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'''Mammals:''' [[Spectacled Flying Foxes]] can commonly be seen roosting in the city centre near the public library and over the city at dusk despite the seemingly relentless officially sanctioned attempts to get them to abandon this colony. [[Long-nosed Bandicoots]] may occasionally be seen crossing roads at night. [[Agile Wallabies]] are commonly seen, often in large numbers in large areas of open ground between housing developments, especially near the northern beach suburbs. [[Striped Possum]] can be seen at night along the boardwalk at Centennial Lakes. This species also occurs in the northern beach suburbs. Other mammals that occur in Cairns include [[White-tailed Rat]], [[Bush Rat]], [[Northern Quoll]], [[Northern Free-tailed Bat]], [[Northern Mastiff Bat]], and [[Musky Rat Kangaroo]]. | '''Mammals:''' [[Spectacled Flying Foxes]] can commonly be seen roosting in the city centre near the public library and over the city at dusk despite the seemingly relentless officially sanctioned attempts to get them to abandon this colony. [[Long-nosed Bandicoots]] may occasionally be seen crossing roads at night. [[Agile Wallabies]] are commonly seen, often in large numbers in large areas of open ground between housing developments, especially near the northern beach suburbs. [[Striped Possum]] can be seen at night along the boardwalk at Centennial Lakes. This species also occurs in the northern beach suburbs. Other mammals that occur in Cairns include [[White-tailed Rat]], [[Bush Rat]], [[Northern Quoll]], [[Northern Free-tailed Bat]], [[Northern Mastiff Bat]], and [[Musky Rat Kangaroo]]. | ||
| − | '''Reptiles:''' A number of species of reptiles can be found in Cairns itself. These include [[Coastal Taipan]], [[Red-bellied Black Snake]], [[Brown Tree Snake]], [[Green Tree Snake]], [[Amethystine Python]], [[Olive Python]], [[Boyd's Forest Dragon]], [[Lace Monitor]] and numerous species of Skink including [[Pink-tongued Skink]] and [[Rainbow Skink]]. [[Krefft's Tortoise]] is easily observed at Centennial Lakes. | + | '''Reptiles:''' A number of species of reptiles can be found in Cairns itself. These include [[Coastal Taipan]], [[Red-bellied Black Snake]], [[Brown Tree Snake]], [[Green Tree Snake]], [[Amethystine Python]], [[Olive Python]], [[Boyd's Forest Dragon]], [[Lace Monitor]], introduced [[Asian House Gecko]], [[Mourning Gecko]], [[Dubious Dtella]], [[Northern Leaf-tailed Gecko]] and numerous species of Skink including [[Pink-tongued Skink]] and [[Rainbow Skink]]. [[Krefft's Tortoise]] is easily observed at Centennial Lakes. |
'''Amphibians:''' A number of frog species occur within the city. These include [[Green Tree Frog]], [[White-lipped Tree Frog]], [[Graceful Tree Frog]], [[Striped Marsh Frog]], [[Northern Sedge Frog]], [[Eastern Sedge Frog]], [[Little Red Tree Frog]], [[Northern Wood Frog]], [[Ornate Burrowing Frog]] and introduced [[Cane Toads]]. | '''Amphibians:''' A number of frog species occur within the city. These include [[Green Tree Frog]], [[White-lipped Tree Frog]], [[Graceful Tree Frog]], [[Striped Marsh Frog]], [[Northern Sedge Frog]], [[Eastern Sedge Frog]], [[Little Red Tree Frog]], [[Northern Wood Frog]], [[Ornate Burrowing Frog]] and introduced [[Cane Toads]]. | ||
Revision as of 09:30, 29 August 2015
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Overview
Cairns is a city of about 140,000 people situated in the far north of Queensland in an area known as the Wet Tropics. It is one of the most popular destinations in Australia for visiting birders from all over the world due to the diversity of the local birdlife and several localised endemic species. A host of other wildlife can also be found in the region. Cairns has a tropical climate with the wet season falling in the summer months from about December to April. Whilst the height of the tourist season is in the drier winter months, great birding can be had at any time of the year. Cairns has a number of important sites within the city limits where one can see a variety of birds. Also the city is used as a base from which birders can explore the surrounding region and its numerous birding locations.
