Calling all budding David Attenboroughs: take flight for Australia’s most uplifting wildlife event, Kakadu Bird Week 25-29 September

Nature will be at its most spectacular during the annual Kakadu Bird Week, which will be staged between 25 and 29 September2024. The rich pageant of nature offers visitors the opportunity to join expert-guided tours, cruise the wetlands and experience Kakadu’s rich Indigenous culture.

Kakadu National Park is a bird lover’s paradise – home to more than a third of Australia’s bird species – and is the perfect place to discover and learn all about the rich variety of birds living in the dual World Heritage listed Park.

Bird Week is held to coincide with the mass migration of magpie geese, which flock to billabongs such as Yellow Water (Ngurrungurrudjba), to feed. With the waters having receded towards the end of the dry season, there is no better time to witness not just the birdlife, but Kakadu’s full array of exotic animals, including crocodiles, buffalo, brumbies and wallabies.

Kakadu was voted number one in bird watching destinations in Australia by Australian Geographic and is home to over one third of Australia’s bird species. It is a great opportunity to view graceful sea eagles, elegant kingfishers, distinctive Jabirus and watch the remarkable Jacanas (aka ‘Jesus Bird’) seemingly walking on water.

Kakadu Bird Week is the perfect time for nature lovers to discover Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory. The Festival will feature a packed itinerary of events designed for dedicated bird watchers and those who just love seeing nature at its most spectacular.

A highlight of the Festival will be sunrise and sunset cruises on Yellow Water Billabong, led by one of Australia’s most renowned ‘twitchers’, Luke ‘Hawk Eye’ Paterson from NT Bird Specialists.

Luke’s 2-hour Bird Lovers Cruises will showcase Kakadu at its most dramatic. Explore the wetlands at sunset to find the black-necked stork, white-bellied sea-eagle, a plethora of ducks and magpie geese, the intriguing comb-crested jacanas. Passengers will also see plenty of crocodiles, brumbies and other wildlife.

Luke is also operating a range of land-based birding tours, with participants seeing birdlife taking part in in the East Alligator and South Alligator regions of Kakadu.

Free bird watching and cultural experiences

A range of free birding adventures will be available throughout the festival, with the opportunity to view Kakadu’s birdlife through the eyes of local Aboriginal guides, including tours of Ubirr, the Mamukala Wetlands and Nourlangie.

Appreciating birds through Aboriginal art and traditional weaving techniques using 100% natural and locally sourced materials will provide additional opportunities to appreciate Kakadu through its Traditional Owners.

For a full list of activities and booking details: https://parksaustralia.gov.au/kakadu/do/events/birdweek/

Accommodation throughout the week is available at Mercure Kakadu Crocodile Hotel in Jabiru and at Cooinda Lodge – next door to Yellow Water Billabong – which offers accommodation ranging from luxury Yellow Water Villas and quality Lodge rooms (including family rooms) through to powered caravan and camping sites.

Yellow Water Cruises, accommodation, touring information and bookings: www.kakadutourism.com