Guided walk: Shorebirds of the Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary National Park

Join bird enthusiast and Volunteer Ranger Roslyn for a guided walk in Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary National Park - Winaityinaityi Pangkara as we celebrate the park as our Park of the Month.

Winaityinaityi Pangkara means ‘a country for all birds and the country that surrounds these birds’ in the language of the Kaurna people. The Bird Sanctuary sits right at the southern end of the East Asian-Australasian Fly­way (EAAF) and is one of the key feeding and roosting sites for migratory birds who use the fly­way each year. Birds fly from as far as Siberia and Alaska, passing through 22 countries. The area acts as a crucial habitat on this migratory route which is used by more than 5 million birds a year, 27,000 of which call the Bird Sanctuary home.

The walk will follow the Third Creek Trail at Thompson Beach, located about 70km north of Adelaide. From the settlement we will walk south to experience the local landscape as we learn about the origins of the park and its relationship with the Upper Gulf St Vincent Marine Park. The native dune and saltmarsh vegetation forms critical habitat for wildlife, including kangaroos, reptiles and raptors, as well as bush, sea, water and shore birds.  We will pass native flora such as Boobialla, Native Apricot, saltbush, and seasonal lagoons surrounded by salt marsh covered in samphire. At Third Creek we head north along the beach to see resident and migratory birds, wading, foraging and roosting in the intertidal zone. If you have binoculars, remember to bring them along.

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Accessibility

A moderate level of fitness is required. The walk is 3.6km in length and includes uneven and soft sandy surfaces. Part of the walk will include walking on the beach. This activity is not recommended for people who use wheelchairs or have limited mobility.

There are no toilets at the meeting point or along the trail route. Nearest toilets are located at the boat ramp (350m north of Third Creek Carpark) or at Dublin (11km).

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Who is this event for?

This activity is for all ages.

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Meeting Point

Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary National Park -  Winaityinaityi Pangkara
Third Creek Trail Carpark, Thompson Beach Road, Thompson Beach

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What to Bring:

• Enclosed shoes/boots
• Loose fitting long pants
• Long-sleeved shirt
• Sun protection (hat, sun glasses, sunscreen)
• Insect repellent
• Water (minimum 1 litre per person)
• Fly net head covering (optional)
• Binoculars / camera (optional)

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Important:

• NPWS aims to provide inclusive events and activities for all, however some of our events do have specific requirements for participants. Please see the activity description and accessibility information to check if the event is suitable for you. If you require additional support to participate in the activity, please contact dew.parkofthemonth@sa.gov.au in advance.
• This event will be cancelled in the event of severe weather or a total fire ban being declared in the Mid North Fire Ban District.