You may be an avid bird watcher or a wildlife fan, or just interested in what you might see on the Great Ocean Road. Whichever one you are, we think you’ll be intrigued and delighted by the types of birds you’ll see here. We are visited regularly by a wonderful collection of brightly coloured and characterful birdlife.
While you’re out and about exploring the region you might see parrots, cockatiels, penguins, shore birds, finches, eagles, kookaburras and much more. If you’d like to borrow a pair of binoculars to help with your bird watching, just ask our Managers and they can organize one for you.
Below we’ve put together a list of some of the types of birds you might see here at Alkina Lodge – see how many you can tick off while you’re here!
And if you’re interested in the other types of wildlife you might see in the area, make sure you also click here to read about them!
Kookaburras
These loveable creatures are actually a member of the kingfisher family. They have a fascinating repertoire of sounds which includes their famous laugh (koo-hoo-hoo-hoo-ha-ha-ha-HA-HA-hoo-hoo-hoo) . This laugh is in fact a territory song and is often heard either at dawn or dusk around Alkina Lodge.
Wedge Tailed Eagle
Australia’s largest bird of prey is often spotted here at Alkina Lodge. This magnificent bird has an incredible wingspan of 2.3 m, plus a characteristic wedge-shaped tail, and legs which have feathers all the way to the base of its toes. The wedge tailed eagle mates for life.
The Boobook Owl
This is the smallest species of owl in Australia. It has an unmistakable “boo-book” call that’s heard frequently at night around our lodges. The Boobook Owl is renowned for its acrobatic skills in catching invertebrate prey such as moths, beetles, spiders and crickets.
King Parrots
Bright flashes of red and green can often be seen flying through the trees surrounding Alkina Lodge.
The Australian King Parrot is usually seen in pairs or family groups. The male has a completely red head and the female has a completely green head, but both have a red belly, a green back and green wings & tail. They’re just beautiful!
Satin Bower Bird
These loveable birds can often be seen at Alkina Lodge. They’re well-known for collecting all manner of blue objects to decorate their bowers – this may include feathers, flowers, seeds, fruits and even man-made items like ball point pens, marbles and string. These are carefully arranged around their bower to attract a mate.
Australian Magpie
These large black and white birds are very common and its lovely “caroling” song is considered by many to be an essential part of the Australian soundscape. They tend to be quite tame but during the breeding season they can become somewhat aggressive towards humans, especially if you venture too close to their nests, so make sure you avoid nesting areas.
Eastern Rosellas
The Eastern Rosella is native to Australia and has a distinctive red head with white cheeks. The female is usually a duller colour than the males. This commonly-sighted parrot uses one foot (usually the right) to hold its food, which usually consists of seeds, fruits, flowers and insects.
Welcome Swallows
The Welcome Swallow is a pretty bird, with rust coloured patches on its forehead, throat and breast. They catch their prey in mid-flight, using impressive acrobatic skills, and they guide the prey into their mouths using short bristles which they have at the sides of their mouths.
Fairy Wrens
These pretty little blue birds are very commonly sighted around our lodges and are just delightful! The male has a striking blue head and black or dark blue throat. No colour filters are needed on Instagram for this one!
Getting Here
Alkina Lodge is the closest luxury accommodation to the famous Twelve Apostles, and is set in over 100 acres of native bushland. We are surrounded by beautiful wildlife and nature. We have three lodges, each with four bedrooms. To check availability and rates, or to book a stay at Alkina Lodge please click here to make a booking or call (+61 3 5348 2008)
