The whole world’s been singing about the Eastern Rosella… so where can you take the kids to see them – hint – everywhere but in abundance in the Scenic Rim along with an equally colourful cousin.
One minute it was a seven-year-old boy singing about a bird he spotted on holidays. Next minute it’s gone viral around the world.
Seven-year-old Miles Phillips’ catchy song Eastern Rosellas has racked up millions of views, been played on radio stations across Australia and covered by some of the country’s best-known musicians including Ben Lee and Ball Park Music. He’s even become the youngest Australian to make the Aria music charts.
Now, the little parrot with the “beautiful colours” is inspiring a different kind of adventure: bird lovers are heading into nature hoping to spot one for themselves, and one of the best places to do exactly that is in the Scenic Rim.
At Binna Burra Lodge, surrounded by the ancient Gondwana Rainforests of Lamington National Park, the vibrant Eastern Rosella is one of thousands of bird species that delight visitors year-round, with staff reporting an increase in visitors asking specifically about the colourful bird since the song took off.
Travel a little further into Lamington National Park and visitors to O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat are more likely to meet the Eastern Rosella’s equally spectacular cousin – the brilliant Crimson Rosella, whose vivid scarlet feathers have become one of the icons of the rainforest.
But the rosellas are only the beginning. The Scenic Rim has quietly become one of Australia’s emerging destinations for Twitcher Tourism, with bird lovers travelling from around the country, and increasingly around the world, to experience one of Australia’s richest bird habitats. From Albert’s Lyrebirds and Regent Bowerbirds to Glossy Black Cockatoos, Australian King-Parrots, Green Catbirds and the elusive Eastern Bristlebird, Lamington National Park offers some of the country’s finest birdwatching.
One of Australia’s leading wildlife filmmakers with more than 1.2million followers on his Instagram @JeremyFilmsThings, said there was definitely a new wave of birdwatchers, who are showing the world just how fascinating birds can be.
“In July this year, I spent four days exploring Lamington National Park in the Scenic Rim and it had the most incredible bird life I’ve ever seen. I got to witness a courtship display from an Albert’s Lyrebird. He grasped two big vines with his feet and shook them as he mimicked the sound of a Satin Bowerbird. It was an experience that I’ll never forget. I also saw a pair of Logrunners collecting twigs and building a nest,” he said.
Pro tips for Twitchers visiting the Scenic Rim:
• Early morning or late afternoon are prime times for rainforest species.
• Bring binoculars, a camera with a zoom lens, and a sound recorder, the lyrebirds and whipbirds are audio stars.
• Check local birdwatching groups for recent sightings.
• Include a hike to soak up even more of the magic of the region.
• Talk to locals – farmers often know the bird routines and can share spots to check out!
• Stay a few days and nights to wake up and go to sleep with the sounds of birdsong, there’s nothing like it! Use this link Scenic Rim | Green Travel Guide for sustainable and eco-friendly spots to stay!
• Consume and travel mindfully – support local producers and eateries, enjoy seasonal farm-to-plate meals, and choose cafés and shops that prioritise eco-friendly practices.
• Bring your own reusable water bottles, bags, and utensils to avoid single-use plastics.
• Recharge your electric vehicle at over a dozen EV charging sites across the region. From Tamborine Mountain to Beaudesert, Mt Barney to Boonah, Plugshare shows where!
• Take the Tamborine Mountain Hop-on-Hop-off tour with Pineapple Tours – to cut your carbon footprint, help ease congestion and save energy and money.
• If you’re flying into Brisbane or the Gold Coast before heading into the Scenic Rim, offset your flight’s carbon emissions by contributing to environmental projects.
• For more, visit Sustainable travel within the Scenic Rim
