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Description
Rottnest Island is one of Perth's premier birding destinations, comprising a wide variety of habitats incuding spectacular coastal cliffs; in particular at West End.
Red-necked Avocet and Banded Stilt in good numbers are regularly seen and significant numbers of trans-equatorial migratory shorebirds visit over summer. Recently Red-tailed Tropicbird has bred on the Island and Red-necked Phalarope is an occasional vagrant.
From the WA Birdlife Rottnest birding guide - see link: "Rottnest Island is located 18 km west of the West Australian coast. It is the largest in a chain of islands and reefs on the continental shelf near Perth. It is about 10.5 km long and 4.5 km at the widest point with an area of approximately 1900 ha. A unique feature of the island is a series of lakes that occupy about 200 ha of the land surface.
In summer the salinity levels of some of these lakes are four times that of the surrounding ocean. The island is an A Class Reserve for Public Recreation under the control of the Rottnest Island Authority and the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
The original vegetation of the island consisted offorests of Tea Tree Melaleuca lanceolata, Wattle Acacia rostellifera and Rottnest Island Pine Callitris preissii interspersed with open heath and rush. This original forest now covers less than 10% of the island but a program of reforestation is recovering large tracts of land lost to clearing, fire and erosion.
Bird watching on Rottnest Island is always a small adventure, and it can spring surprises with the sighting of a bird rarely seen anywhere else, or the experience of encountering a species that is common elsewhere but never before been recorded on the island. The Willie Wagtail, Grey Butcherbird and Brush Bronzewing all occur on nearby Garden Island but only as vagrants on Rottnest. Several seabird species breed regularly on the island.
The history of the birdlife of Rottnest Island is by no means complete, and all observations are useful contributions to the ongoing story of the birds".
Details
Access
Rottnest Island is accesible via public ferry services or private vessel. Press P on the map to access Google mapping to the B shed Fremantle wharves ferry terminal.
Terrain and Habitat
Wetland , Canyon/cliff , Sea , Dunes , Scattered trees and bushes , LakeConditions
Flat , Hilly , Rocky , SandyCircular trail
YesIs a telescope useful?
Can be usefulGood birding season
All year roundBest time to visit
Spring , SummerRoute
Wide path , Paved roadDifficulty walking trail
EasyAccessible by
Foot , Bicycle , BoatBirdwatching hide / platform
NoExtra info
The short Garden Lake walk described here is just a tiny fraction of Rottnest Island birding possibilities. Refer to the Birdlife WA guide and to expansion of the site map to discover myriad other opportunities.
Spectacular West End (with its' nearby New Zealand Fur Seal colony) should not be missed. A telescope would be useful if sea-watching here.
Getting around: walking will allow visitors to easily reach the main lakes systems. Bicycles can be rented or brought across on the ferry. A 'hop on, jump off, hop back on' bus service does regular loops of the island including to West End.
Note that if arriving by private vessel, mooring/landing fees will be payable.
Links
- Rottnest Island is an eBird hotspot.
- Birdlife WA 'downloadable' birding locations guides.
- Bird Spots RI blog.
- Rottnest Island ferry services.
- Rottnest Island tourist information.
- Getting around on Rottnest.