Birdwatching

Eden and its surrounding areas are home to a huge variety of birdlife, from birds that live on our oceans and waterways, to birds that call the local bush and woodlands home. Here is a small selection of local birdwatching areas:

Lake Curalo
Eden’s lake is classified as an ICOLL – intermittently closed and open lake and lagoon. It provides a fabulous mixture of habitat for birdlife including marshlands, mudflats, and woodlands where over 170 species have been observed. Follow the series of interpretive birdlife signage around the lake as you spot Curlews, Wrens, Spoonbills and Kingfishers.

Pelagic Birdlife
Twofold Bay and the coastline off Eden are teeming with pelagic birdlife including Petrels, Albatross, and Sea Eagles. The migration of Shearwaters (Muttonbirds) past Eden to and from the Bering Sea (between Russia and Alaska) numbers in the millions and is one of the longest migrations of any bird. Groups take advantage of Freedom Charters for private birdwatching charters, or birdwatchers hop aboard Cat Balou Cruises for their Wildlife Cruises to get out on the water.

Beowa National Park
This coastal national park is split into the northern section and the southern section and has been identified by Birdlife International as an Important Bird Area (IBA) because of its importance for Swift Parrots. More than 210 species have been recorded within the park including the Eastern Ground Parrot and endangered Eastern Bristlebird in heathland areas, and the Little Tern that breeds in the sand dunes and beaches. Further general information on the national park can be found here.

Panboola
A short 15 minute drive north will take you to the neighbouring village of Pambula where an 82 hectare area of floodplain is maintained by a dedicated group of volunteers to provide an area of nature conservation. The property includes fresh water billabongs, saline areas, saltmarsh, and mangroves heading from the outskirts of the village itself out towards the edges of Pambula Rivermouth. A system of walking tracks (also suitable for bicycles) trails throughout Panboola passing historic points, information panels and bird watching areas. Over 160 species have been recorded here including the elusive Southern Emu Wren. Visit Panboola’s website here for more information and view the map of the area here.

Local organisation, Far South Coast Birdwatchers Inc. run regular field trips to areas within the Bega Valley Shire, offering membership and an excellent publication – ‘Looking at Birds’ which can be purchased at the Eden Visitor Information Centre and via our online store here.

For more information, visit their website here.

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