Birds
Notable Species
Typical urban birds in Cairns include the following: Straw-necked Ibis, Australian White Ibis, Black Kite, Brown Goshawk, Australian Hobby, Buff-banded Rail, Bush Stone Curlew, Masked Lapwing, Spotted Turtle-Dove, Peaceful Dove, Pied Imperial-Pigeon (mostly in summer), Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Rainbow Lorikeet, Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, Double-eyed Fig Parrot, Little Bronze-Cuckoo, Australian Swiftlet, Laughing Kookaburra, Sacred Kingfisher (mostly in winter), Rainbow Bee-eater, Helmeted Friarbird, Yellow Honeyeater, White-throated Honeyeater, Brown Honeyeater, Willie Wagtail, White-bellied Cuckooshrike, Varied Triller, Australasian Figbird, White-breasted Woodswallow, Black Butcherbird, Magpie Lark, Scaly-breasted Munia, Olive-backed Sunbird, Mistletoebird, Welcome Swallow, Metallic Starling, and Common Myna. In addition there are a number of other species that can be seen at more specific locations around the city.
Rarities
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Check-list
Birds you can see here include:
To do
Other Wildlife
Mammals: Spectacled Flying Foxes can commonly be seen roosting in the city centre near the public library and over the city at dusk despite the seemingly relentless officially sanctioned attempts to get them to abandon this colony. Long-nosed Bandicoots may occasionally be seen crossing roads at night. Agile Wallabies are commonly seen, often in large numbers in large areas of open ground between housing developments, especially near the northern beach suburbs. Striped Possum can be seen at night along the boardwalk at Centennial Lakes. This species also occurs in the northern beach suburbs. Other mammals that occur in Cairns include White-tailed Rat, Bush Rat, Northern Quoll, Northern Free-tailed Bat, Northern Mastiff Bat, and Musky Rat Kangaroo.
Reptiles: A number of species of reptiles can be found in Cairns itself. These include Coastal Taipan, Red-bellied Black Snake, Brown Tree Snake, Green Tree Snake, Amethystine Python, Olive Python, Boyd's Forest Dragon, Lace Monitor, introduced Asian House Gecko, Mourning Gecko, Dubious Dtella, Northern Leaf-tailed Gecko and numerous species of Skink including Pink-tongued Skink and Rainbow Skink. Krefft's Tortoise is easily observed at Centennial Lakes.
Amphibians: A number of frog species occur within the city. These include Green Tree Frog, White-lipped Tree Frog, Graceful Tree Frog, Striped Marsh Frog, Northern Sedge Frog, Eastern Sedge Frog, Little Red Tree Frog, Northern Wood Frog, Ornate Burrowing Frog and introduced Cane Toads.
Site Information
History and Use
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Areas of Interest
The Esplanade that makes up the Cairns waterfront is predominantly mudflats bordered by an extensive stand of mangroves at the northern end near the airport and numerous large trees in a park-like setting immediately inshore. On a rising tide, birders can see, often at close quarters, a variety of waders, terns and herons as well as many other species here and in the surrounding trees.
Centennial Lakes is located between Collins Avenue and Greenslopes Street immediately to the north-west of the Cairns Business District (CBD) in the suburb of Edge Hill. It consists of a Freshwater Lake and a Saltwater Lake, divided by a brackish creek fringed by mangroves. Surrounding the Lakes is the largest remaining area of palm and paperbark swamp left in Cairns. There is also an area of littoral rainforest, and much more extensive tropical rainforest immediately to the north of Collins Avenue. Part of the area also consists of exotic plants including large trees, maintained by the adjoining Botanical Gardens. There is an impressive variety of habitats in a small area here and one can expect to see a large variety of rainforest species as well as some mangrove specialities and a variety of waterbirds on the Lakes themselves.
Access and Facilities
Cairns has an airport with direct links to 18 international destinations and 30 domestic destinations. The city itself is geared for tourism and has a variety of accommodation from big hotel chains to backpackers and campsites to suit every budget. There are numerous cafes and restaurants in the CBD, along the Esplanade and in the main suburbs. Various tour operators are based in Cairns offering trips to the Atherton Tablelands, the Great Barrier Reef and numerous other locations in the region.
Contact Details
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External Links
