Adelaide Shorebirds Festival 4-30 November 2017
To celebrate the Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary National Park – Winaityinaityi Pangkara being Park of the Month for November, the Adelaide Shorebirds Festival will be held throughout the month at various locations within the park.
The Adelaide Shorebirds Festival is on again this year, with events being held throughout November to celebrate the return of our wonderful migratory birds.
Ranger walks, bird-spotting workshops, a film night and cruises on board the Dolphin Explorer are all part of this year’s festival program, which kicks off on Saturday 4 November and includes many free events.
Every year, thousands of birds return to Adelaide from breeding in the Arctic circle to feed and fatten up. The mudflats and samphire fields of the 60-kilometre of coastline between Port Adelaide and the upper Gulf St Vincent provide a rich diet for these shorebirds, an essential link in their global migratory journey.
The recently declared Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary National Park (Winaityinaityi Pangkara) will be South Australia’s Park of the Month for November, providing a great opportunity to experience the area’s environmental and recreational values.
In the language of the Kaurna people, Winaityinaityi Pangkara means ‘a country for all birds and the country that surrounds these birds’.
The mangroves, beaches, estuaries and rivers of the sanctuary are home to 263 unique fauna and flora species, including threatened bird species such as the Curlew Sandpiper, Ruddy Turnstone, Red Knot and Eastern Curlew.
What’s on
Port River cruise – Adelaide Shorebirds Festival
Date: Saturday 4 November
Join park rangers on a family cruise to the northern end of Bird Island and Outer Harbour. During the trip you will gain insight into this unique area with staff sharing their wealth of knowledge of the birdlife and coastal habitat.
Port Gawler snorkel – Adelaide Shorebirds Festival
Date: Saturday 11 November and Sunday 26 November
Join snorkel leaders from Experiencing Marine Sanctuaries, park rangers and local Gawler River enthusiasts for an incredible guided snorkel through the magical world of the Port Gawler River mangrove forest within the Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary National Park.
Bird Island sea kayaking – Adelaide Shorebirds Festival
Date: Saturday 11 November
Join Adventure Kayaking SA and park rangers on a stunning kayak adventure. Leaving St Kilda we will head towards the Outer Harbour and Bird Island to explore this unique environment. Home to numerous bird species, aquatic animals, seals, sea lions and the Port River dolphins.
- SOLD OUT
Shorebird intro session – Adelaide Shorebirds Festival
Date: Saturday 11 November
Join Birdlife Australia and learn more about the amazing migratory birds which live in the Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary. Join us at one of the premier, natural shorebird sites in the state. Learn how to pick a Greenshank from a Marsh Sandpiper and what’s not a Knot.
What bird is that? – Adelaide Shorebirds Festival
Date: Sunday 12 November
Experienced ornithologists will help you develop your bird watching skills and obtain the most enjoyment and appreciation for bird watching. You will learn about some of the special adaptations and features to help identify birds and gain an insight into why the Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary is important for birds.
Mangrove creeks of Barker Inlet sea kayaking – Adelaide Shorebirds Festival
Date: Sunday 12 November
Join Adventure Kayaking SA and park rangers on a stunning kayak adventure exploring the mangrove creeks and sand flats of the Barker Inlet. You will feel like you are in a remote jungle! You will be guided through the many interlinked mangrove creeks that weave around these the magnificent trees. We may even see some of the Port River Dolphins and migratory birds along the way.
- SOLD OUT
Conserving shorebirds, indentification and citizen science- Adelaide Shorebirds Festival
Date: Sunday 12 November
This Birdlife Australia workshop will involve a field component timed with the outgoing tide to maximise shorebird viewing and a chance to practice your shorebird ID skills. Following this there will be an indoor session to learn more tips and tricks for ID.
- Call or email to reserve your spot.
Phone: 0435544939
Email: aleisa.lamanna@birdlife.org.au
Ranger guided walk – Adelaide Shorebirds Festival
Date: Thursday 16 November
Come for a free ranger guided walk along the southern trail from Thompson Beach to Third Creek (3.6km return) to hear how the samphire-covered (native succulent) tidal mudflats, mangrove stands and seagrass beds are used by the migratory birds that arrive here every year.
What bird is that? – Adelaide Shorebirds Festival
Date: Saturday 18 November
Experienced ornithologists will help you develop your bird watching skills and obtain the most enjoyment and appreciation for bird watching. You will learn about some of the special adaptations and features to help identify birds and gain an insight into why the Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary is important for birds.
Film night – Adelaide Shorebirds Festival
Date: Thursday 30 November
Further information TBC.
For more information and all enquiries please visit the Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary website
What: Adelaide Shorebirds Festival
When: 4-30 November 2017
Where: Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary National Park (Winaityinaityi Pangkara)
Who: Bird lovers
At Play & Go Adelaide we make every effort to provide accurate information to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. We recommend confirming times, dates and details directly before making any plans as details may be subject to change.
Image Source: Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary
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