study of all aspects of bird life by any means, including: field studies; participation in the Australian Bird and Bat Banding Scheme; co-operation with the National Parks and Wildlife Division of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources or its equivalent for the time being.

To encourage and assist in the publication of the results of such work. To provide a meeting place for discussion groups, the reading of papers and social activities. To make provision for the retention of field records, diaries and other relevant documents. To co-ordinate the activities of groups engaged in work consistent with the above objects. To co-operate with persons or organisations having interests similar to those of VORG.

Meetings and Journal: Monthly Meetings are held on the 1st Wednesday of each month, starting 8pm at Arthur Rylah Institute, 123 Brown Street, Heidelberg. Visitors welcome.

Secretary and Treasurer:
Spencer Unthank
133 Graydens Road
MOOROODUC 3933
Phone 03 5978 8340

Steve Davidson, The Melbourne Birder, has an extensive knowledge of the birds that can be found in the Greater Melbourne region which he has gained over a thirty year period. Steve would like to offer this experience to other birders visiting the area. Offering tours and guiding to all of the various habitats and special locations that can be found around the southern part of Victoria, Steve is regularly able to find upwards of 130-140 species in a day.

We visit wet forest, dry forest, heathlands, wetlands, coastal and marine habitats, and regularly see species such as White-throated Nightjar, Pilotbird, Beautiful Firetail, Chestnut-rumped Heathwren, Purple-gaped Honeyeater, Lewin's Rail, Southern Emu-wren, Rainbow Bee-eater, Pink Robin, Rufous Bristlebird and Cape Barren Goose to name a few.

At The Melbourne Birder we also travel further afield and can organise trips to other parts of Victoria if required.

Firetail Tours offer birding trips right across the state of Victoria, from the semi-arid mallee woodlands in the north-west to the temperate rainforests and wet sclerophyll forests of the southern mountainous areas.

We cater for the serious birder wanting to see the rarest species through to casual or beginner birdwatchers. Each tour is custom designed to your requirements and current conditions.

Check out our website for lots of info on the birds and habitats of the region, plus potential itineraries and tour costs, at
http://www.firetailbirdwatchingtours.com

Steve Davidson, aka The Melbourne Birder, has gained an extensive knowledge of birds in the Melbourne region for over 30 years now, and would like to offer his experience to other birders visiting the area. Steve offers tours and guiding to all of the various habitats and special locations that can be found around the southern part of Victoria, and is more than happy to tailor a trip to suit your needs.

We visit wet forest, dry forest, heathlands, wetlands, coastal and marine habitats, and regularly see species such as White-throated Nightjar, Pilotbird, Beautiful Firetail, Lewin's Rail, Southern Emu-wren, Pink Robin, Rufous Bristlebird and Cape Barren Goose to name a few. At The Melbourne Birder we also travel further afield and can organise trips to other parts of Victoria if required.

Contact Steve for a day's birding you won't forget...

PO Box 442
Hawthorn
VIC 3122

Australasian Ornithological Services Pty Ltd

Australian Ornithological Services (formerly Inland Bird Tours) started in Deniliquin in the southern Riverina area of N.S.W. 15 years ago.
The main focus of those tours was the Plains-wanderer. While the Plains-wanderer is still our flagship species we have increased our repertoire to include all States of Australia and New Zealand, specialising in difficult skulkers and nocturnal birds.
We are the inland specialists for serious birders. We endeavour to ensure that the whole group see the birds and not just a lucky few.

Tour leader, Philip Maher, is interested in all aspects of natural history.
The Strzelecki Track 2000 trip report and other trip reports can be found at:
http://www.philipmaher.com/main.htm

Birdwatching Aficionados - Jonny Schoenjahn

I specialize in customised birdwatching tours and operate exclusively on request. There are no standard tours or regular schedules. I only take one booking at a time with a maximum of 4 people. This means you will be the only customers on the tour and my attention is focused on your pleasure.

All tours are accommodated in personally selected, quality accommodation. The exception being tours such as through the Great Sandy Desert in search of the rare Princess Parrot, where we will camp. My vehicle is a very comfortable, spacy and well equipped Toyota Landcruiser 4WD. With most tours you have the option to 'fly and drive', the choice is yours.

I conduct special trips into the remote Outback, particularly the many deserts, or criss-cross through Australia in search of the ten endemic Grasswren species. If there are particular birds you want to see just let me know. I would be pleased to work out a unique tour for you.

Birding Tours Australia

Birding Tours Australia operates many different trips around Newcastle, The Hunter Valley and Sydney. We can also organise tours around New South Wales, anywhere in Australia or in fact anywhere around the world. All our tours can be conducted at a pace to suit your needs from relaxed to extreme, but all will concentrate on locating as many species as possible across various habitats.

If you have specific destinations within Australia or target species we can organise a custom tour to accommodate your needs.

