By Gloria Seow, travelling with Timothy Pwee
21 March to 12 April 2015
Australia somehow beckoned. Perhaps what drew us was the sudden desire to add marsupials to our mammal sightings. Or was it the Great Barrier Reef? Or the tantalising chance of getting my Dugong? Or finally clapping eyes on the albatross? Or the prospect of our first penguin? Whatever it was, it swayed us to undertake a safari Down Under. We spent three splendid weeks in a self-drive exploration of Brisbane, Heron Island and Tasmania where we encountered most of our targets.
After settling in, we walked down Albert and Roma Streets to visit the Supreme and District Courts, shops, restaurants, and Ann Street Presbyterian Church. We also caught some dinner and observed an ardent street preacher who was largely ignored.
Indeed, Heron Island blew our minds. We discovered only upon arrival that heaps of seabirds breed here. There were hundreds of nests up in trees (mostly White-capped/Black Noddy (Anous minutus)), and down in burrows (Wedged-tailed Shearwater (Ardenna pacifica)). What's more, the 100,000-strong bird population was not in the least bit skittish. It felt surreal to see raucous seabirds that had no fear of man a la a David Attenborough documentary.
The only downside was that nesting areas were covered in guano. The smell of acrid ammonia was ever present, except when one was out snorkeling. Thankfully, the stench did not penetrate into the inner recesses of our chalet where our bed was, providing some respite. Also, we became habituated to the smell. It was inevitable that one would get pooped upon at some point. I was twice 'lucky' in our five-day stay, and had to get a change of clothes both times. Guests resorted to walking around with umbrellas. We even observed people sprinting past the Pisonia trees hosting White-capped Noddy colonies. University of Queensland staff told us that researchers always returned from field trips with raincoats covered in fishy-smelling splotches.
A surefire highlight was experiencing the wonder of baby turtles (see photo). Seven of the world's nine sea turtle species can be found in Heron Island waters. But only two breed on the island: 98% of hatchlings come from Green Turtles, 2% from Loggerheads. We went in search of the turtles the first night (egg laying and hatching are nocturnal activities). After an hour, Tim spotted tiny flipper impressions in the sand. With more searching, he found the first of several struggling babies. Apparently, their mummy had laid her eggs on the sandy strip behind a wide rocky patch full of deep crags and crevices. The babies had to overcome this obstacle to reach the sea. Those we found had literally fallen through the cracks. Even though their legs moved non-stop in a wound-up toy fashion, they could not get out of the trap crevices. We frantically rescued 15 babies and released them into the dark waters. Bon voyage, little ones.
On our last night, the hatchlings came searching for us. Attracted by the lights of the resort, they had scattered in the garden instead of heading for the surf. In our after dinner stroll, we found a few guests picking up turtles in their hats. We helped locate more stray ones and these were set free in the dark sea (torches have to be switched off so that the babies do not mistakenly swim inland).
One encounter is deeply etched in my memory - that of keeping pace with an adult Green Turtle browsing the reefs. I swam just above and behind this beauty for a full five minutes undetected, giving me ample time to admire its carapace and scutes up close, observe how it moved its head and legs, and feel how effortlessly it swam wild and free.
In our night hunt for turtles, we came across many interesting crabs. In the bottom photo, you can see a crab feasting on a baby turtle, a horrific and heart-breaking sight. I was so angry with the crab that I shed a tear, but everything has a right to eat.
In reality, only a tiny percentage of turtles make it to adulthood. Many young succumb to predation. Even adults are not spared the dangers. Ocean trash such as discarded plastic bags and released helium balloons that fall into the sea are often mistaken for jelly fish (a turtle tid bit). Ingested objects accumulate in the stomach over time, leaving little space for actual food. In effect, the poor turtle starves to death. Do your part by not littering (uncleaned litter is swept by rain into waterways which lead to the sea eventually) or releasing balloons to mark 'special' occasions.
The jetty waters were constantly patrolled by Blacktip Reef Sharks. Tim insisted on snorkeling for closer looks, even though his leg had a small wound. Since young, I have been told that sharks naturally home in on blood. Well, the myth is busted. These sharks swam past Tim several times without any indication of interest. In another instance, I was amused to note a metre long Blacktip sliding harmlessly behind a mother playing with her toddler in the shallows.
