Hobart Bird Walks

Hobart Bird Walks … exploring the birdlife of our forests and coasts

Hobart and birds Hobart’s landscape spans from summit to sea. The city is dominated by kunanyi/Mt Wellington and surrounded by bushland reserves. Alpine heathlands, a mosaic of lower altitude eucalypt forests, parkland, calm-water coastal environments, and several water storages attract and support different bird species. The walks covered in this brochure include several types of habitat, enabling you to see the greatest range of birdlife.

Endemic bird species Tasmania has twelve bird species that occur nowhere else on Earth as a consequence of Tasmania’s isolation and differences in climate from mainland Australia for considerable periods in the last 100,000 years. This has led to genetic differentiation from similar mainland bird species (for example, the Tasmanian Scrubwren from the mainland White-browed Scrubwren).

Eleven of the twelve endemic bird species can be seen in the Hobart area. Tasmanian subspecies of mainland birds also occur, for example, the Tasmanian Eastern Rosella.

Tasmania’s endemic birds in the Hobart area: r

Green Rosella

Black-headed Honeyeater

Strong-billed Honeyeater

Yellow-throated Honeyeater

Yellow Wattlebird

Tasmanian Native-hen

Dusky Robin

Scrubtit

Tasmanian Scrubwren

Tasmanian Thornbill

Black Currawong

Migratory birds The Hobart area is well placed to observe local and interstate migratory birds. Altitudinal migrants spend summer in the higher parts of the Tasmanian landscape, for example on Flame Robin kunanyi/Mt Wellington, and then move to lower altitudes in the cold, windy winter months. Birds that do this include the Eastern Spinebill, Crescent Honeyeater, and Flame Robin.

There are also some Australian mainland birds that migrate across Bass Strait to breed and spend the summer months in Tasmania before returning to the mainland in late summer/autumn. These migratory birds include the Striated Pardalote, Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrike (both common), Satin Flycatcher (uncommon) and Swift Parrot (very rare).

Threatened birds In the Hobart area, several birds are listed under legislation as threatened species and are at risk of extinction. In Tasmania there are three levels of threat – Endangered, Vulnerable or Swift Parrot Rare. The Swift Parrot, Grey Goshawk, Masked Owl, and Wedge-tailed Eagle are all listed as Endangered, and the White-bellied Sea-Eagle is listed as Vulnerable. The main local threats to these species are loss of habitat needed for breeding and feeding, and birds of prey are vulnerable to inadvertent poisoning from rodenticides.

Additional threats include changes to land management practices, predation, and climate change.

What you can do: Support conservation The City of Hobart runs a Bushcare program that encourages people to help protect Hobart’s bushland reserves and habitat for threatened birds.

BirdLife Tasmania strongly advocates for protecting habitats across Tasmania and organises regular walks to help familiarise people with Tasmania’s birds and their needs.

What you can do: Birdwatching etiquette BirdLife Tasmania encourages behaviour that respects the wellbeing of birds, does not disrupt bird behaviour or activities, and protects bird habitats. If birds are reacting to your presence, you may be disturbing them and taking them away from nests and young or reducing their time for foraging or breeding.

Move away and observe or photograph from a distance.

These guidelines apply to watching birds anywhere and anytime, bird photography, beach-going and other activities.

More information can be found at direct.birdlife.org.au/documents/INFO-Ethical-Birding.pdf.

What you can do: Citizen science BirdLife Tasmania encourages people to record their bird observations in the national bird database (Birdata) to assist in bird conservation and the management of Australia’s native birds.

Please visit birdata.birdlife.org.au for more information. BirdLife Australia supports a Birds in Backyards program that focuses on the birds that live where people live. This program is a great way to learn about your local birds and more information can be found at birdsinbackyards.net.

