Raise your eyes to the sky; Western Australia’s feathered acrobats will speak to your soul.
Feature by Carolyn Beasley
Petite and elegant, the flock of Greater Crested Terns move to their own rhythm, banking on the island breezes. One by one, their wing movements quicken as they hover, preparing to plunge into the ocean and pluck a fishy morsel from the shallows. Their flight is the embodiment of freedom and the flock is like a lifeforce, leaving no doubt that this landscape, this seascape is very much alive.
Rottnest Island (Wadjemup) is a critical nesting site for Greater Crested terns and many other bird species*. While the island may be a bird-lover’s paradise, it’s just one of many feathered hotspots waiting to be discovered in the vast and surreal habitats of Western Australia.
For visitors to Rottnest Island, spotting Greater Crested terns foraging along the aquamarine coastline or the milky-hued interior salt lakes is just the beginning. For those seeking a deeper exploration, a full-day guided bike tour with Laura the Explorer Cycling Tours may be just the ticket.
Laura Holmes on Rottnest Island
“My favourite Bay on Rottnest Island is Salmon Bay,” says tour operator, Laura Holmes. “I love the snorkelling. It's the longest stretch of beach on the island and I just love the colours and the views from above.”
As you pedal this southern coastline, keep an eye out for one of several pairs of majestic ospreys, known to return to the same nesting site, generation after generation.
Alternatively, take a tip from James Morris, a guide with Segway Tours WA Rottnest Island. James’ favourite bays to visit by segway nestle into the northern coastline, where pied oyster catchers probe whimsical red beaks into wave-rippled sand.
“I love going past the beaches like Little Armstrong Bay and Parakeet Bay, especially when the wind’s from the south, it's just spectacular.”
Segway Tours WA heading to the lighthouse on Rottnest Island
Keen hikers can stride out on the Wadjemup Bidi hiking trails. Traverse Rottnest’s samphire-lined lakes, home to striking banded stilts and theatrically-coloured shelducks, and in the scrub-heath, spot red-capped robins as they skip through.
Heading to the far north of the state, the tidal mudflats of Roebuck Bay in Broome (Rubibi) form one of the most significant sites for shorebirds in the world. For keen birders with a four-wheel-drive, a trip to the Broome Bird Observatory is a must, where these birds are studied. Alternatively, take an eco-cruise with Broome Adventure Cruises for the chance to spot wading birds, kingfishers, black-necked storks and Brahminy kites.
Further south, the wild Abrolhos Islands, known as ‘Australia’s Galapagos,’ teem with life, above and below the ocean. Tropical and temperate species overlap here, and it’s a site of prolific seabird nesting including species like white-faced storm petrels, little shearwaters and brown noddies. Unforgettable flying day trips depart from Geraldton with Shine Aviation Services, or for a deeper dive, book a five-day cruise with the experts, Eco-Abrolhos Cruises.
Red Tailed Cockatoos at Leschenault Inlet in Australia's South West - Photo credit: Sean Scott
Australia’s South West is home to towering forests of karri, marri and jarrah, and these are ringing with the calls of bird species found nowhere else. Thread through this dreamscape on a guided canoe trip with Margaret River Discovery Company to glimpse the pretty western rosella or a screeching family of forest red-tailed black cockatoos. Don’t miss hiking the Cape to Cape Track with Cape to Cape Explorer Tours. A particular highlight is the accessible section from Cape Naturalise Lighthouse. Just three kilometres along, Sugarloaf Rock is a nature reserve home to nesting red-tailed tropic birds (September to February), while in the coastal heathland, the splendid fairy-wren will delight visitors year-round with its almost unfathomable blue.
Even in the heart of Perth (Boorloo), prolific birdlife sees the landscape in perpetual motion. As the glittering Swan River (Derbarl Yerrigan) flows past Elizabeth Quay or Matilda Bay, listen for the staccato of black swans’ wings as they beat the surface on take-off. Watch the families of Australian pelicans as they scoop up fish, their stretchy bills distending with the wiggling meal.
Flocking birds at El Questro Wilderness Park in Australia's North West
From the city to the islands, from tall forests to tidal mud flats, Western Australia’s birds are a portal to another world. It’s a world where visitors are held mesmerised with curiosity, wonder and awe. The cycles of life are raw and wild; from migration and feeding, to nesting and breeding. As visitors draw closer, yearning to understand, they’re answering the call of Country.
* 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.
Published February 2026.