Indigenous name: Yawuru Country
Established by BirdLife Australia in 1988 as a base for shorebird researchers, today, Broome Bird Observatory is dedicated to raising awareness of Roebuck Bay’s extraordinary birdlife through research and education. It’s also one of Australia’s top birding sites and among the best places in the world to see shorebirds year-round.
Located just 25km from Broome, visitors to the Broome Bird Observatory can choose from on-site accommodation and camping, as well as tours and educational courses run by the friendly staff.
There’s also a natural history library and shop – as well as the brand-new interactive visitor centre, the Clive Minton Discovery Centre, named after a founder of the BBO and long-time patron of BirdLife Australia, Clive Minton.
Known as the shorebird capital of Australia, Roebuck Bay is one of Australia’s 66 Ramsar-listed Wetlands of International Importance. Here, tens of thousands of migratory shorebirds – including the Critically Endangered Eastern Curlew – feed on the bay’s rich tidal flats in preparation for the long journey home to their breeding grounds in the Northern Hemisphere.
From March until May annually, Broome Bird Observatory staff and guests watch as adult shorebirds depart for their northern breeding grounds thousands of kilometres away – sometimes in flocks of hundreds.
But with a bird list boasting over 330 species within a 70km radius, the Broome region is home to incredibly diverse birdlife – and many species can be found within a stone’s throw of the observatory. Highlights include:
Broome Bird Observatory is located on the shores of Roebuck Bay in northern Western Australia. It is situated 25 km east of Broome and 2400 km north of Perth.
The observatory is accessible via Crab Creek Road, sign-posted at the junction of Broome and Crab Creek Roads. 4WD is recommended as much of the road is unsealed, sandy and corrugated.
If you’re driving from Broome, Derby or Port Hedland, click here for more detailed directions.
Australia's migratory shorebirds are incredible, many flying to and from the Northern Hemisphere every year. But sadly, because of the destruction of their habitats, hunting, and disturbance, their numbers have declined greatly.
Together, we saved Toondah Harbour. We won this battle because of the sustained pressure and opposition from everyday Australians. But this is just the start!