Hobart bird checklist Shore/Wetland/Waterbody species Endemic bird species are marked E

o Australian Pelican o Australian Pied Oystercatcher o Australian Wood Duck o Black Swan o Black-faced Cormorant o Chestnut Teal o Crested Tern o Eurasian Coot o Great Cormorant o Hoary-headed Grebe

White-faced Heron

o Kelp Gull o Little Pied Cormorant o Masked Lapwing o Pacific Black Duck o Pacific Gull o Silver Gull o Sooty Oystercatcher o Tasmanian Native-hen (E) o Welcome Swallow o White-faced Heron

Woodlands species

Woodlands species Tawny Frogmouth

Heathlands, Woodlands and Forest species E = Endemic S = Summer migrant I = Introduced

o Australian Magpie o Beautiful Firetail o Black Currawong (E) o Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike (S) o Black-headed Honeyeater (E) o Brown Goshawk o Brown Thornbill o Brush Bronzewing o Common Bronzewing o Crescent Honeyeater o Dusky Robin (E) o Dusky Woodswallow (S) o Eastern Rosella o Eastern Spinebill o Fan-tailed Cuckoo (S) o Flame Robin o Forest Raven o Galah o Golden Whistler o Green Rosella (E) o Grey Butcherbird o Grey Currawong o Grey Fantail o Grey (White) Goshawk o Grey Shrike-thrush o Laughing Kookaburra (I) o Little Wattlebird

o Musk Lorikeet o New Holland Honeyeater o Noisy Miner o Olive Whistler o Pallid Cuckoo (S) o Pink Robin o Rainbow Lorikeet (I) o Satin Flycatcher (S) o Scarlet Robin o Scrubtit (E) o Shining Bronze-cuckoo (S) o Silvereye o Spotted Pardalote o Striated Pardalote o Strong-billed Honeyeater (E) o Sulphur-crested Cockatoo o Superb Fairy-wren o Swift Parrot o Tasmanian Scrubwren (E) o Tasmanian Thornbill (E) o Tawny Frogmouth o Tree Martin (S) o Wedge-tailed Eagle o White-bellied Sea-Eagle o Yellow Wattlebird (E) o Yellow-throated Honeyeater (E) o Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo

C

N E W TOWN N E W TOWN KALANG AVENUE RESERVE KALANG AVENUE RESERVE

LE N AH VALLE Y LE N AH VALLE Y

M OU N T STU ART M OU N T STU ART

66

44

WE ST H OB A WE ST H OB ART

KNOCKLOFTY KNOCKLOFTY RESERVE RESERVE

M ROBIES M C ROBIES GULLY GULLY C

WELLINGTON WELLINGTON PARK PARK

N HO

8

SOU TH H OB ART SOU TH H OB ART

77

M U N I CI PAL B OU N D AR Y M U N I CI PAL B OU N D AR Y

WATERWORKS WATERWORKS RESERVE RESERVE

DY D YN

TOLM AN S H I LL TOLM AN S H I LL

55 RIDGEWAY RIDGEWAY PARK PARK

E WAY RIRI DD GG E WAY RN TRE TREEE FFEERN

1

Cornelian Bay Foreshore Foreshore NEW TOWN

Habitats: Parkland; coastline coastline Access: : Via Queens Walk to to aa car car park park next nextto tothe theforeshore foreshore and parklands. Formed paths, paths, some some wheelchair wheelchairaccessible, accessible,and and formed tracks provide up to to aa 22 km km walk. walk.Toilets.

Toilets.

Birds – coastal: Black-faced Black-faced Cormorant; Cormorant;Australian AustralianPied Pied Oystercatcher; Kelp Oystercatcher; Kelp Gull; Gull; Eurasian Eurasian Coot Coot Birds –– parkland: parkland: Eastern Birds Eastern Rosella; Rosella;Tasmanian TasmanianNative-hen Native-hen(E); (E); Musk Lorikeet; Collared Sparrowhawk Musk Lorikeet; Collared Sparrowhawk Unusual sightings: sightings: Great Unusual Great Egret; Egret; Hoary-headed Hoary-headedGrebe; Grebe; Grey Currawong Currawong Grey

