Mission Beach – Birdwatcher’s Paradise

Introducing Adrian Walker, our local snake handler and birdwatching enthusiast in Mission Beach.

Welcome to the Mission Beach Information Centre’s bird blog! With its long, sandy beaches and extensive fringing forests, Mission Beach is a birdwatcher’s paradise and with over 280 species recorded in the immediate area, it’s also one of the richest sites for feathered creatures in the Continent. This blog aims to act as both an opportunity for readers to learn a little more about the wonderful birdlife of the region and for visitors with an interest in birds to perhaps find that elusive species they’ve been keen to see since their arrival here.

Whilst the Cassowary is certainly the most sought after bird in the village by those wishing to see new birds, the much smaller, lesser known Red-necked Crake is also a magnet for serious birders as this is a classic ‘hard to get’ little number. Ranging from the tip of Cape York to a little north of Townsville but always found in rainforest the Red-necked Crake is a secretive ground living bird that rarely flies and is far more often seen than heard. The call is a clicking sound, repeated often as the birds skulk through the undergrowth.

To see a Red-necked Crake I’d advise a dusk trip to Lacey’s Creek and a patient sit anywhere near the water. Simply wait until you hear the repeated click, click, click, resembling an old clock, and you’ll have your bird nearby.

Good luck and good birding,
Adrian Walker aka Professor Birdbrain