Birding in the Tropics, around Manigrida & Liverpool River System.

Text and Photos by Johnny Estbergs T/as Santrina Consultancies.

I guess many of us have that one or two simply must see birds on our list to finalise our bird watching goals. Many birdwatchers would have been in a huge range of diverse environments chasing these elusive feathered creatures in all sorts of weather. Well I can assure you, the tropics offer no less of a challenge.

There are some quite distinctive habitats such as the coastal environs with sandy beaches, or no beach. Just sandstone / siltstone or mud flats and mangroves. Also tidal rivers and estuaries. Moving inland we might strike any number of different habitats such as Monsoon Rain Forest / Vine Thickets (see examples of birds sighted), Melaleuca Swamps or Woodlands or tall Eucalypt Forests. Along the rivers are vast Black Soil Plains and at the head of these rivers the Escarpment Country. Intermittently throughout this transition from coast to upland are scattered Crater Lakes , Lagoons and Billabongs. See examples of birds sighted in lowlands, swamps and billabongs.

Now apart from habitat diversification there are a number of other factors that come in to play when bird watching in the tropics. Amongst these seasonality plays a major part. For Non –Aboriginal people it is simply Dry Season, the Build Up and then the Wet Season, where as for Aboriginal people there are six seasons which usually relate to a particular food resource at a specific time of year. (Our Aboriginal Guides can tell you all about the seasons in the Maningrida area and how they relate to Culture).

An interesting point to note here is that no two years are exactly the same in terms of these seasons. For instance you know that the “Wet” will arrive, however one can't predict exactly when, what will the duration be or just when and how much rain will fall.

You can probably infer from this that the predictability of sighting some bird species is difficult since seasonality along with rainfall, fire and cyclonic activity will have a marked influence on what birds are likely to be added to any birdwatchers list. Fire for instance shapes the tropical woodlands and that determines what plant species and grass species are likely to be in a particular habitat and this in turn influences the species of birds that can live there. There are a number of differing practices with fire management and the results can be seen around Manigrida. It is not too difficult to pick out well managed land and that which simply has had no management but is simply burnt out each year.

The amount of rain we receive will determine how long the billabongs and lagoons will hold water during the drier months which also effects bird species diversification and density. Many birds visit from the Northern Hemisphere during the “Wet Season” and are not likely to be observed outside this time. Some species are only found in the Escarpment Country. And some other birds, whilst they may be present can go undetected because they are silent during their non-breeding season, eg: The Rainbow Pitta which nests mainly in the height of the ”Wet” as do some of our Gerygones which means they can be quite a bit harder to locate during the “Dry Season”, as they appear very secretive indeed.

When you come to the Bird Week at Maningrida you will be shown the above mentioned diversity of habitats and the expert guides will endeavor to assist you with sighting those final few birds. And it won't matter if you are a beginner, we are able and willing to help you launch right into bird watching. Come to think of it, the Arnhemland Barramundi Nature Lodge caters for everyone. Even the accommodation offers variability. Should you wish to try your luck with the Barramundi, or if your other pet love is plants, or animals, we can help you there too.

The numbers of birds that may be sighted throughout a whole year are around 290 different species, that's in the Maningrida/Liverpool Region. Many are migrants, with perhaps a dozen rare vagrants boosting numbers in a particular season. There is a small number of birds that are significant for the area. See Birds of Significance.

Whilst the main density of migrating birds, specifically waders and seabirds occurs during our “Wet Season”, sightings of these birds occur throughout the year along the coast, tidal estuaries and offshore islands of Arnhemland. See Coastal & Migratory Bird Photos.

So if you have any questions, just call Roger and he will put your mind at ease. When you arrive at Maningrida the guides and staff at the lodge will do the rest. It is all about you sighting the birds you've come to see and enjoying the company and time of like-minded persons.