Australian Pied Oystercatcher Australian Pied Oystercatcher

Black-faced Cormorant Black-faced Cormorant

Collared Sparrowhawk Collared Sparrowhawk

M

F E RN TRE E

CORNELIAN BAY

Cornelian Bay Foreshore Cornelian Foreshore NEW TOWN BayHobart City Bird

11

1

NEW TOWN 3 Habitats: Parkland; coastline Walks 2 Parkland; coastline Habitats: QUEENS DOMAIN

N ORTH H OB ART

Access: : Via Queens Walk to a car next to the foreshore Cornelian Bay Foreshore 11 park Access: : Via Queens Walk to a some car park next to the foreshore and parklands.

Formed paths, wheelchair accessible, 2 Royal Tasmanian Botanicaland 2 and parklands.

Formed paths, some wheelchair accessible, and formed tracks provide up to a 2 kmGardens walk. Toilets. formed tracks provide up to a 233kmQueens walk. Toilets.

Domain Birds – coastal: Black-faced Cormorant; Australian Pied 4 Organ Pipes Track 4 River Derwent Birds – coastal:Kelp Black-faced Cormorant; Oystercatcher; Gull; Eurasian Coot Australian Pied 5 Fern Glade Track 5 Coot Oystercatcher; Kelp Gull; Eurasian Birds – parkland: Eastern Rosella; Tasmanian Native-hen (E); 66 Knocklofty Reserve Summit Birds parkland: Eastern Rosella; Tasmanian Native-hen (E); Musk –Lorikeet; Collared Sparrowhawk Loop Musk Lorikeet; Collared Sparrowhawk 7 Waterworks Reservoir circuit Unusual sightings: Great Egret;7Hoary-headed Grebe; 8Hoary-headed Hobart Rivulet Track 8 Unusual sightings: Great Egret; Grebe; Grey Currawong 99 Lambert Rivulet Track Grey Currawong 9 10 Truganini Track G LE B E

H OB ART

ART

8

B ATTE RY P OI N T

YN N YRN E

LAMBERT PARK

M C AULAY RESERVE

SAN D Y B AY

Bushland reserves managed by the City of Hobart (4600 hectares)

M OU N T N E LSON BICENTENNIAL PARK

10

Australian Pied Oystercatcher

Black-faced Cormorant

Collared Sparrowhawk

Australian Pied Oystercatcher

Black-faced Cormorant

Collared Sparrowhawk

Pipes TrackBotanical and extensions Royal Tasmanian Gardens 42 Organ Royal Botanical Gardens WELLINGTON PARK HOBARTTasmanian 2 HOBART

Habitats: woodlands Habitats:Forest; Parkland, ponds Habitats: Parkland, ponds Access:The Several points with car The main Access: track access starts at The Chalet onparking.

Pinnacle Road (8 km Access: access points with car Road parking. main entrance is located on Lower Domain via The either the Tasman from FernSeveral Tree, 2 km from the Summit).

A formed track (4 km entrance is located on Lower Domain Road viaSome either the Hwy or the Domain Hwy. Many formed pathways (3+ km)Tasman return) leads to the Zig Zag Track intersection. uneven Hwy orof the Domain Many formed pathwayspossible.

(3+ km) including wheelchair accessible.

Toilets. sections track, withHwy. steeper walking extensions including wheelchair accessible.

Toilets.

Limited car parking on Pinnacle Road.

Birds: Eastern Rosella; Tasmanian Native-hen (E); Crescent Honeyeater Birds:Tasmanian Eastern Rosella; Tasmanian Native-hen (E); Crescent Honeyeater Birds: Scrubwren (E); Yellow-throated Unusual sightings: Black Currawong (E); Green Honeyeater Rosella (E); (E); Yellow Wattlebird (E) Black Currawong (E); Green Rosella (E); Unusual sightings: Scarlet Robin Scarlet sightings: Robin Unusual Strong-billed Honeyeater (E); Olive Whistler; Wedge-tailed Eagle

Crescent Honeyeater

Black Currawong

E

Scarlet Robin

Crescent Honeyeater Yellow Wattlebird

Black Currawong Wedge-tailed Eagle

E

Scarlet Robin Olive Whistler

Queens Domain

3 1

CORNELIAN BAY

3

HOBART

Hobart City Bird

Habitats: Parkland; woodlands; grasslands Walks

Access:2Via Upper Domain Road to several areas with car parking.

