Birding is a great hobby for grey nomads on the Big Lap. PIC: BirdLife Australia
Australia boasts some of the most spectacular, iconic and beloved birds in the world, and there is no better place to enjoy them than when you’re kicking back around the campfire or exploring off-the-beaten track beauty spots.
If you’re not already hopelessly devoted to our feathered friends, here are seven reasons why grabbing a pair of binoculars is a must-do for every grey nomad in 2021:
- Birds are everywhere, literally. You can watch Albatrosses from a cruise ship, Magpies while changing a tyre 50k’s west of Cocklebiddy and even Cassowaries at the (Mission) beach.
- There is a catch! Not every bird can be found everywhere. If you want to see all 900- odd of Australia’s birds, you will end up with a wonderful itinerary for your trip that will take you to every corner of the country.
- Australia’s hidden beauty. Birds love beautiful places and many species can be found only in our most special places, like Key Biodiversity Areas, which also make fabulous places to while away the days.
- Savoir vivre. Birding is utterly compatible with enjoying life. Birds love botanic gardens, wineries, beaches and lakes just as much as we do.
- Birds of a feather… Whether you’re yarning with fellow campers about whipbirds at Cheynes Beach or you’re sharing the excitement of watching a Great Egret fish at Kakadu with your grandkids, birds have the power to connect people.
- It’s easy. All you need is a pair of binoculars and a field guide or bird ID app (complete with bird calls). If you are more into photography then you will great support and an online repository for your best shots on the birdlife photography website.
- Giving back. Speaking to grey nomads, one thing comes up almost every time: a gratefulness for our amazing natural world and a desire to give back. As a grey nomad you get to places that most of us can only dream of. Birding beginner or old hand, by recording the birds you hear and see on your trip using the free birdata app you will help BirdLife Australia save birds.
So, what are you waiting for? Put the ‘Gone Birding’ sign on the door and Flock to it!
- Are you a twitcher? Email us here to share why it’s such a great hobby for grey nomads, and perhaps recall your biggest birdwatching ‘buzz’.
