New flight path for tourism on the Southern Downs

View Bird Places of the Southern Downs on the Birds Queensland website

In a significant boost to promoting the Granite Belt and Southern Downs as a major nature-based  tourism destination, the Granite Belt Sustainable Action Network has joined with the Southern Downs  Regional Council, Birds Queensland and Birdlife Southern Queensland to design and release the Region’s  first bird watching guide. 

The Southern Downs and Granite Belt Bird Places Brochure includes a self-drive map and an extensive  list of known bird watching hot spots as well as a description of the types of birds most likely to be  spotted at each place.  

GBSAN President Rick Humphries describes the brochure as “the first nature-based tourism initiative  aimed at attracting bird watchers to our Region. It’s a milestone in promoting nature-based tourism  beyond Girraween and Sundown National Parks. The brochure also raises awareness of just how  wonderful and diverse our local birdlife is.” 

Bird’s Queensland President, Andrea Schafer, said “this brochure provides an easy way for locals and  visitors to engage with the natural beauty and birdlife in this region, which is so accessible from  Queensland’s major population centres. Public engagement is a critical part of conservation, and  important for the preservation of Queensland’s birds.” 

Sheena Gillman from Birdlife Southern Queensland said “the Southern Downs region is fortunate to  have some spectacular species which are highly sought after by bird watchers. The area around Killarney  is a significant Key Biodiversity Area for the study and conservation of Alberts’ Lyrebird. The brochure  will prove to be a valuable asset for both visitors and the local community and we congratulate  everyone involved in its production.” 

“We would like to thank the Southern Downs Regional Council for their generous support. The brochure  was fully funded through the Council’s Community Grants Scheme. The brochure will be available  through the Council’s visitor information centres, local accommodation businesses and elsewhere” said  Mr Humphries. 

According to Council spokesperson Councilor Sarah Deane, “Council is proud to partner with the Granite  Belt Sustainability Action Network to produce the first Southern Downs and Granite Belt Bird Places  Brochure, a fantastic initiative that highlights the region’s rich birdlife and natural beauty. By backing  projects like this, we are reinforcing the Southern Downs as a premier nature-based tourism destination.  So many of our local tourism businesses have been asking for this resource to support the visitors who  flock to our region to appreciate the unique natural experiences we have to offer.”

Granite Belt Wine and Tourism spokesperson Chris Nolan said “the brochure provides a great  opportunity for visitors to the area to see the diverse range of birdlife across this wonderful region. We  are home to some unique land forms and vegetation within our local national parks and this makes  these parks and the surrounds the ideal habitat for birdlife whilst providing good access to our visitors.” 

Bird watching related tourism is a billion dollar industry globally and worth tens of millions nationally.  The brochure will be promoted through the Bird’s Queensland and Birdlife Southern Queensland  networks nationally and internationally in addition to local distribution. 

The brochure can be accessed by scrolling down on this webpage:  https://birdsqueensland.org.au/where-to-see-birds/bird-watching-in-queensland/

For More information Rick Humphries 0488 491 709

Some of the Southern Downs bird watching sites included in the brochure.