11 Cornelian Bay Foreshore Several formed pathways traverse the area, some wheelchair Tasmanian Botanical 22 Royal accessible, including Queens Domain Upper Summit (car parking), Gardens Crossroads/Soldiers Memorial Oval (car parking), Joggers Loop 33 Queens Domain track (2 km, formed) and Soldiers Memorial Avenue. Toilets.

44 Organ Pipes Track River Derwent Birds: Eastern Rosella; Spotted Pardalote; Superb Fairy-wren Track 55 Fern Glade Reserve Summit 66 Knocklofty Unusual sightings: Brown Goshawk; Striated Pardalote (summer);

QUEENS DOMAIN N ORTH H OB ART

OB ART

8

G LE B E

H OB ART

B ATTE RY P OI N T

Black-headed Honeyeater (E) D YN N YRN E

9

LAMBERT PARK M C AULAY RESERVE

Loop

77 Waterworks Reservoir circuit 88 Hobart Rivulet Track 99 Lambert Rivulet Track 10 Truganini Track

SAN D Y B AY

Bushland reserves managed by the City of Hobart (4600 hectares)

M OU N T N E LSON BICENTENNIAL PARK

Spotted Pardalote

4

10 Brown Goshawk

Black-headed Honeyeater E

Organ Pipes Track and extensions WELLINGTON PARK

Habitats: Forest; woodlands Access: The track starts at The Chalet on Pinnacle Road (8 km from Fern Tree, 2 km from the Summit). A formed track (4 km return) leads to the Zig Zag Track intersection. Some uneven sections of track, with steeper walking extensions possible.

Limited car parking on Pinnacle Road.

Birds: Tasmanian Scrubwren (E); Yellow-throated Honeyeater (E); Yellow Wattlebird (E) Unusual sightings: Strong-billed Honeyeater (E); Olive Whistler; Wedge-tailed Eagle

Yellow Wattlebird

Wedge-tailed Eagle

Olive Whistler

(E) den

Yellow Wattlebird

55

Wedge-tailed Eagle

Olive Whistler

Fern Glade Track Fern Glade Track FERN TREE

FERN TREE Habitats: Rainforest Habitats: Rainforest Access: The car park on Huon Road is 150 m north (towards Access: The Huon RoadThe is 150 m north Hobart) fromcar thepark Fernon Tree Tavern. formed track(towards includes Hobart) from the Fern Tree Tavern.

The formed track includes some steep sections. Several nearby tracks in Wellington Park some steep sections.

Several nearby tracks in Wellington Park provide a range of birding opportunities. provide a range of birding opportunities.

Birds: Pink Robin; Tasmanian Scrubwren (E); Green Rosella (E) Birds: Pink Robin; Tasmanian Scrubwren (E); Green Rosella (E) Unusual sightings: Black Currawong (E); Bassian Thrush; Unusual(E); sightings: Black Currawong Scrubtit Satin Flycatcher (summer)(E); Bassian Thrush; Scrubtit (E); Satin Flycatcher (summer)

Fan-tailed Pink RobinCuckoo Fan-tailed Pink RobinCuckoo

66

Bassian Thrush Bassian Thrush

E E

Tasmanian Scrubwren Tasmanian Scrubwren

Knocklofty Reserve Summit Loop Knocklofty Reserve Summit Loop WEST HOBART

WEST HOBART Habitats: Forest Habitats: Forest Access: West Hobart access - Forest Road (car parking); Mount Access:access West –Hobart Forest(car Road (car parking); Stuart Mountaccess Stuart- Road parking); severalMount other Stuart access – Mount Stuart Road (car parking); several other foot access points from suburban streets. The formed Summit foot access points from suburban streets.