We participated in a guided tour to the next door Heron Island Research Station. Run by the University of Queensland, the research station studies the Reef and conducts experiments in huge tanks including some related to climate change. At the touch pool, our guide advocated that sunblock should not be worn when handling creatures, when snorkeling (use rash guards instead) or diving as it damages reef life.
Since I am familiar with snorkeling/diving at Tioman island in Peninsular Malaysia, I felt that the corals and marine life at the Great Barrier Reef held some similarities and differences. This shade of purple coral (see photo) is certainly new, enclosing a familiar Giant Clam as part of a coral boulder. Fortunately when we visited, the Great Barrier Reef was healthy and colourful. With accelerated global warming in the intervening years, extensive coral bleaching has since happened. So much so that one fake news claimed that the entire Reef had died with a RIP post online that some of my Facebook friends fell for. The Reef is also under threat from coal mining concessions. Thankfully, WWF and others have been petitioning the Australian government to save the Reef from further decimation. Any positive action is better than no action. Nature is irreplaceable and cannot be resurrected once its gone.
The Wedged-tailed Shearwater (Ardenna pacifica) colony announced its presence every night with the most hair-raising wailing calls that took some getting used to. Listen to it here. Adult pairs call frequently to reinforce the mating bond, defend their territory, and communicate with their single chick. This shearwater is referred to as muttonbird as its chicks are harvested for food. Muttonbird can also mean other species of shearwaters and petrels. The bird above is likely an adult as chicks do not leave their burrows during the nesting period.
As the largest tropical shearwater, the Wedged-tailed temporarily visits Heron Island during the September to June breeding season. Otherwise, this pelagic bird roams the wide seas, shearing/skimming the water surface and diving up to 66 m for fish and other delicacies.
Funny enough, we did not see the Wedge-tailed Shearwater properly until our third night. We were returning from turtle hunting on the second evening when Tim almost tripped over a black bird on the ground that I registered as "not a Noddy", before we rushed off to beat restaurant closing times. It subsequently dawned on me that the mystery bird had to be the Wedge-tailed Shearwater. To get to the bottom of things, we got out our torches the next night to trace the wailing calls. And viola, I saw the first bird almost immediately, sitting on the ground outside our hut, metres from its burrow. As we examined our surroundings, we found bird after bird, all sitting solitary within 10 paces of each other. We had been so blind! If we approached, the shearwater would simply waddle out of the way without taking flight. After this discovery, it felt magical to hear their moaning calls and know that they were close by.
Monogamous adults dig or repair an old burrow that ends in an underground chamber, sometimes lined with vegetation. They mate and return to sea for a month to build up their fat reserves. Thereafter, a single egg is laid in the chamber. Incubation duties alternate between the parents for up to 13 days at a stretch, taking a total of 50 to 53 days. After hatching, the chick is brooded for up to six days. Then it is left alone while the parents hunt. The chick is initially fed with stomach oil and eventually fish. It grows so quickly that it even outweighs its parents at one point (560 g), before dropping to 430 g. The chick remains in the burrow during the nesting period of 103 to 115 days. Generally, it is deserted again a few weeks before fledging. This is when it becomes vulnerable to 'muttonbirding', the harvesting of chicks by hand, for its meat, oil and feathers. Many island populations have become extinct as a consequence. Today, ‘muttonbirding’ is regulated in Australia and NZ with the sustainable harvesting of Short-tailed and Sooty Shearwaters respectively.
I was walking around on my own when I stumbled across a ball of fluff. I realised with a delighted start that it was not some discarded sponge but a muttonbird (Wedge-tailed Shearwater) sitting out in the open. Its burrow seemed partially collapsed. Sometimes, adults do not build burrows, but nest on rock crevices and caves, or on the surface under dense vegetation. I felt lucky to see a live chick covered in down (usually they are underground). About 30,000 to 35,000 Wedge-tailed Shearwaters breed on Heron Island.
As a food item, muttonbird is supposed to be seasonally offered in restaurants and supermarkets. We enquired but did not come across any for sale, not until we visited NZ in 2016 when I spotted a stack of (waxed?) muttonbirds in the chilled section of a charcuterie retailing for NZ$18 (S$18) a bird. It reminded me of Chinese waxed duck (ie. flattened and preserved), and was roughly the size of a spring chicken.
