Bird Trails
Avitourism, popularily known as "bird watching" has been developed by Wambo Shire as a project to establish Bird Trails throughout this diverse rural Shire on the Darling Downs of Queensland.
Bird-based tourism is one of the fastest-growing sectors of the eco-tourism market in Australia. The Wambo area of South-eastern Queensland has a huge diversity of native birds, spectacular landscapes, natural bushland, and growing tourism infrastructure.
Wambo Shire Tourism Officer Doug Henning with a team of recognised birdwatchers and locals have gathered important information to access "hot Spots" across the Shire, identifying rare or endangered Species, to produce the Bird Lists and Maps, and name the Trails, developing a signage Audit, costing of Brochures, establishing links with established Bird Trail Areas along eastern Australia and with Regional Tourism Associations through Toowoomba and Golden West RTA.
Greg Ford , Queensland Woodlands Birds Project Officer, Birds Australia has provided an Avitourism Information Kit which is proving invaluable as this Shire initiative develops with a strong community based focus.
The basis of the bird-trails concept is the provision of a map and written directions to suitable bird-watching locations in the subject areas that may not be otherwise known by non-local birdwatchers.
Ideally, by providing this sort of information, travelling birders will be encouraged to remain in local towns for a longer period than normal, and highlighting the values of remnant vegetation that is outside the conservation reserve network, e.g. along roads, stockroutes, road and water reserves.
Watch this space, for more info on this exciting new project that includes Bell and adjoining districts, the nearby Bunya Mountains National Park and Wambo Shire Trustee area of Russell Park. Check out the Wambo Shire web site for the latest information www.wambo.qld.gov.au
(c) 2002 - 2006 Bell Progress Association Inc.