Magnetic Island

Bird Watching

Magnetic Island is an ideal holiday location for bird watching with 146 native birds having been recorded on the island. These include the endangered little tern (Sterna albifrons), the vulnerable beach stone-curlew (Esacus neglectus), the rare grey goshawk (Accipiter novaehollandiae), white-rumped swiftlet (Collocalia spodiopygius), black-necked stork (Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus), sooty oystercatcher (Haematopus fuliginosus), and the eastern curlew (Numenius madagascariensis).

Bird Watching Accommodation

Summer Haze, Horseshoe Bay is a birdwatchers and naturalists paradise offering spacious self-contained two bedroom accommodation overlooking the National Park and close to bush walking tracks. If you visit the island out of season (December - March) you should find the Brolga with its beautiful red eye and head wrap, Jabiru Storks with their spectacular red legs and Magpie Geese all who are regular wet season visitors to the Horseshoe Bay lagoons.

n Listen to the haunting, eerie, sounds of the Bush Stone-curlew at night  
n Close to the Horseshoe Bay lagoons
n See Rainbow Bee-Eaters and curlews in the garden   
n Watch Wedge-tailed Eagles soar overhead 
n Don't forget to look for Dugongs and dolphins as well as Green and Flatback Turtles which are regularly seen in Horseshoe Bay.

More information about bird watching on Magnetic Island

n MI Bird Count “just wonderful”
n Bird Count finds 93 Species
n Birding on the rock
n Beach-Stone curlew discovery “Sensational”
n The Cry of the Curlew
n Magnetic allure to off-season birders