Royal National Park is home to more than 300 species of birds, every one of which plays an important role in its local environment and each of them has a fascinating story. A number of these birds are global icons, attracting bird watchers and nature lovers from around the world. Many are loved by local nature enthusiasts whilst many others are little known and often overlooked. However it is often these birds who live out the most amazing lives of all! Join The Bird Herd any Saturday morning from one of several locations in the park as we track down and explore these incredible birds and along the way discover that the world truly is wonder-full.
The Bird Herd meets every Saturday morning at one of four locations in Royal National Park at 7:20am for 7:30am in daylight saving months and 7:50am for 8:00am in all other months. Tour groups are limited to ten.
We begin with an acknowledgement of country and a quick recap on best birding practices and trail safety. We have a binocular lesson, including pro tips of which many top birders are unaware.
We walk trails very slowly whilst Ricki interprets the landscape, plants and any wildlife we encounter, especially the birds! Ricki’s promise is that you will be astounded at what is happening among the birds of these forests and the roles which they play in this local ecology. We return to the meeting location 3 or 4 hours later, a totally changed person!
All trails are Grade 2. Each has one hill which is not very demanding for anyone who walks regularly. Otherwise the trails are flat or gently undulating. We will cover mostly 6km, sometimes 7km, at a very slow pace. Unfortunately no trails are wheelchair accessible.
The Bird Herd caters to all, especially day one beginners. We commence each tour with a lesson on binocular skills which includes tips that are often unknown even by the pros. Ricki will work with you all morning to ensure that you have every opportunity to share in the experience of all the birds we meet on our tour.
Children from 12 to 15 are more than welcome, but must be attended by an adult – see our special prices for families. Ricki definitely encourages families, children and youth to attend these tours and has structured the fees accordingly. If you have younger ones, please contact Ricki to discuss options.
If there is only a minor and occasional drizzle we’ll still go birding, but if it is persistent or looks like it might be heavier, we will either switch to the Sunday, or transfer your booking to a future Saturday or you can ask for a refund. You can text Ricki any time from 5:00am on the morning of the tour if you have any doubts.
With more than 25 years in the business, Ricki Coughlan has a long history of operating bird watching tours in parks around Sydney, Central Australia and NW Australia. Ricki is a master story teller and will keep you captivated by the stories of the birds and other wildlife we encounter on your tour. She holds a Grad. Cert. in Ornithology from Charles Sturt University and works as an Educator at Sydney Zoo.
Ricki has been Warden of Broome Bird Observatory, a macropod (wallaby and kangaroo) keeper, guide and educator for Earth Sanctuaries ‘Waratah Park’, an avian consultant for local and state governments and industry, surveying and reporting on birds as well as running educational and citizen science programs for the community. Back in the day, she made several appearances presenting wildlife on the popular TV series ‘Totally Wild’. She is a registered First Aider and also holds a Working With Children Check.
Our tour sets out from Fig Tree Flat at Audley and we proceed along one of Sydney’s most popular bird watching trails, which follows the Hacking River through beautiful tall forests with heathy understories in parts as well as segments of rainforest.
The bird diversity and abundance is generally quite high along this trail. We will meet all the prominent locals including Superb and Variegated Fairy-wrens, Brown Thornbill, White-browed scrubwren, Eastern Whipbird, Golden Whistler, White-throated Treecreeper, Satin Bowerbird, Green Catbird, Superb Lyrebird and a range of parrots.
Our tour sets out from the Forest Path parking area in the south of the park. We enter a stunning forest, some tall and wet and some rainforest along the beautiful Bola Creek and the Hacking River.
We meet many of the same birds that we find on the north end of the trail, though the mix is different and birds of wetter environments like Yellow-throated Scrubwrens, Bassian Thrush, large-billed Scrubwren and Superb Lyrebird are more common.
We meet at the entrance to the trail and walk an walk through a range of ecotones dominated by a variety woodland types and heath. Parking is limited. I will send details upon receiving your booking.
During the cooler months this trail is one of the best bird watching locations in Sydney, offering non-stop action. A large range of honeyeaters can be found here, including the Scarlet, Brown-headed and White-naped Honeyeater, often in great abundance. We also meet many other fascinating residents of the dryer ridge tops like the Varied Sittella and Beautiful Firetail finch. Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos are a common regular.
We meet at Garawarra Farm car park before entering a stunning tall forest atop the coastal ridge.
Here, we encounter an excellent diversity and abundance of birds and especially keep our eyes out for the Red-browed Treecreeper and White-headed Pigeon which can occasionally be found on this gorgeous trail. Whistlers, robins, treecreepers, scrubwrens and thornbills abound.
When you have decided to attend a tour, visit our booking page. There you can find links to maps of this week’s and future week’s meeting locations. You can also find links to the Terms and Conditions, a ‘Birding Ethics’ guide, a ‘What to bring or wear’ checklist and the booking form, where you’ll find payment details. Once your booking and payment is received I will confirm your registration by email or text (if preferred).
Concession holders receive a $10.00 per adult and $5.00 per child reduction on fees. Please contact Ricki so we can make the appropriate adjustments.
Adult (16 years and over): $50.00
Single Child (under 16) with Adult: $70.00
Two Children (under 16) with Adult: $90.00
Three Children (under 16) with Adult: $100.00
Family (2 parents + 1 child): $100.00
Family (2 parents + 2 children): $120.00
Family (2 parents + 3 children): $130.00
Note: these prices do not include National Park entry fees.
When you submit your Booking Form this will indicate that you sign off on our Terms and Conditions and Ethics and Safety policy. I highly recommend that you read these to be very clear about what you are purchasing and how to get the most out of your tour with The Bird Herd.
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