The formed Summit Loop track (3 km) includes some steep sections and is TrailRider Loop trackSeveral (3 km) includes some tracks steep are sections andinisthe TrailRider approved. other walking located area, approved.

Several other walking tracks are located in the area, some with steep, uneven sections. some with steep, uneven sections.

Birds: Green Rosella (E); Golden Whistler; Yellow Wattlebird (E) Birds: Green Rosella (E); Golden Whistler; Yellow Wattlebird (E) Unusual sightings: Dusky Woodswallow (summer); Satin Unusual sightings: Flycatcher (summer);Dusky TawnyWoodswallow Frogmouth (summer); Satin Flycatcher (summer); Tawny Frogmouth

Tawny Frogmouth Tawny Frogmouth

Golden Whistler Golden Whistler

Dusky Woodswallow Dusky Woodswallow

S S

denotes the bird is a Tasmanian endemic species. (S) denotes the bird is a mig

7

Waterworks Waterworks Reservoir Reservoir circuit circuit SOUTH SOUTH HOBART HOBART

Habitats: Habitats: Forest, Forest, woodland; woodland; waterbodies waterbodies Access: Access: Waterworks Waterworks Road Road leads leads to to the the Waterworks Waterworks Reserve Reserve which which has several car parks.

The bushland sections of the Reservoirs has several car parks. The bushland sections of the Reservoirs Circuit Circuit can can be be accessed accessed from from the the Entrance Entrance Carpark, Carpark, and and car car parks near Site #3 and Site #10.

The Reserve includes parks near Site #3 and Site #10. The Reserve includes several several formed formed tracks tracks and and some some are are wheelchair wheelchair accessible accessible and and TrailRider TrailRider approved.

Toilets. approved. Toilets.

Birds: Birds: Tasmanian Tasmanian Native-hen Native-hen (E); (E);Yellow YellowWattlebird Wattlebird (E); (E); Eurasian Eurasian Coot Coot Unusual Unusual sightings: sightings: Australian Australian Wood Wood Duck; Duck; Flame Flame Robin; Robin; Fan-tailed Cuckoo (summer) Fan-tailed Cuckoo (summer)

Flame Robin Flame Robin

8

Eurasian Coot Eurasian Coot

Australian Wood Duck Australian Wood Duck

Hobart Hobart Rivulet Rivulet Track Track SOUTH SOUTH HOBART HOBART

Habitat: Habitat: Parkland; Parkland; waterbody waterbody Access: Access: The The city city (lower, (lower, eastern) eastern) end end of of the the track track starts starts on on Molle St at Collins St in the city and follows the Hobart Molle St at Collins St in the city and follows the Hobart Rivulet Rivulet upstream upstream for for about about 3.5 3.5 km km to to the the Cascade Cascade Gardens Gardens on on Cascade Cascade Road, Road, South South Hobart Hobart (car (car parking). parking). There There are are numerous numerous other other access points to the track via suburban streets. access points to the track via suburban streets. Most Most of of the the formed formed pathway pathway isis wheelchair wheelchair accessible accessible and andTrailRider TrailRider approved. approved.

Birds: Birds: Tasmanian Tasmanian Native-hen Native-hen (E); (E); Eastern Eastern Spinebill; Spinebill; Yellow-throated Honeyeater (E); New Yellow-throated Honeyeater (E); New Holland Holland Honeyeater Honeyeater Unusual Unusual sightings: sightings: Green Green Rosella Rosella (E); (E);Yellow-tailed Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo; Black-Cockatoo; Common Bronzewing Common Bronzewing

Tasmanian Native-hen Tasmanian Native-hen

E E

New Holland Honeyeater New Holland Honeyeater

Eastern Spinebill Eastern Spinebill

Tasmanian Native-hen

99

E

New Holland Honeyeater

Eastern Spinebill

Lambert Lambert Rivulet Rivulet Track Track

SANDY BAY (LAMBERT PARK/BICENTENNIAL PARK) SANDY BAY (LAMBERT PARK/BICENTENNIAL PARK) Habitats: Woodland; forest Habitats: Woodland; forest Access: The starting point for these tracks is located on Churchill Access: The starting point for these tracks is located on Churchill Avenue, about 300m south of Nelson Road, with street parking.

