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===Areas of Interest=== | ===Areas of Interest=== | ||
| − | + | The entire site has something of interest to visiting birders. Access is via the Pickford Road which branches off from the main highway. The entrance road itself can produce great birds. Check ploughed fields for Plovers (including Oriental) and Pratincoles; water channels for Herons, Ibises and Crakes; and grassy paddocks for Bustards. Scan the air and exposed branches for Birds of Prey; the dry bush along this entrance road, both before and after the entrance sign can hold good numbers of dry country birds. Birders should be prepared to stop regularly and scan the surroundings. | |
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| + | At the end of the road is the largest of the lakes on the reserve. The lake itself can be scanned for a good variety of water birds. The surrounding bush here and along the adjoining trails can also be very productive. It is possible to book a boat trip around the lake, which enables closer views of parts of the lake that would otherwise not be accessible. There is also the opportunity to book a vehicle tour of the reserve that takes in remoter parts of the reserve including other wetland areas. | ||
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===Access and Facilities=== | ===Access and Facilities=== | ||
''To do'' | ''To do'' | ||
Revision as of 05:49, 20 September 2015
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Overview
This popular birding destination is located near the township of Mareeba, hence the name. Here, visiting birders can experience a good range of dry country species within easy reach of Cairns. This site also has extensive wetlands, further enhancing its birding appeal. A number of species can be viewed here more easily than other sites, such as the scarce local race of the Brown Treecreeper.
since its creation, the site has become one of the most important roost sites for Brolga and Sarus Crane.
There is an ongoing reintroduction programme for the Gouldian Finch.
Birds
Notable Species
Species regularly seen here include Emu, Brown Quail, King Quail, Black Swan, Magpie Goose, Cotton Pygmy Goose, Green Pygmy Goose, Hardhead, Pacific Black Duck, Australasian Grebe, Australian Darter, Little Black Cormorant, Little Pied Cormorant, Black-necked Stork, Australian Pelican, White-necked Heron, White-faced Heron, Glossy Ibis, Royal Spoonbill, Black-shouldered Kite, Whistling Kite, Black-breasted Buzzard, Brown Goshawk, Spotted Harrier, Brown Falcon, Nankeen Kestrel, Australian Hobby, Sarus Crane, Brolga, Pale-vented Bush-hen, Dusky Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Australian Bustard, Australian Pratincole, Whiskered Tern, Bar-shouldered Dove, Squatter Pigeon, Crested Pigeon, Red-tailed Black Cockatoo, Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, Red-winged Parrot, Pale-headed Rosella, Brush Cuckoo, Horsfield's Bronze Cuckoo, Pheasant Coucal, Blue-winged Kookaburra, Forest Kingfisher, Rainbow Bee-eater, Dollarbird, Brown Treecreeper, Red-backed Fairywren, Little Friarbird, Noisy Friarbird, Blue-faced Honeyeater, Brown-backed Honeyeater, Scarlet Honeyeater, Grey-crowned Babbler, Varied Sittella, Rufous Whistler, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, White-winged Triller, Olive-backed Oriole, White-breasted Woodswallow, Australian Magpie, Spangled Drongo, Torresian Crow, Double-barred Finch, Black-throated Finch, Gouldian Finch, Mistletoebird, Welcome Swallow, Tawny Grassbird and Golden-headed Cisticola.
Rarities
To do
Check-list
Birds you can see here include:
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Other Wildlife
To do
Site Information
History and Use
Mareeba Wetlands is a 5000 acre reserve established by the Mareeba Wetland Foundation (now known as the Wildlife Conservancy of Tropical Queensland) during the late 90s. The site was recognised as having significant conservation value and to this was added the creation of a gravity fed series of wetlands. The site opened to the public in 1999.
The Muluridji people were granted native title over the reserve in December 2011 and intend to work with the Conservancy to ensure that biodiversity conservation and the visitor experience are maintained and enhanced.
A number of conservation initiatives are currently underway. These include Brolga and Sarus Crane research, Gouldian Finch reintroduction, and various wildlife monitoring projects.
The reserve is staffed mostly by volunteers, who participate in the upkeep and enhancement of the reserve.
Areas of Interest
The entire site has something of interest to visiting birders. Access is via the Pickford Road which branches off from the main highway. The entrance road itself can produce great birds. Check ploughed fields for Plovers (including Oriental) and Pratincoles; water channels for Herons, Ibises and Crakes; and grassy paddocks for Bustards. Scan the air and exposed branches for Birds of Prey; the dry bush along this entrance road, both before and after the entrance sign can hold good numbers of dry country birds. Birders should be prepared to stop regularly and scan the surroundings.
At the end of the road is the largest of the lakes on the reserve. The lake itself can be scanned for a good variety of water birds. The surrounding bush here and along the adjoining trails can also be very productive. It is possible to book a boat trip around the lake, which enables closer views of parts of the lake that would otherwise not be accessible. There is also the opportunity to book a vehicle tour of the reserve that takes in remoter parts of the reserve including other wetland areas.
Access and Facilities
To do
Contact Details
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External Links
To do
