| If birdwatching is your passion then don't miss the Nyleta Wetlands Bird Hide on the Atherton Tableland in Tropical North Queensland. Actually, just sitting and enjoying the view and serenity of the spot is also pretty special.
Queensland Heritage Trails Network contributed $172,500 in partnership with Atherton Shire Council and Birds Australia, to construct this stunning environmentally friendly bird hide.
At the hide, 3km from Atherton, you may be lucky enough to spot some of Australia's most elusive migratory birds in the wild. The two-storey hide is perched overlooking the wetlands, known by the local Yidinji people as "where the waters meet", within the 56 hectare Nyleta Wetlands National Park.
More than 220 species of birds have been recorded at the hide including large numbers of Whistling Ducks, Magpie Geese and Sarus Cranes. Of the 657 bird species in Australia which can be viewed from dry land, 497 (76 per cent) can be seen in Tropical North Queensland. Remarkably, 247 of these have been seen in 24 hours within 45km of Lake Tinaroo on the Atherton Tableland.
Built on stilts, the two-storey elevated hide offers visitors uninterrupted views over the open swamp water and roosting areas. A track has been built around the swamp's southern end while a nature walk winds its way through Blue Gum and Swamp Mahogany forest. The hide has wheelchair access and can accommodate tourists and school groups. Signage helps visitors identify local birds and their habitat. The Aboriginal and European use of the swamp is explained as well as the art of bird watching. |
