Bird Hide & Osprey Tower
The Coobowie Bird Hide and Osprey Nest are significant attractions in Coobowie, South Australia, especially for nature enthusiasts and bird watchers.
Bird Hide: Nestled at the edge of the Coobowie Estuary, strategically placed near the wetlands, is a wonderful bird hide offering visitors a fantastic vantage point to observe our feathered friends and fascinating array of birdlife, going about their business. The wetlands attract numerous migratory birds, making it an ideal spot for photography and wildlife observation. Common sightings include ducks, shorebirds, and other waterfowl, particularly during migration seasons. The bird hide was built by the Coobowie Progress Association, and offers views of birds feeding on the low water line in the Estuary. Arm yourself with a complimentary bird identification brochure, available at the Caravan Park office and Coobowie Shop, to assist in identification of the species and spend a leisurely few hours in the great outdoors. Six hundred native trees have been planted in the area and will be a beautiful natural habitat for the land and sea birds once these plants are established. Interpretive signage has been placed in the area to assist visitors and seating provides rest stops so you can take in the magnificent views.
Osprey Nest: You will also be able to sit in the Bird Hide and observe the Osprey nesting in their new Osprey platform installed in June 2023. The nest provides a rare opportunity to see these majestic birds of prey in their natural habitat. The project is a wonderful community-led conservation success story, where the passion and dedication of the Southern Yorke Peninsula Landcare Group is changing the fortunes of an endangered species. The future looked grim for eastern ospreys on Yorke Peninsula, where monitoring between 2014 and 2016 showed there were no remaining breeding pairs. SYP Landcare Group saw an opportunity to create artificial nest platforms for these fish-eating raptors, whose ability to breed is impacted by human interference, loss of habitat, feral predators and severe weather. The Coobowie platform is the 7th to be installed along YP’s coastline and the second supported by the Northern and Yorke Landscape Board under their ‘Djulda-wawa Badja project’. A true community project, with the construction of the tower by the Ardrossan Community & Men’s Shed and the Year 7 Yorketown Area School students building nests of sticks and seaweed. They were supported by Friends of Osprey, another passionate group of volunteers, who have played a key role in construction logistics, transport and installation. It took a helicopter to fly in and lower the 6 metre high steel platform into the sea, with the help of volunteers. Just 4 hours after installation, in flew the Ospreys. The Osprey nest has become a highlight for visitors. Ospreys often return to the same nesting site each year, making it a reliable spot for birdwatchers hoping to catch a glimpse of these remarkable raptors. The Coobowie osprey have certainly made it their home. The first year laying 3 egss, which were unsuccessful. This year (2024) they lay 4 eggs, all successfully hatching and at this stage, all 4 young have survived.
Together, the Coobowie Bird Hide and Osprey Nest offer a unique experience for those interested in wildlife and the natural environment, emphasizing the area’s ecological significance and promoting conservation awareness. You can also walk around to Edithburgh via the walking trail….
