Whitsundays Birds & Wildlife

The islands of the Whitsundays have a diverse selection of sea and land birds which can be found elsewhere on the mainland, such as the spooky, almost baby crying sound of the Stone Beach Curlews to the screech of the White bellied Sea Eagles.

We also have a number of other raptors like Brominy kites, Ospreys and the occasional Chicken Hawk which ventures out from the mainland.

Populated islands such as Hamilton, South Molle, Long and Daydream Islands also have a strong presence of Sulphur Crested Cockatoos, Crows, and Currawongs, a native crow with a rather pleasant call, unlike the raucous crow.

A variety of seabirds are present, although not in abundance so seagulls are not in annoying numbers. Small terns, Oystercatchers, and other beach dwellers are always somewhere close by to make the scenery more complete.

At night, we do get the occasional fly-by of the fruit bat (or Flying Fox) however this does not intrude on our enjoyment of the island anchorages. Snakes are present on most islands however are not a common sight and, with the usual cautions recommended when visiting Australian shores, should not be considered a threat. We do have some significant populations of the Robinsons Goanna, particularly on Whitsunday Island, and they are really impressive, growing to over 1.5 metres. They are primarily seen on the foreshore and around campsites.