Other lifers seen at Heron Island included the Bar-shouldered Dove (Geopelia humeralis), Capricorn Silvereye (Zosterops lateralis chlorocephalus), and Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster).
In the UNESCO World Heritage List, Lamington National Park is part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia, home to some 230 bird species. It purportedly has Australia’s largest remnant sub-tropical rainforest, set in a mountainous terrain. Temperate rainforest cloaks its peaks, dominated by 2,000-year old Antarctic Beech. Forest streams host Spiny Blue Crayfish which we did not see.
After building his bower (the tunnel of sticks in the photo above) used for courtship rituals, the male bird decorates it with objects that capture his fancy. Satin Bowerbirds favour blue as it matches the colour of their feathers (googled images of leks were mostly covered in blue odds and ends). Other bowerbirds collect up to three colours. There are 20 bowerbirds in the world today, eight endemic to Australia, 10 endemic to Papua, and two found in both places.
The real reason for coming to O'Reilly was for its free Tree Top Walk and supposedly better birding. We walked along a series of nine bridges suspended 16 m above the forest floor, culminating in a ladder that stretched 30 m upwards. Tim and I clambered onto the topmost viewing platform for grand vistas of the canopy and surroundings. The birding was pleasant but average, both at ground and upper levels. We spotted several Red-necked Pademelons on the dim forest floor and next to the boardwalk. Enroute to Binna Burra, we stopped by a quiet town for lunch and a wefie (see photo).
Natural Bridge has a dramatic waterfall puncturing the roof of a cave. The 1-km walking circuit passes through forest where we had excellent views of a pair of Australian Logrunners (Orthonyx temminckii) kicking up dead leaves in search of a meal.
Another inhabitant of the Natural Bridge glow worm cave is a colony of Little Bent-wing Bats (Miniopterus australis) with head-body length of just 4.5 cm. As a versper bat, it feeds from dusk to dawn on insects caught just below the canopy level.
We then drove onward to Gold Coast. For me, its crown jewel was the stunning stretch of sand at Surfers Paradise, which itself was a hop from glittering high rises. We milled about the shopping area, searching for a suitable gift for Ivor's family, and settling for a chocolate fondue set.
Then it was time to visit Ivor, Tricia (his wife) and their excitable dog in their home in the Gold Coast suburbs. We felt privileged to be hosted by Ivor again, who gave us our first outback BBQ, and now a typical Oz meal of scrumptious pizza and dessert. It was good to have a feel of family living Down Under. We chatted about many things, and got a chance to see the infamous Cane Toads living in their garden and neighbourhood. I was slightly nervous at having to drive 60 km back to our Brisbane hotel at such a late hour. Still, the journey felt shorter than I anticipated.
We stowed our belongings in lockers at Tangalooma Resort. On the 20-minute walk to the wrecks, we came across more than 20 sea stars in a range of colours but having the same patterning (probably all of the same species). They were all 3 to 5 m inland, likely above the high water mark. Sensing that they were beached, we threw them back one by one into the sea.
I was discouraged when Tim proclaimed that the water was too cold for snorkeling, something he has never said before. Luckily, I had on four layers of swimwear (costume + two rash guards + life jacket). He was only wearing one rash guard. It turned out to be my most chilly and harrowing snorkeling session. To reach the wrecks, we had to fin a long distance over a featureless sandy bottom that fed on my imagination of lurking sharks a la Jaws. Then, there was a strong current that swept us rapidly over the wrecks. Even in the murky waters, I could make out that coral growth was poor, marine life was lacking, and the wrecks were more menacing than exciting. Pushed by the currents, I could feel myself streaking uncontrollably towards a big and stationary barracuda. I started praying that we would not collide, twisting this way and that to get out of its path. In a nail-biting moment, I came within one metre of this frightening fish, offering me terrifying views of its steely stare and a long jawline of sharp teeth. Thank God the barracuda was unflinchingly calm and I was left unharmed.
Before we knew it, we had reached the end of the 15 wrecks and had to turn inland. Despite finning for what seemed an eternity, I found that I was still in the same spot and rapidly tiring out. I suppressed my panic and took stock of the situation. Realising that I could not fight the currents if I persisted in the same direction (aiming for a 4WD parked on the beach), I changed tack and allowed the currents to carry me while I swam inland at an angle, making very slow progress. I figured that Rous Channel was some 18 km away in the direction of the currents, so I had 18 km more of land on Moreton Island to aim for (a thought that gave me some hope). You can bet that I was enormously relieved to make it to shore alive.
