Australia

Southern Cassowary - Steve Robertson

Note: This trip has only two spots left - sign up now!

Like no other place else on Earth, Australia is unique unto itself. Join Portland Audubon and explore some of the finest regions the island-continent has to offer. This trip is designed to thrill the avid birder and novice naturalist alike, and to give everyone a well-rounded, first-hand experience of natural Australia.

We are also offering an optional trip extension to Tasmania from Nov. 19-24, 2013.

Destinations and Birds

The trip begins in the coastal town of Cairns, where we’ll bird the Queensland Coast and the Atherton Tablelands, world-renowned for its avian diversity. We’ll be on the lookout for species such as the Scarlet Honeyeater, Laughing Kookaburra and the Lovely Fairy Wren as we traverse the countryside with our local guide. We’ll visit the Mareeba Wetlands and look for Royal Spoonbills, Black Swans and the Great Crested Grebe.

We will spend two nights at Kingfisher Lodge, famous for the stunning Buff-breasted Paradise Kingfisher, and we’ll no doubt find the massive Australian Bustard as we bird the nearby scrubland. En route back to Cairns, we’ll have the magical experience of birding the Daintree River by boat at dawn. Within the first week, you will have explored the jungles, wetlands, and dry scrublands of this unique region in search of the more than 150 birds we hope to see. Along the way, we will do our best to add Brolga and Sarus Cranes to our list, as well as the elegant Red-tailed Black Cockatoo and the very rare Southern Cassowary.

But this is more than just a birding trip. You will also experience the most incredible coral reef ecosystem in the world, the Great Barrier Reef.  We will spend three days and two nights on the reef, on a certified live-aboard dive boat, complete with private sleeping berths and a full galley. We will snorkel several of the finest reefs (you may scuba dive if desired), where Sea Turtles, Giant Clams and a myriad of reef fish abound. 

We’ll also find time to peruse the cosmopolitan town of Cairns, shop for souvenirs in the charming village of Kuranda, and see incredible Flying Fox Bats up-close and personal when we go behind the scenes at a local bat rehab center. We'll end our trip with two nights in the beautiful city of Sydney, where we’ll bird the Botanical Garden on our way to see the famous Sydney Opera House and the Harbor Bridge. We’ll also enrich our Australian experience with a tour of the wonderful Australian Museum, which has fascinating exhibits on both the cultural and natural history of the land down-under.

Register

A deposit of $2,000 secures your place for this trip. If you have questions or would like to sign up for the trip, please contact Portland Audubon Adult Education Manager Steve Engel at 971-222-6119 or sengel@audubonportland.org.

Register: Contact Steve Engel at at 971-222-6119 or sengel@audubonportland.org.
Ground fee:* $3,995 member; $4,295 non-member
Deposit: $2,000
Group size: 14 participants
Trip leaders: Steve Robertson, Education Director; Mike Houck, Director, Urban Greenspaces Institute; and local guides.

Trip Extension - Tasmania! | Nov. 19-24, 2013

One of the most beautiful places on the planet, Tasmania is simply unforgettable. We'll fly into Hobart, and then it’s off to Bruny Island, where, with a little luck, we'll spot the island’s 12 endemic species of birds, including the Forty-spotted Pardalote. We will also see the charming Little Penguins, “Fairies” as they are called there, as they come up onto the beach at dusk.

We will then head north to Mole Creek, a region known as a stronghold for both the Duck-billed Platypus and the Tasmanian Devil. Then it's up to the World Heritage Area of Cradle Mountain, where you'll have time to hike and explore the area before we head to Hobart to dine on the  waterfront of this wonderfully quaint city.

This extension is likely to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience… But who knows, Tasmania's charms could lure you back again and again.

A deposit of $1,000 secures your place on the trip. Please call Steve Robertson at 503-292-6855  x118 if you are interested or have further questions.

Dates: Nov. 19-24, 2013
Ground fee:* $1, 795 member; $2,045 non-member
Deposit: $1,000   
Capacity: Maximum 14 participants
Trip leaders: Steve Robertson and Mike Houck

*Fee for the Australia and Tasmania trip includes: all ground transportation in Australia, lodging, excursions (including dive boat), all meals except dinners, fees for local guides, park fees, tips to local guides, local fares and taxes and the services of the Audubon trip leaders. Trip fee does NOT include cost of airfare, to, from or within Australia, or tips at meals (which are always optional).