Rottnest Island | Bird Watching

Q: What other wildlife will I see at Rottnest Island?

You can expect to see quokkas , birdlife, long-nosed fur seals, bottlenose dolphins and Australian sea lions throughout the year. Warmer months increase sightings of reptiles, then during winter various frog species repopulate around the wetlands. From August until December, you may even spot whales migrating through the waters around the island.

A BUSTLING HAVEN FOR BIRDLIFE

Wadjemup / Rottnest Island is home to many different species of birds, or djerap in Noongar. In fact, the island is listed as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA). Approximately 50 identified bird species call the island home, filling the land, sea and skies with feathered flashes and distinct twittering sounds all year long.

Whether you visit during the cool, calm winter months, or the vibrant and balmy season of summer, Wadjemup remains a haven for resident and migratory birds that come in all shapes, sizes and colourings. The unique habitats that span across the island are essential to supporting this birdlife, offering abundant bird sighting opportunities for those willing to watch and wait.

Observe from Afar

Please be mindful of maintaining a safe habitat for birds by always keeping your distance. It's also important to stay on the tracks and avoid following birds in the pursuit of a closer look. Look out for signage indicating sensitive nesting areas.

Crested Tern

Eastern Reef Egret

Black Winged Stilt

BITE-SIZED FACTS ABOUT ISLAND BIRDLIFE

Only site in WA for fairy tern nesting

Home to over 1% of the world’s population of banded stilts

Australian pied oystercatchers pair for life and are very diligent parents

Adult ospreys return to their hatching sites (like turtles!)

BIRD WATCHING AROUND WADJEMUP

The island boasts a range of protected habitats that shelter and sustain local bird species, including balyan boodja (wetlands), boorn boodja (woodlands), ngobar djooraly (scrub heath), and ngobar (coastal) areas. Take yourself and your fellow explorers on a self-guided hike following the trails of the Wadjemup Bidi around these unique habitats and bird watch at your own pace.

Wetlands: This area offers frequent sightings of Australian shelducks, bridled and crested terns, waders, and red-necked phalarope. Visit during June, July and August when the waters teem with revitalised winter birdlife.

Woodlands: Amongst the dense canopy lives a variety of bush birds. Look out for darting glimpses of the red-capped robin and listen out for the sweet songs of silvereyes and singing honeyeaters, species which are common year-round. During the warmer months of spring and summer, stay alert for the vivid hues of rainbow bee-eaters and sacred kingfishers in the native foliage.

Scrub heath: As one of the major habitats on the island, many birds flock here for food and dense cover, including the white-fronted chat and white-browed scrubwren. If hiking the trails, you may come face-to-face with a common pheasant darting through the heath. Look above for sightings of the nankeen kestrel hovering in the sky.

Coastline: The captivating cliffs, wind-swept sand dunes and surrounding waters host various seabirds and coastal dwellers. Wedge-tailed shearwaters and the impressive eastern osprey are welcome sightings here, as are waders, cormorants and terns. Exploring the West End from late winter (August) through spring offers opportunities to spot most coastal-dwelling species, many of which arrive for breeding upon the return of warmer weather.

LEARN THE NOONGAR NAMES

Birin-birin
Rainbow bee-eater

Monop-mart
Bridled tern

Ngalkaniny
Nankeen kestrel

Nyimarak
Australian shelduck

Australian Pied Cormorants

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Tour

The Hike Collective

Experience some of the best walking trails Rottnest Island has to offer with The Hike Collective’s guided tours.

Tour

Capture the Light Photography Tours

Take a photographic tour of the wondrous Wadjemup / Rottnest Island and return home with photos to match.

Tour

Rottnest Volunteer Guides Walking Tours

Be intrigued by stories of the past and discover more about Wadjemup / Rottnest Island on a free guided walking tour.

Tour

Laura the Explorer Bike Tours

Discover the wonders of Rottnest Island with Laura the Explorer Bike Tours.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Birdlife can be spotted throughout the year, however the winter months of June, July, and August mark the period when birdlife, particularly around the wetlands, is most abundant. The wetlands are a short hike or cycle from the main settlement, then it’s up to you to determine how much of these salt lake systems you want to cover.

Up to 50 identified bird species call the island home. Across the main habitats, you can spot soaring seabirds, swooping raptors, water-dwelling ducks, waders and stilts, darting woodland birds and common Australian species such as ravens, magpies and silver gulls.

The iconic eastern osprey soars over the West End and the southern coastline of the island. At West End, you can find ospreys nesting in large stacks at Salmon Point, Fish Hook Bay and Narrow Neck, which are used as roosting platforms throughout the year. Mary Cove on the southern side is also home to some smaller stacks.

Osprey nests are commonly referred to as osprey stacks, which comprise of interwoven sticks and debris piled high on limestone stacks. Osprey use the same nest for many years and add a little more each time they return. The largest stacks on the island are known to be at least 70 years old and can be seen at Salmon Point and Fish Hook Bay. Smaller stacks can also be found at Mary Cove and dotted around other island locations.

You can expect to see quokkas, birdlife, long-nosed fur seals, bottlenose dolphins and Australian sea lions throughout the year. Warmer months increase sightings of reptiles, then during winter various frog species repopulate around the wetlands. From August until December, you may even spot whales migrating through the waters around the island.