Hi Lorne,
James and I were ar the lava tubes early this month. We were in a campervan.
Once you are within the national park you have no choices about where you
go. There are plenty of walking tracks around the settled area, but signs
say you can't drive on gravel roads where the tour buses drive. This amounts
to a situation which is not ideal for birders.
We went in there to see what birds use the lava tube habitat, but as we
could only go there on a tour bus, and when we saw the way the guides herded
people into and off the buses with their canned spiel, we realised there
would be no possibility of wandering off birding under their watch. And we
are not suitable candidates for group travel........you might be different.
And so we contented ourselves with walking the excellent tracks and saw some
good birds. Nothing you can't see anywhere else in the area. Had wonderful
views of a male Red-winged Parrot feeding a juvenile over and over.
I am currently on Norfolk Island and don't have the Undara bird list with
me, but if you are interested, get back to me. We will be flying home this
Sunday. You wouldn't go to Norfolk Island for the birding. It's a monument
to introduced species. But it's a lovely place to be. And amazingly,
wireless internet is so easily available on the island...for a small fee.
Cheers
Jill Dening
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