Then the next worry struck me. Where was Tim? He had declined a life jacket and I began to fear the worst. It turned out that Tim was an old hand with currents. He had done the same thing, swimming in at an angle right from the start, and had landed further down the beach. The whole incident was so traumatic that even though there was time, I refused to do another round of drift snorkeling.
Contrast our experience with what some Tangalooma websites say: "The wrecks offer every diving environment in one dive: reef, wreck, drift and naturalist, in an average of about 12 m of clear water. Snorkelling and scuba diving here is an amazing experience." *Ahem*. Other websites were more honest: "The Snorkel Tour is a much safer experience as you are taken to the wrecks by boat so there is no need to battle the currents and swim there yourself. This tour includes a guide and all snorkel equipment." My advice? Take the tour.
Moreton Island has a population of 1,000 dugongs moving in herds of 10 to 300 individuals. It sounded like an all or none situation in terms of catching sight of them. Dugongs are most commonly encountered in the 2-km long Rous Channel separating Moreton and North Stradbroke islands where there are sea grass beds. From April to August, 50 to 100 dugongs can be found shuttling between the channel and the warmer waters of the ocean. Our cruise did not take us to Rous Channel, so we counted ourselves lucky to spot a dugong within a two hour search period in a hit or miss area. Amongst mammal watchers, dugongs and manatees are in the top 50 most wanted list.
After the cruise, we had lunch and I took an overseas call from Japan. Then we boarded the 4 pm ferry for the 1.5 hour journey back to Holt Street Wharf in Brisbane. The next morning, we caught our flight for Tasmania.
Having Google maps on our smart phones saved our lives at least once. Tim warned me that a T junction was up ahead, otherwise, there was no way to tell as everything was dark (sometimes, a lone street lamp marks the T junction). Without the knowledge, one could easily crash headlong into the bushes, or God forbid, into a passing car.
The languid scene (see photo) of grazing Eastern Grey Kangaroos (Macropus giganteus) encapsulates Narawntapu as the 'Serengeti of Tasmania'. Roos are much bigger than wallabies or pademelons but all their body forms are similar. It was particularly difficult to tell apart wallabies from pademelons. To complicate matters, the Red-necked Wallaby (Macropus rufogriseus - see below) belongs to the same genus as the Kangaroo even though it is so much smaller.
We also paid attention to macro life at Narawntapu. The photo on the right shows a wasp depositing eggs in a tree trunk. 
In the late evening, a group of us were strung out along a viewing platform 20 m above the shingle beach. We waited for the penguins to return to their burrows after a day of fishing in the Bass Strait. I was the first to see three little fellas scrambling over a log on the beach below when there was still some sunlight. We traced them as they climbed up the slope somewhat obscured by tall grass. As the night progressed, the artificial wooden and natural earth burrows around us were soon filled with penguins. We were separated from the birds by a low fence. It was fun to see the penguins up close tottering around and preening themselves. At the end of the session, the place was locked up to prevent mischief. This attraction is free but accepts donations. We stayed that night in an Ulverstone motel.
Tim followed the example of an Aussie family, creeping up very slowly to a wombat to pat it. He even purchased a 70-cm wombat plushie. However, wombats could potentially be dangerous as any creature that burrows has strong and sharp claws. For me, the wombat was a good substitute for not seeing a koala as I find that their faces are quite alike.
From Cradle Mountain, it was a long drive across Tasmania (roughly 300 km) to the Tasman Peninsula in the south. I felt so sleepy at times that I had to wind down the windows for a blast of cold air. The radio did little to help, my audiobook was too soft, and a somnolent Tim made things worst. But I survived the drive.
At Eagle Hawk geologic site, we visited the Tessellated Pavement. It reminded me of the Giant's Causeway in Ireland, albeit a flattened version. Luckily we peered closer and discovered plenty of marine life around.
Our cottage had visitors - about half a dozen Wood/Forest Scorpions (Cercophonius squama) no more than 3 cm long. They hung around the floor near the main door and inside the toilet. Native to southeastern Australia, it is Tasmania's only scorpion. The landlord said that they are attracted to the heat inside the house. We had to sweep them out each morning. When touched by the broom, some played dead while others reared up their claws and stinging tails. They were cute and fun to observe, but still gave me the shudders. The photo shows one with red spheres on its back which we speculate could be mites. We also wonder what are the whitish 'gills' for.
