“Song and Dance”
Enter the beautiful, healing surrounds of the rainforest and immerse yourself in one of the most iconic and sought after encounters in all the world of nature: the stunning, mystical Superb Lyrebird. “Song and Dance” is a celebration of these awe inspiring birds and their beautiful forest home during the months of their breeding season.
A tour to captivate every nature lover
During the cooler months along the east coast of temperate Australia the forests resound with the courtship song of the Superb Lyrebird and the trails come alive with a range of behaviours by the adult females, the immature males and the mature males that will captivate every nature lover.
The Song and Dance tour takes us on a journey into one of Australia’s most beautiful forests, where we share in an exploration of the incredible role this bird plays in the ecology of the forest. Where populations are of average density, Superb Lyrebirds move around 155 tonnes of soil and leaf litter per hectare every year in the rainforest, making them a significant ecological engineer and service provider which cannot be understated. They also have direct mutualisms with other birds in the forest, contributing to their success and in turn ensuring their roles in the forest ecology are also preserved.
We will explore the truth about the lyrebird’s fascinating song, mimicry, the seasons of their song and the patterns of song use and dance in their elaborate courtship rituals. We will gain insights into the lives of the female lyrebirds, their nests and raising of the young. We will also experience many other delights of this breathtaking forest during this special time of the year, ensuring you come away with a deeper appreciation of the natural world but also a profound connection to the spirit of the forest which this wonderful bird evokes in every nature lover’s heart.
In the “Song and Dance” tour we seek to observe the males engaging in territorial behaviour, often resulting in chases through the forest. We will also attempt to witness mature males practicing song and display and immature males practicing song and “dance offs” with each other. We will witness females foraging and possibly the birds which they share mutualisms with. We may observe them carrying nesting material. All the while we will enjoy encounters with the many other captivating birds of the rainforest.
Known as Wiritjiribin among the Dharawal people, the traditional custodians of this region, the lyrebird is said to be a keeper of law and the mysteries of the forest. He has a yearning for integrity, reconciliation and salvation among all people, thus he is gifted with the ability to speak in many tongues . . . surely an emblem for the work which lies ahead of people of good will in this nation. Learn more about the origin of Wiritjiribin
Footage of two mature males having a “dance off” performance, shot from around 4 metres distant on one of my tours in the Royal National Park by Wink Gross. Notice that apart from the scrubwren call at the end of the performance there is no mimicry used in this display. It would appear that this is more about dominance than practice of any kind.
These encounters are not uncommon, but one has to be lucky enough to be nearby when the action begins and also have the knowledge of these birds to understand what is happening in order to seek them out. If we are fortunate we may have the opportunity to witness similar displays on our tour.
Book this tour
Tour numbers are limited to eight. Use the button below to find tour dates, booking form, payment links, Terms and Conditions and more. Like all tour groups the fee is $80 per person. Contact me for generous concessions for pensioners and the unemployed.
Aussie Wild acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land which we visit, the Dharawal and Darug people. We pay our respect to their elders past, present and emerging.