Are you looking for Brisbane birds? Is your house the home of Brisbane’s biggest bird fan? Are your kids more often found looking up into trees rather than down at screens? We’ve compiled a list of cool places for Brisbane kids who love birds! All of our recommendations can be found in the greater Brisbane area but if you’re willing to travel as the crow flies there are always more spots to be found.
Be amazed, engaged and excited about learning about the role our feathered friends play in our ecosystem alongside your children. Shake a tail feather and read on to find out more about our beautiful Brisbane birds and where to find them!
Bird Watching for Kids
Get those eagle eyes ready! While you can watch for birds anywhere in Queensland, there are specific spots where your kids can really make the most of their spotting time for Brisbane birds. To ensure maximum comfort take plenty of water and insect repellent to any of these venues. We crafted an overview of the six most popular bird-watching spots in Brisbane a while ago. Here’s a birds-eye view of the best of the rest spots around town:
Inner City Bird Watching
Roma Street Parkland. Albert Street, Brisbane City. Look for Australasian Figbird, Bush Stone-Curlew, Blue-Faced Honeyeater, Superb Fairy-Wren.
North Brisbane Bird Watching
Boondall Wetlands. Paperbark Drive, Boondall.
Look for Pied Cormorant, Leaden Flycatcher.
Nudgee Beach and Boardwalk. O’Quinn St, Nudgee Beach.
Look for Collared Kingfisher, Mangrove Gerygone, Brown Honeyeater, White-faced Heron, Striated Heron, Whimbrel, Bar-tailed Godwit, Brahminy Kite, Rainbow Bee-eater, Eastern Curlew, Mangrove Honeyeater, Eastern Osprey, Gull-bulled Tern, Pacific Golden Plover, Rainbow Bee-eater.
Nudgee Waterhole Reserve. Nudgee Rd, Nudgee.
Look for Dusky Moorhen, Australasian Grebe, Eurasian Coot, Hardhead, Buff-banded Rail, Cicadabird.
Dowse Lagoon. Second Lagoon Reserve, Brighton St, Sandgate.
Look for Australasian Grebe, Little Black and Great Cormorants, Spotted Dove, Hardhead, Intermediate Egret, Eurasian Coot, Grey Teal, Little Corella, Blue-faced Honeyeater, Latham’s Snipe, Wandering Whistling Duck, Whiskered Tern, Glossy Ibis, Freckled Duck, Cotton Pygmy-goose, Nankeen Night-heron.
Third Lagoon Reserve and Deagon Wetlands. Baskerville St, Brighton or Bracken Ridge Rd, Sandgate.
Look for Red-backed Fairy Wren, Magpie Goose, Brown Goshawk, Australasian Shoveler, Freckled Duck, Hoary-headed Grebe.
Pelican Feeding, Clontarf
Every morning at 10am, the volunteers at Redcliffe Visitor Information Centre bring out a bucket of fresh fish to feed the local pelican population. The pelicans are completely wild, so somewhat unpredictable, but they often gather an hour in advance in anticipation of their breakfast. You are welcome to observe the feeding and play in the aptly named ‘Pelican park’ afterwards. You can find the park at Pelican Park, 101 Hornibrook Esplanade, Clontarf and it is suggested that you call the Visitors Information Centre to ensure the pelicans are home for their breakfast on the day you plan on going: 1800 659 500
South Brisbane Bird Watching
Mt Ommaney Boardwalk. Summit Place, Mt Ommaney.
Look for Little Shrike-thrush, Pheasant Coucal, Dollarbird, Pacific Baza.
Fort Rd Bushland. Fort Rd, Oxley.
Look for Noisy Friarbird, Spangled Drongo, Yellow-faced and Scarlett Honeyeaters, Mistletoebird, Cicadabird.
Sherwood Forest Park. Jolimont St, Sherwood.
Look for Australasian Figbird, Little Pied Cormorant, Intermediate Egret, Blue-faced Honeyeater, Little Friarbird, White-headed Pigeon, Spotless and Baillon’s Crakes, Australian Reed-Warbler.
Cliveden Ave Reserve. Cliveden, Corina.
Look for Eastern Koel, Sacred Kingfisher, Spangled Drongo, Black-faced Cuckoo shrike, Brown Goshawk, White-throated Honeyeater.
East Brisbane Bird Watching
Your best bets to see Brisbane birds are…
Sandy Camp Park. Sandy Camp Rd, Lytton.
Port of Brisbane Lake. Whimbrel St. Port of Brisbane.
Bird hide at the Lucinda Drive high tide wader roost. Get the key from the Port of Brisbane Visitor Centre.
West Brisbane Bird Watching
Your best bets to see Brisbane birds are…
Enoggera Reservoir – Araucaria Walk. National Parks Information Centre. Walkabout Creek, Waterworks Rd / Mt Nebo Rd. The Gap.
D’Aguilar National Park – Maiala.Mt Glorious Rd, Mt Glorious.
Anstead Bushland Reserve. Hawkesbury Rd, Anstead.
Pelican feeding on the Gold Coast
If you are keen to travel a little further, you can see pelican feeding on the Cold Coast. Pelican feeding occurs at daily from Charis Seafood on Broadwater, Labrador. The pelicans begin gathering en masse from around 12 noon in anticipation of the fishy feast. You can swim with the pelicans in Ian Dipple Lagoon while you both wait for the feeding frenzy to begin. Read our pelican feeding on the Gold Coast article to find out all the details including what to feed them to keep them healthy.
Feeding Ducks
If you are keen to learn more about feeding water birds, check out our article which outlines what you should and should not feed ducks!
Kids Identification Guide
Try using this downloadable bird identification guide to enhance your bird-spotting experience! Pack a picnic and make this an outdoor family adventure to remember.
This article was featured in Issue 56 of our printed magazine on 1 March 2023.