Another Wood Scorpion with red spheres and a raised tail.
Port Arthur started as a timber station in 1830, growing fast with new manufactories in ship building, shoe making, smithing, timber, brick making, flour mill, granary, and hospital added, wherein convicts were worked hard. Those with more severe crimes were kept in a Separate Prison that favoured mental subjugation (ie. solitary confinement). Men and women were transported to the Australian colonies because after the American War of Independence in 1788, Britain could no longer send its convicts to America. Their crimes were fairly trivial, mostly theft of small items. But because they were repeat offenders, they had to be shipped away. Transportation was for a minimum of seven years if I remember right. One in five was a woman. Some kids were transported with their parents. A good number tried innovative ways to escape back to Britain. Few returned home with many becoming forced migrants. The tours featured some of these characters, and showcased general living and working conditions. We saw convict artefacts and heard their fascinating stories (original misdeeds and what became of them upon release).
The is the distinctive 'magpie' parti-coloured male uniform worn by recalcitrant convicts in Van Damien Land (Tasmania) in the 1830s and 1840s. It served as an effective symbol of humiliation, standing them out from the prison population and deterring escape. Such convicts worked in chain gangs. The uniform featured the broad arrow or pheon (I thought they were the footprints of the magpie) used to mark British government property since the 17th century. The outer trouser leg had buttons for convicts to dress without removing their leg irons. The uniform was made from coarse wool at the Female (Convict) Factory in Parramatta, Sydney. There was also a yellow-and-black version of the uniform.
Australian and New Zealand Fur Seals in a mixed colony, basking lazily below some sea cliffs. The thick kelp cover was constantly buffeted by the crashing waves.
One of our best meals in Tasmania was at Fox and Hounds Inn/Restaurant in Port Arthur comprising a substantial seafood platter and quail wrapped in streaky bacon.
Located next to the park, we also visited the World Heritage Listed Cascade Female Factory that used to house convict women and their children. Too bad, we ran out of time for the historic Cascade Brewery.
Later in the day, we shopped at Kathmandu for reasonably-priced outdoor equipment and clothing, and admired the Gille and Marc bronze sculptures 'Paparazzi Dog and Marilyn Rabbit' at Salamanca Square. Down at Constitution Dock, we spied corals growing in the sea water and various marine life, and toured the old buildings there.
Vertebrate List
| # | Common Name | Scientific Name |
| 1 | Green Turtle | Chelonia mydas |
| 2 | Unidentified Skink at Lamington - clear skin | |
| 3 | Unidentified Skink at Lamington - mottled skin | |
| 4 | Carpet Python | Morelia spilota |
| 5 | Lowland Copperhead (snake) | Austrelaps superbus |
| 6 | Common Wombat | Vombatus ursinus |
| 7 | Short-eared Brushtail Possum | Trichosurus caninus |
| 8 | Common Brushtail Possum | Trichosurus vulpecula |
| 9 | Common Ringtail Possum | Pseudocheirus peregrinus |
