Brilliant Birds

The Broome Bird Observatory provides the perfect opportunity to watch and enjoy some of the most spectacular bird-spotting in Australia.

Emerging from the pindan woodland and leaning over Roebuck Bay, the Broome Bird Observatory’s viewing platform is a window onto our vast tides. When they are low, tens of thousands of shorebirds spread across the flats, feeding on rich mud. As the turquoise water advances, the birds inch closer, and once all the mud is covered, the beaches along our shores are teeming. This is the best time to watch, carefully, some 35 species of shorebird at remarkably close quarters, all waiting for the tide to expose their feeding grounds again.

This ritual is a wildlife spectacle in its own right, but the annual movements of most shorebirds really set them apart. It’s a long way to Broome from Siberia. Nevertheless, migrating adults of many species make this round trip every year. In March and April, you can watch from the red cliffs as V-shaped flocks depart to breed. They return gradually later in the year. Their offspring, just a few months old, arrive miraculously weeks afterwards. After this incredible journey, young birds wait a full year or two before crossing the equator again, and these are the 20,000 shorebirds you can see all through the Broome dry season. Once the breeding adults have returned, the number swells closer to 120,000. Roebuck Bay provides a beautiful backdrop for viewing these iconic birds all year round.

In other corners of the bay, mangroves shelter brilliant red fiddler crabs, squabbling mudskippers and a suite of specialised songbirds. The saltmarsh behind is home to the enigmatic yellow chat, a bright gem of a bird seen bouncing through the samphire in small flocks. Just inland are the wide open grasslands of Roebuck Plains.

The Broome Bird Observatory is nestled

in pindan at the meeting of these worlds. From February through November, we welcome visitors to a quiet, tropical bush camp away from busy Broome. Around the grounds are woodland trails and the famous Shadehouse: a well-equipped kitchen overlooking the bush birds and wallabies drawn to our birdbaths.

The observatory is also a base, for research and education activities focused on the bay, and for visitors to explore the surrounding mosaic of habitats.

Here are some highlights to look for through the year:

FEBRUARY

The bush is alive with wet season activity. Migratory shorebirds begin to moult into their vibrant breeding plumage: in some this is a startling transition from stony grey to pindan red! Grasslands flood and fill with waterbirds.

MARCH-APRIL

Shorebirds leave on their amazing migrations. All through April, chattering V-shaped flocks lift from the mud and pass low over the observatory. Some won’t touch the ground again until they reach northern China. Look out for our Migration Watch barbecue.

MAY-JULY

Refreshing cool mornings and warm, dry days make a pleasant time to visit. The plains become accessible as they dry, and wildlife throngs around wetland oases. Younger shorebirds stay in the bay, biding their time until next year’s migration.

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER

We start to welcome older shorebirds back from their breeding seasons in Siberia. Inland wetlands start to dry, revealing muddy margins that are a magnet for birds. The weather is ideal for exploring mangroves and woodlands on foot.

OCTOBER-NOVEMBER

There are now 120,000 shorebirds in the bay. Humidity builds up with the coming wet season, and other migrants are drawn by the abundance of the wet. Access to the plains is usually still possible, making an excellent time to watch birds around Broome.

The Broome Bird Observatory is a not-forprofit organisation and entirely self-funded.

Book tours at visitbroome.com.au/members/ broome-bird-observatory-tours

Don't miss ...

An exciting addition to the Observatory is the new Clive Minton Discovery Centre. With various audio-visual displays, touch screens, information panels and kids’ activities – this air conditioned centre is both entertaining and educational. Attached is a well-stocked shop with souvenirs, t-shirts, books, cold drinks and ice creams!