Junior Birdwatching on the Atherton Tablelands
By Mia Bain
Raising kids on the Atherton Tablelands comes with many perks, but seeing your child spotlighting in the backyard and pointing out a rainbow bee-eater roosting high in a tree must be one of the best.
The Atherton Tablelands is one of Australia’s richest birding regions and is known internationally as a must-see for birders, but it is not only the pros who can enjoy it. Kids living here or simply passing through have the perfect setting to become “little twitchers,” spotting feathered friends and learning about the habitats they call home. Birdwatching can be as simple as sitting quietly in the garden, joining a community bird count, or as adventurous as exploring a rainforest track with binoculars. Either way, it is a hobby that builds patience, observation skills, and a love for the outdoors.
Why the Tablelands makes it easy!
Birdwatching is not always easy. It requires patience and quiet, which are not traits kids are famous for. But the Tablelands has an advantage – it is a global hotspot for bird diversity. That means it will not take long before a Kingfisher perches nearby or a flock of Rainbow Lorikeets zooms overhead.
For something special, kids can set themselves the challenge of finding species found nowhere else on Earth, like the Victoria’s Riflebird, or the adorable Atherton Scrubwren.
Getting Started
You don’t need fancy gear, although children do love having a pair of binoculars! You could start with nothing but a notebook, pencils, and an affordable set of binoculars will bring plenty of excitement. Encourage kids to jot down colours, sketch shapes, or describe bird calls. Parents can download apps such as BirdLife Australia’s Aussie Bird Count or Birdly to help match names with sightings and even listen to birdsongs.
Tip: Start in your own backyard. Spotting the difference between a kookaburra’s laugh and a currawong’s call is a fun way to tune their ears. Before long, kids will be identifying birds by sound as well as sight, which is half the fun!
Some Great Local Birdwatching Spots for the whole family!
- Hasties Swamp National Park (Atherton): A two-storey bird hide overlooks the wetlands.
- Lake Eacham (Crater Lakes National Park): A gentle loop track, with a shorter route suited to kids
- Mt Hypipamee (The Crater): Short rainforest walk to a spectacular crater.
Making It Fun for Kids
Turn birdwatching into play:
- Bird Bingo: Create a bingo sheet of common local species such as kookaburras, cockatoos, scrub turkeys etc.
- Backyard Haven: Add a feeder, nesting box, or native plants to attract birds. Discuss how plants like Grevilleas will attract honeyeaters, while the hollows of tall eucalypts provide nesting sites for high flyers like kookaburras, cockatoos, and owls.
- Eye-spy Jackpot: Turn car trips into a game by getting kids to keep an eye out for specific bird species along the way (a What’s On Tablelands HQ favourite is the slightly elusive Cassowary!). The first person to spot one wins a little prize.
- The Aussie Bird Count is a fun way to get kids involved as a backyard scientist and runs every October.
Caring for Feathered Friends
Birdwatching is a wonderful way to connect children with nature and help them build respect for wildlife. They can learn to stay quiet, keep their distance near nesting sites, and understand why birds should never be fed human food. It also teaches them how to create bird-friendly habitats that are safe from domestic predators.
This provides an opportunity to explain how vital birds are to the world we share with them, from controlling pests to spreading seeds and pollinating plants.
And of course, there is the simple pleasure of watching birds and the joy they bring to our everyday lives. Children will feel special knowing they have an important role to play in helping birds thrive.
Birdwatching for Teens
Whilst it might not be the first hobby that comes to mind for teenagers, birdwatching is a wonderful way for older kids to deepen their connection with nature, improve mindfulness, and build a hobby that goes beyond their mobile phone! With more maturity than younger children, teens can really level up their birdwatching. Their patience makes them better suited to spotting rarer species, taking longer walks, and keeping proper bird lists.
One of the biggest attractions for teens is photography. Even with a basic phone camera, they can capture great images of local wildlife, with the opportunity to enter local, national and international photography competitions. Teens on the Atherton Tablelands have a unique geographical advantage, they may just need a gentle suggestion!
So pack a snack (okay lots of snacks), grab the binoculars, and head outdoors. With a little patience and plenty of curiosity, our “little twitchers” will discover the joy of birdlife on the Atherton Tablelands.