| 10 | Eastern Grey Kangaroo | Macropus giganteus |
| 11 | Red-necked Wallaby | Macropus rufogriseus |
| 12 | Black Wallaby | Wallabia bicolor |
| 13 | Red-necked Pademelon | Thylogale billardierii |
| 14 | Tasmania (Red-bellied) Pademelon | Thylogale thetis |
| 15 | Grey-headed Flying-fox | Pteropus poliocephalus |
| 16 | Little Red Flying-fox | Pteropus scapulatus |
| 17 | Common Water Rat | Hydromys chrysogaster |
| 18 | European Rabbit (introduced) | Oryctolagus cuniculus |
| 19 | Australian Fur Seal | Arctecephalus pusillus doriferus |
| 20 | New Zealand Fur Seal | Artocephalus forsteri |
| 21 | Dugong | Dugong dugon |
| 22 | Little Bent-wing Bat | Miniopterus australis |
Bird List
| No. | Scientific Name | IOC English Name | Total/Lifer | |
| 156 | 124 | |||
| 1 | Dendrocygna guttata | Spotted Whistling Duck | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Cereopsis novaehollandiae | Cape Barren Goose | 1 | 1 |
| 3 | Chenonetta jubata | Australian Wood Duck | 1 | 1 |
| 4 | Cygnus atratus | Black Swan | 1 | 1 |
| 5 | Tadorna tadornoides | Australian Shelduck | 1 | 1 |
| 6 | Cairina moschata | Muscovy Duck | 1 | 1 |
| 7 | Anas superciliosa | Pacific Black Duck | 1 | |
| 8 | Anas gracilis | Grey Teal | 1 | 1 |
| 9 | Anas castanea | Chestnut Teal | 1 | 1 |
| 10 | Oxyura australis | Blue-billed Duck | 1 | 1 |
| 11 | Biziura lobata | Musk Duck | 1 | 1 |
| 12 | Alectura lathami | Australian Brushturkey | 1 | 1 |
| 13 | Eudyptula minor | Little Penguin | 1 | 1 |
| 14 | Thalassarche melanophris | Black-browed Albatross | 1 | 1 |
| 15 | Thalassarche cauta | Shy Albatross | 1 | 1 |
| 16 | Thalassarche bulleri | Buller's Albatross | 1 | 1 |
| 17 | Pachyptila turtur | Fairy Prion | 1 | 1 |
| 18 | Puffinus pacificus | Wedge-tailed Shearwater | 1 | 1 |
| 19 | Threskiornis moluccus | Australian White Ibis | 1 | |
| 20 | Ardea pacifica | White-necked Heron | 1 | 1 |
| 21 | Bubulcus ibis | Cattle Egret | 1 | |
| 22 | Egretta intermedia | Intermediate Egret | 1 | |
| 23 | Egretta novaehollandiae | White-faced Heron | 1 | 1 |
| 24 | Egretta sacra | Pacific Reef Heron | 1 | |
| 25 | Pelecanus conspicillatus | Australian Pelican | 1 | |
| 26 | Morus serrator | Australasian Gannet | 1 | 1 |
| 27 | Sula leucogaster | Brown Booby | 1 | 1 |
| 28 | Microcarbo melanoleucos | Little Pied Cormorant | 1 | 1 |
| 29 | Phalacrocorax fuscescens | Black-faced Cormorant | 1 | 1 |
| 30 | Phalacrocorax sulcirostris | Little Black Cormorant | 1 | 1 |
| 31 | Phalacrocorax varius | Australian Pied Cormorant | 1 | 1 |
| 32 | Phalacrocorax carbo | Great Cormorant | 1 | |
| 33 | Anhinga novaehollandiae | Australasian Darter | 1 | 1 |
| 34 | Aquila audax | Wedge-tailed Eagle | 1 | 1 |
| 35 | Haliastur sphenurus | Whistling Kite | 1 | 1 |
| 36 | Haliastur indus | Brahminy Kite | 1 | |
| 37 | Haliaeetus leucogaster | White-bellied Sea Eagle | 1 | |
| 38 | Gallirallus philippensis | Buff-banded Rail | 1 | 1 |
| 39 | Porphyrio porphyrio | Purple Swamphen | 1 | |
| 40 | Gallinula tenebrosa | Dusky Moorhen | 1 | 1 |
| 41 | Tribonyx mortierii | Tasmanian Nativehen | 1 | 1 |
| 42 | Fulica atra | Eurasian Coot | 1 | |
| 43 | Haematopus longirostris | Pied Oystercatcher | 1 | 1 |
| 44 | Haematopus fuliginosus | Sooty Oystercatcher | 1 | 1 |
