What a brilliant idea Peter!
For example, the famous Cairns Esplanade has a fantastic kids
playground half way along it called Muddys. Heaps of different play
equipment including some water based areas for cooling down. Lots of
jets coming out of the ground at different heights and intervals.
There is also a cafe (ice cream!!), but most importantly the birds are
just outside plus things like Varied Honeyeaters, Figbirds, Helmeted
Friarbirds flying around the trees above you. It is also very shady.
As for steadying your binoculars with a child on your back....I don't
think it's entirely possible!! I try by wearing a cap and holding the
brim of the cap with a couple of fingers as well as the binoculars.
This gives quite a bit of extra stability against your head.
I must admit that i was able to see and photograph Thick-billed
Grasswren with my 18mth old daughter on my back! Her interpreted
squeals of "keep moving Daddy" didn't help with a bird like that
though :)
Cheers
Dave
On 18/05/2009, at 11:09 PM, Peter Shute wrote:
Sounds useful, but what I meant was a guide for how to go birding with
kids. E.g. the best playgrounds for birding, birding locations within
walking distance of amusement parks, etc. It might have tips on how
to hide your optics from the kids in a small cabin, how to steady your
binoculars with a small child on your back, what to do when your kids
throw rocks in a hide, etc.
The normal books don't cover these things. Do you know I saw my first
gannets from a monkey bar?
Peter Shute
________________________________________
From: Paul Doyle
Sent: Monday, 18 May 2009 7:13 PM
To: Peter Shute; ;
Subject: RFI Mudgee NSW - birding and accommodation
Someone already has.
Lloyd Nielsen's Birding Australia: A guide for Birders, is sort of
combination of reference book and resource guide to other sources of
information.
It covers the whole country divided into regions and has all sorts of
useful
info: local and regional bird books guide and other info,
accommodation,
dining, tourist site, other useful websites, daylight times at different
locations and different times year, accommodation guide, suggested
itineraries in all areas, outback safety and travelling tips etc. etc.
It's self-published and can be found at www.birdingaustrlia.com.au
I have no connection with the author: just impressed wit the amount of
info
in there.
Paul.
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