Sicklebill Safaris arranges bird and wildlife orientated tours throughout Australia. We specialise in customised private tours for individuals and small groups either with our experienced guides or will help you set up your own self guided tours through our tour arranging service. We regularly visit most of the major birding areas in Australia including the Eastern Seaboard, The Northern Territory, Tasmania, Western Australia, and the desert and mallee regions of the south.

Please visit our website at www.sicklebillsafaris.com for further information and feel free to contact us if you have any queries. We are happy to make suggestions and work with you to set up the best tour possible for your interests and budget.

Phil and Sue Gregory
Cassowary House, PO Box 387, Kuranda, Queensland 4881

Phone Intl: 61 7 4093 7318 Within Australia: 07 4093 7318
Fax Intl: 61 7 4093 9855 Within Australia: 07 4093 9855
Eddress: sicklebill@optusnet.com.au

WILD WATCH AUSTRALIA with experienced professional naturalist, Jonathan Munro.

Personalised bird watching and wildlife excursions for individuals and groups. Excursions can be fully accommodated and are tailored to your interests. Destinations include Cape York, Lakefield and Iron Range, Georgetown and the Western Gulf Savannah, Darwin, Kakadu and Litchfield NPs, Lamington NP, Tasmania, Victoria and most other notable birding areas within Australia. Clients include well-known international birding companies, Audubon societies, university and zoo groups and film crews.

Please visit our web site for more details:

Wild Watch Australia
http://www.wildwatch.com.au/

email: info@wildwatch.com.au
or      munro.jonathan@gmail.com.
or      jmunro@wildwatch.com.au
or      jmunro@austarnet.com.au

P.O. Box 707 , Ravenshoe,
Queensland 4888

Australia

Phone/fax: (07) 4097 6747 or 4097 7408
International: +(617) 4097 7408
Mobile : 0429 438 064

Alan has been leading bird groups and individuals around Australia and the region for over 30 years now. His experience in planning and organising trips, finding the birds and other critters is well grounded. Alan has led well over 100 trips all around this land. He founded the now famous deep water pelagics off Wollongong and Sydney and has been on at least 800 pelagic excursions - enough to not bother with medication! From a birding perspective he has found a number of firsts for the region too and has seen over 732 birds in Australia alone.

Alan leads many trips of shorter duration too ranging from half days to 4 weeks plus. Whatever your length he will endeavour to work out a trip so that client wishes are fulfilled.

Contact details:

Alan McBride
Birding Guide +
http://web.mac.com/amcbride1

e-mail: amcbride1@mac.com

Mob: + 61 419 414 860
Fax: + 61 2 9973 2306

Birding Services Brisbane (Birding Tours)

We offer day or longer tours in mainly in SE Queensland, but often go further afield, particularly to Northern Territory, Northern Queensland, SW Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. Our tour itineraries are designed to suit each client. Travel is by modern air-conditioned 4WD vehicle (or hire bus for larger groups).
Our rates are reasonable and are available on application. We also cater for larger overseas groups. Our guide is consultant ornithologist, Roy Sonnenburg [former president of Birds Queensland], who has completed post-graduate studies in ornithology and has been studying and observing our unique Australian birds for over 30 years. Roy is assisted by his wife Helen.
(All necessary licences and permits are held as well as current first aid qualifications.)

Home/wk: 07 3256 6952 International: +61 7 3256 6952
Mobile: 0417 637 560
Fax: 07 3256 7692 International: +61 7 3256 7692
Email: royson@uq.net.au
Web: http://www.birdingservices.com.au

Outback Track Tours Pty Ltd

Outback Track Tours has operated tours throughout Australia for over 30 years. We specialise in Australian remote outback tours for special interest groups such as: Birdwatchers, Bushwalkers, Botanists, Photographers, Artists as well as remote 4WD expeditions. Our guides offer specialist knowledge in flora, fauna and geology on each tour. Each year we have different tours, so it is worth checking back to our website to see what is on offer.

As well as a full schedule of departures each year, we can organise a custom made itinerary for groups. We can organise dates to suit you as we have access to many 4WD vehicles that can accommodate 2 – 50 people. Within our resources, we have access to camping and accommodation in many areas. We can provide local guides, and cooks along with our modern fleet of vehicles.

We work closely with many other organisations to create unique itineraries every year. These include ‘Birds Australia’, ‘Birding NSW’, ‘Australian Wildlife Conservancy”, We understand their needs and can accommodate them to suit their members. Often they require different tours every year, so it keeps us researching new areas to visit.

We have also managed numerous other groups, family groups, clubs and overseas groups, customising itineraries between 5 – 50 people. Those that choose to travel with us, choose to travel Australia with us!

For more information:

www.outbacktracktours.com

Contact details:

68 Whiting Street
Artarmon
NSW 2064

PH: +61 2 9439-3010
FAX: +61 2 9439-3050

email: resobt@aapt.net.au