| 45 | Vanellus miles | Masked Lapwing | 1 | 1 |
| 46 | Pluvialis fulva | Pacific Golden Plover | 1 | |
| 47 | Thinornis cucullatus | Hooded Dotterel | 1 | 1 |
| 48 | Tringa glareola | Wood Sandpiper | 1 | |
| 49 | Tringa brevipes | Grey-tailed Tattler | 1 | |
| 50 | Arenaria interpres | Ruddy Turnstone | 1 | |
| 51 | Anous minutus | Black (White-capped) Noddy | 1 | 1 |
| 52 | Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae | Silver Gull | 1 | |
| 53 | Larus pacificus | Pacific Gull | 1 | 1 |
| 54 | Larus dominicanus | Kelp Gull | 1 | 1 |
| 55 | Thalasseus bergii | Greater Crested Tern | 1 | |
| 56 | Thalasseus bengalensis | Lesser Crested Tern | 1 | 1 |
| 57 | Sterna sumatrana | Black-naped Tern | 1 | |
| 58 | Chlidonias hybrida | Whiskered Tern | 1 | |
| 59 | Columba livia | Rock Dove | 1 | |
| 60 | Spilopelia chinensis | Spotted Dove | 1 | |
| 61 | Macropygia phasianella | Brown Cuckoo-Dove | 1 | 1 |
| 62 | Geopelia humeralis | Bar-shouldered Dove | 1 | 1 |
| 63 | Ptilinopus magnificus | Wompoo Fruit Dove | 1 | 1 |
| 64 | Centropus phasianinus | Pheasant Coucal | 1 | 1 |
| 65 | Podargus strigoides | Tawny Frogmouth | 1 | 1 |
| 66 | Dacelo novaeguineae | Laughing Kookaburra | 1 | |
| 67 | Todiramphus sanctus | Sacred Kingfisher | 1 | |
| 68 | Merops ornatus | Rainbow Bee-eater | 1 | 1 |
| 69 | Calyptorhynchus lathami | Glossy Black Cockatoo | 1 | 1 |
| 70 | Calyptorhynchus funereus | Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo | 1 | 1 |
| 71 | Eolophus roseicapilla | Galah | 1 | |
| 72 | Cacatua galerita | Sulphur-crested Cockatoo | 1 | 1 |
| 73 | Trichoglossus moluccanus | Rainbow Lorikeet | 1 | 1 |
| 74 | Platycercus caledonicus | Green Rosella | 1 | 1 |
| 75 | Platycercus elegans | Crimson Rosella | 1 | |
| 76 | Platycercus adscitus | Pale-headed Rosella | 1 | 1 |
| 77 | Platycercus eximius | Eastern Rosella | 1 | 1 |
| 78 | Neophema chrysostoma | Blue-winged Parrot | 1 | 1 |
| 79 | Lathamus discolor | Swift Parrot | 1 | 1 |
| 80 | Alisterus scapularis | Australian King Parrot | 1 | 1 |
| 81 | Atrichornis clamosus | Noisy Scrubbird | 1 | 1 |
| 82 | Ailuroedus crassirostris | Green Catbird | 1 | 1 |
| 83 | Ptilonorhynchus violaceus | Satin Bowerbird | 1 | 1 |
| 84 | Cormobates leucophaea | White-throated Treecreeper | 1 | 1 |
| 85 | Malurus lamberti | Variegated Fairywren | 1 | 1 |
| 86 | Malurus cyaneus | Superb Fairywren | 1 | 1 |
| 87 | Malurus melanocephalus | Red-backed Fairywren | 1 | 1 |
| 88 | Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris | Eastern Spinebill | 1 | 1 |
| 89 | Lichmera indistincta | Brown Honeyeater | 1 | 1 |
| 90 | Lichenostomus chrysops | Yellow-faced Honeyeater | 1 | 1 |
| 91 | Phylidonyris pyrrhopterus | Crescent Honeyeater | 1 | 1 |
| 92 | Phylidonyris novaehollandiae | New Holland Honeyeater | 1 | 1 |
| 93 | Philemon corniculatus | Noisy Friarbird | 1 | 1 |
| 94 | Melithreptus albogularis | White-throated Honeyeater | 1 | 1 |
| 95 | Melithreptus lunatus | White-naped Honeyeater | 1 | 1 |
| 96 | Nesoptilotis flavicollis | Yellow-throated Honeyeater | 1 | 1 |
| 97 | Anthochaera chrysoptera | Little Wattlebird | 1 | 1 |
| 98 | Anthochaera paradoxa | Yellow Wattlebird | 1 | 1 |
| 99 | Manorina melanocephala | Noisy Miner | 1 | |
