Local Birdlife: On the Perch Bird Park, Tathra NSW Australia

Man with a the Yellow Princess Parrot on his head and a Boy child, On the Perch Bird Park Tathra

The Boys and the Yellow Princess Parrot
Bird-spotting is easy and accessible when the birds come to you!

I was out walking on local wetlands not long ago, and as we were listening to the chirping in the trees, one of my companions asked if I was a “bird watcher”.

I had to confess that while I enjoy watching birds, as a photographer I’m usually too slow to get decent pictures of them!

This was much less of a problem on a couple of recent visits to “On the Perch”, a bird park not far from my home. My young grandchildren (and their parents) were visiting from the UK, and it was nice to be able to show them some accessible Australian wildlife in a child-friendly setting.

The bird park is relatively small, but once we were armed with inexpensive containers of wiggly grubs with which to feed the birds inside the four walk-in aviaries set up as regional habitats, we were able to amuse the children and have a relaxing and enjoyable time. Mind you, the three-year-old was almost as taken with the playground equipment and the coffee-shop (“Hot chocolate!” she squealed.) as she was with the birds.

I enjoyed getting closer to our feathered friends and I hope you like the results.

Young child and two rainbow lorikeets, Eden NSW AU

Rainbow Lorikeets at Our House
We don’t have to go to the bird park for colourful birds: when you leave crumbs on the table, the rainbow lorikeets (Trichoglossus moluccanus) comes to us! (19July2018 – iPhone6)

Lorikeets on the Balcony
They love fruit and nuts …

Lorikeet in the Umbrella Tree
… and will chitter at me noisily if I’m too slow with their treats. (03September2018 – iPhone6)

Gouldian Finches – Erythrura Gouldiae
Inside the front entrance to the bird park, the Cape York exhibit includes the colourful (and endangered) Gouldian finches, native to Northern Australia.

Rainbow Bee-Eaters – Merops Ornatus
Spectacular rainbow bee-eaters share the display. Apparently, these birds are common across Australia –

Rainbow Bee-Eaters – Merops Ornatus
– but I can’t say I’ve ever spotted one in the wild!

Namaqua Dove – Oena Capensis
The African Savannah walk-in aviary contains a number of birds foreign to us.

Cordon Bleu Finch or Crimson-eared Waxbill – Uraeginthus Bengalus
The exotic little creatures in this aviary were wary, …

Cordon Bleu Finch – Uraeginthus Bengalus
… but I was satisfied with watching them at reasonably close range.

Yellow Canary – Crithagra Flaviventris
I spent a lot of time just sitting in there quietly, watching, …

Cut-Throat Finch – Amadina Fasciata
… and feeding the pretty little things from my supply of mealworms.

Cut-Throat and Cordon Bleu Finches

Red-Billed Firefinch or Senegal Firefinch – Lagonosticta Senegala

Red-Winged Parrot – Aprosmictus Erythropterus
The birds in the Inland Australia walk-in aviary were much less shy.

Long Legs and the Black-Winged Stilt
The black-winged stilt (himantopus himantopus) was so keen for the the mealworms we had that it was willing to play dodge ’em with a three-year-old!

White-Browed Woodswallows – Artamus Superciliosus

Purple-Crowned Lorikeet – Glossopsitta Porphyrocephala
The birds have plenty of places to hide if they want to, but they know when food is on offer.

Purple-Crowned Lorikeets – Glossopsitta Porphyrocephala
Hungry purple-crowned lorikeets …

The Boy and the Purple-Crowned Lorikeets
… completely ignored a curious toddler.

Yellow Princess Parrot – Polytelis Alexandrae

Regent Parrot – Polytelis Anthopeplus
The parrots are happy to be fed by hand.

Regent Parrots – Polytelis Anthopeplus

Forest Kingfisher – Todiramphus Macleayii
I do occasionally spot these beautiful little birds in the tea-trees around our estuary on my morning walks, but they are much too fast-moving for me and my iPhone!

Waiting Child
In the Asia-Pacific walk-in aviary, you can hand-feed them – if you can stand ground …

Feeding the Kingfishers
… in the face of their speed …

Forest Kingfisher – Todiramphus Macleayii
… and sharp beaks.

Feeding the Kingfishers
A quick pinch on the palm as they snatch mealworms, …

Forest Kingfishers and a Finch
… and they are back on their perch before you know it!

White-Winged Choughs – Corcorax Melanorhamphos
The Aussie Icons aviary contains a number of white-winged choughs. Often mistaken for crows, Australia’s choughs were named after the European birds that they resemble (see: The Stationary Ark) but are only distantly related to.

Laughing Kookaburras – Dacelo Novaeguineae
The Aussie Icons aviary also contains the more emblematic kookaburras – which we do see at home, but usually high in the gum trees over our heads.

I look forward to my next visit to the park.

I think I might have to borrow some small children – for while I could go back on my own, it’s much more fun watching youngsters getting close to nature.

**Addendum: After the stress of a disastrous bush-fire season, the park closed to the public in February 2020.**

Until next time,