Avenue, about 300m south of Nelson Road, with street parking.

Several tracks lead downstream through Lambert Park (1 km return), Several tracks lead downstream through Lambert Park (1 km return), with some steep sections and steps. A series of tracks lead upstream with some steep sections and steps. A series of tracks lead upstream into Bicentennial Park (3 km return), with some steep sections. Both into Bicentennial Park (3 km return), with some steep sections. Both sets of tracks have additional access points from nearby streets. sets of tracks have additional access points from nearby streets.

Birds: Eastern Rosella; Yellow-throated Honeyeater (E); Birds: Eastern Rosella; Yellow-throated Honeyeater (E); Forest Raven Forest Raven Unusual sightings: Grey Shrike-thrush; Green Rosella (E); Unusual sightings: Grey Shrike-thrush; Green Rosella (E); Swift Parrot (Spring/Summer) Swift Parrot (Spring/Summer)

Eastern Rosella Eastern Rosella

Yellow-throated Honeyeater E Yellow-throated Honeyeater E

Forest Raven Forest Raven

Truganini Truganini Track Track 10 10 TAROONA TAROONA Habitats: Woodland; forest Habitats: Woodland; forest Access: The track starts at the car park on the Channel Hwy Access: The track starts at the car park on the Channel Hwy about 4 km from Wrest Point Casino via Sandy Bay Road and about 4 km from Wrest Point Casino via Sandy Bay Road and climbs 350 m to the Mt Nelson carpark. The track includes climbs 350 m to the Mt Nelson carpark. The track includes some steep and uneven sections. some steep and uneven sections.

Birds: Yellow-throated Honeyeater (E); Tasmanian Scrubwren (E); Birds: Yellow-throated Honeyeater (E); Tasmanian Scrubwren (E); Superb Fairy-wren Superb Fairy-wren Unusual sightings: Grey Shrike-thrush; Dusky Robin (E); Unusual sightings: Grey Shrike-thrush; Dusky Robin (E); Beautiful Firetail Beautiful Firetail

Superb Fairy-wren Superb Fairy-wren

Grey Shrike-thrush Grey Shrike-thrush

Beautiful Firetail Beautiful Firetail

migrant from mainland Australia and occurs in Tasmania in summer only. migrant from mainland Australia and occurs in Tasmania in summer only.

Accessibility options for people with limited mobility Several of the tracks described in this brochure are accessible to people with restricted mobility. The text for each track includes information that will help to make judgements about accessibility and TR indicates whether it is TrailRider approved. The TrailRider is a purpose-built motorised wheelchair that can handle rough terrain, and the City of Hobart has one that can be booked for use on selected tracks.

For more information and bookings: hobartcity.com.au/TrailRider

The City of Hobart and BirdLife Tasmania acknowledge and recognise the Tasmanian Aboriginal peoples’ survival and continual connection with the land lutrawita spanning more than 40,000 years and acknowledge and respect Tasmanian Aboriginal people as the Traditional Custodians of the land.

Production of this brochure was supported by the City of Hobart Community Grants program. For more information about other walks in the area visit the Greater Hobart Trails website – greaterhobarttrails.com.au.

The brochure has been prepared by BirdLife Tasmania. For more information about BirdLife Tasmania or about Tasmania’s birds, visit birdlife.org.au/locations/birdlife-tasmania or email tasmania@birdlife.org.au.

Text: Andrew Walter Bird photographs: Mick Brown TrailRider photograph: City of Hobart Map: City of Hobart Design: Liz Haywood © BirdLife Tasmania 2023