| 100 | Meliphaga lewinii | Lewin's Honeyeater | 1 | 1 |
| 101 | Pardalotus punctatus | Spotted Pardalote | 1 | 1 |
| 102 | Acanthornis magna | Scrubtit | 1 | 1 |
| 103 | Sericornis frontalis | White-browed Scrubwren | 1 | 1 |
| 104 | Sericornis humilis | Tasmanian Scrubwren | 1 | 1 |
| 105 | Gerygone olivacea | White-throated Gerygone | 1 | 1 |
| 106 | Acanthiza pusilla | Brown Thornbill | 1 | 1 |
| 107 | Acanthiza ewingii | Tasmanian Thornbill | 1 | 1 |
| 108 | Acanthiza reguloides | Buff-rumped Thornbill | 1 | 1 |
| 109 | Acanthiza chrysorrhoa | Yellow-rumped Thornbill | 1 | 1 |
| 110 | Orthonyx temminckii | Australian Logrunner | 1 | 1 |
| 111 | Artamus cyanopterus | Dusky Woodswallow | 1 | 1 |
| 112 | Cracticus nigrogularis | Pied Butcherbird | 1 | 1 |
| 113 | Gymnorhina tibicen | Australian Magpie | 1 | 1 |
| 114 | Strepera graculina | Pied Currawong | 1 | 1 |
| 115 | Strepera fuliginosa | Black Currawong | 1 | 1 |
| 116 | Strepera versicolor | Grey Currawong | 1 | 1 |
| 117 | Coracina novaehollandiae | Black-faced Cuckooshrike | 1 | 1 |
| 118 | Coracina tenuirostris | Common Cicadabird | 1 | 1 |
| 119 | Daphoenositta chrysoptera | Varied Sittella | 1 | 1 |
| 120 | Pachycephala pectoralis | Australian Golden Whistler | 1 | 1 |
| 121 | Pachycephala rufiventris | Rufous Whistler | 1 | 1 |
| 122 | Colluricincla harmonica | Grey Shrikethrush | 1 | 1 |
| 123 | Sphecotheres vieilloti | Australasian Figbird | 1 | 1 |
| 124 | Dicrurus bracteatus | Spangled Drongo | 1 | |
| 125 | Rhipidura leucophrys | Willie Wagtail | 1 | 1 |
| 126 | Rhipidura albiscapa | Grey Fantail | 1 | 1 |
| 127 | Rhipidura rufifrons | Rufous Fantail | 1 | 1 |
| 128 | Monarcha melanopsis | Black-faced Monarch | 1 | 1 |
| 129 | Grallina cyanoleuca | Magpie-lark | 1 | 1 |
| 130 | Myiagra rubecula | Leaden Flycatcher | 1 | 1 |
| 131 | Myiagra cyanoleuca | Satin Flycatcher | 1 | 1 |
| 132 | Pica pica | Eurasian Magpie | 1 | |
| 133 | Corvus orru | Torresian Crow | 1 | 1 |
| 134 | Corvus tasmanicus | Forest Raven | 1 | 1 |
| 135 | Corvus coronoides | Australian Raven | 1 | 1 |
| 136 | Tregellasia capito | Pale-yellow Robin | 1 | 1 |
| 137 | Eopsaltria australis | Eastern Yellow Robin | 1 | 1 |
| 138 | Melanodryas vittata | Dusky Robin | 1 | 1 |
| 139 | Microeca fascinans | Jacky Winter | 1 | 1 |
| 140 | Petroica rodinogaster | Pink Robin | 1 | 1 |
| 141 | Petroica phoenicea | Flame Robin | 1 | 1 |
| 142 | Petroica boodang | Scarlet Robin | 1 | 1 |
| 143 | Cheramoeca leucosterna | White-backed Swallow | 1 | 1 |
| 144 | Hirundo neoxena | Welcome Swallow | 1 | 1 |
| 145 | Petrochelidon nigricans | Tree Martin | 1 | 1 |
| 146 | Megalurus timoriensis | Tawny Grassbird | 1 | 1 |
| 147 | Cisticola exilis | Golden-headed Cisticola | 1 | 1 |
| 148 | Zosterops lateralis | Silvereye | 1 | 1 |
| 149 | Acridotheres tristis | Common Myna | 1 | |
| 150 | Sturnus vulgaris | Common Starling | 1 | |
| 151 | Zoothera lunulata | Bassian Thrush | 1 | 1 |
| 152 | Turdus merula | Common Blackbird | 1 | |
| 153 | Passer domesticus | House Sparrow | 1 | |
| 154 | Neochmia temporalis | Red-browed Finch | 1 | 1 |
| 155 | Taeniopygia bichenovii | Double-barred Finch | 1 | 1 |
| 156 | Lonchura castaneothorax | Chestnut-breasted Mannikin | 1 | 1 |
