Bird Watching in the Pilliga

Birds are abundant throughout Narrabri Shire. Great bird watching destinations include Yarrie Lake, Mt Kaputar National Park, Pilliga Lagoons and the Pilliga Forest.

The Pilliga Forest has long been recognised as one of the most important areas for biodiversity in eastern Australia. With its diversity of habitats from open forest to heath lands and its geographic location on the border between coastal and dry country its biodiversity of plant and animal species cannot be overestimated. Recent additions to the conservation estate has seen protected land in this area rise from 80 000 ha to over 300 000 ha ensuring the ongoing protection of these important ecosystems. Across the Pilliga over 200 bird species have been recorded

Pilliga Pottery (“Barkala”) is a great spot for bird watching with over 120 bird species resident or regular migrants on the property, including eight threatened species, the Grey-crowned Babbler, Hooded Robin, Speckled Warbler, Brown Treecreeper, Turquoise Parrot, Glossy Black Cockatoo, Diamond Firetail and the Black-chinned Honeyeater. See Pilliga Pottery under Pilliga Forest in the Major Attractions section of this website..

A series of mapped self-drive bird trails, developed by ornithologist David Johnston offer one of the best ways to access and explore the Pilliga Forest. David has been exploring the Pilliga for over 40 years and his routes take you to some of the will known haunts of the district’s birdlife. All the information you need is available in the ‘Bird Routes of Baradine’ brochure, which explains where you might see Barking Owls, Turquoise Parrots and Regent Honey Eaters. These brochures are available from the Narrabri Shire VIC, Baradine RTC or Coonabarabran Visitor Centre.

More information about Bird Routes of the Narrabri Shire

The leaflet below gives you a comprehensive listing of the birds you might expect to see while in Narrabri Shire, with a section dedicated to species resident in the Pilliga Forest.

Download Information Leaflet

For further information on bird species, bird observing sites and other contacts for birding groups in the region contact James Faris 0427 103 133

Handy Hint: It is advisable to purchase a Pilliga Forest map from the Visitor Information Centre as there are 2,700 km of tracks through the scrub and although most are marked, it would be easy to take a wrong turn.

In wet weather roads can become quite slippery/ and or impassable. As with all dirt roads, please take care to drive to conditions. While driving anywhere in the Pilliga Forest be alert for wildlife.

• Please do not attempt to drive in the Pilliga Forest during the wet.
• Ensure you have plenty of fuel and water etc before setting off into the Pilliga Forest.
• It is advisable to let someone know of your travel plans.